Perlidae (Plecoptera) from Serra de Paranapiacaba, São Paulo State: integrating morphological and molecular information to identify species

Abstract

In this project, specimens of Perlidae (Plecoptera) will be collected in Paranapiacaba Mountains in the Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (PETAR), Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI) and Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho (PECB), São Paulo State, with the following objectives: 1) to identify species of Perlidae from Paranapiacaba Mountains using morphology and then obtaining sequences of mitochondrial gene COI for each of them; 2) to obtain adult-nymph association using sequences of mitochondrial gene COI; 3) to describe the nymphs of associated species; 4) to build an interactive guide to species of Perlidae from region; 5) training the student in aquatic entomology and morphological and molecular tools in biodiversity studies. The nymphs will be collected in streams using D net and the adults using nets and light traps. All material will be preserved in absolute ethanol and stored in a freezer (-20 oC). The morphological species identification will be based on adult males and, subsequently, each species will be characterized based on mitochondrial COI gene. The nymphs will separated in morphotypes and also will be characterized with respect to this gene. Later, the sequences will be compared in order to associate nymphs and adults. The associated nymphs will be described. (AU)