Abstract
Here we present a summary of subfossil chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) found in the surface sediments of 52 Tatra Mts. lakes (Slovakia, Poland). Head capsules of 73 morphotypes of 5 subfamilies are described and illustrated. In addition to the previously documented subfossils by Brooks et al. (2007), we present 15 new morphotypes: Diamesa Tatra-type A, Diamesa Tatra-type B, Pseudodiamesa branickii-type, Pseudodiamesa nivosa-type, Pseudokiefferiella parva, Brillia bifida-type, Cricotopus (Paratrichocladius) skirwithensis-type, Cricotopus (Cricotopus) tremulus-type, Cricotopus/Orthocladius I, Eukiefferiella brevicalcar-type, Eukiefferiella claripennis-type B, Orthocladius (Orthocladius) dentifer-type, O. (Mesorthocladius) frigidus, Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) sp. and Tanytarsini indet. Most of these types have possibly broad distribution patterns in Europe. We believe that due to specific features of each region, this paper will serve as a helpful manual for limnologists and paleolimnologists working not only in the Tatra Mts. but also in the whole Carpathian region.
References
Andersen, T., Baranov, V., Hagenlund, L.K., Ivković, M., Kvifte, G.M. & Pavlek, M. (2016) Blind Flight? A New Troglobiotic Orthoclad (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Lukina Jama—Trojama Cave in Croatia. PLoS ONE, 11 (4), e0152884.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152884
Andersen, T., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (2013a) The larvae of Chironomidae (Diptera) of the Holarctic Region. Keys and diagnoses. Insect Systematics & Evolution, 66, 1–571.
Andersen, T., Sæther, O.A., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (2013b) The larvae of Orthocladiinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic Region—Keys and diagnoses. In: Andersen, T., Sæther, O.A., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (Eds.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic Region. Keys and diagnoses. Larvae. Insect Systematics & Evolution, Lund, Supplement, pp. 189–386.
Bitušík, P. (2000) Príručka na určovanie lariev pakomárov (Diptera. Chironomidae) Slovenska. Časť I. Buchonomyinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae a Orthocladiinae. Vydavateľstvo Technickej Univerzity vo Zvolene, Zvolene, 133 pp. [in Slovak]
Bitušík, P. (2004) Chironomids (Diptera. Chironomidae) of the mountain lakes in the Tatra Mts. (Slovakia). A review. Dipterologica bohemoslovaca 12, Acta Facultatis Ecologiae, Zvolen, 12 (1), 25–53.
Bitušík, P. & Kubovčík, V. (1999) Sub-fossil chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the sediments of the Nižné Terianske pleso (High Tatra Mts., Slovakia). Dipterologica Bohemoslovaca, 9, 11–20.
Bitušík, P., Svitok, M., Kološta, P. & Hubková, M. (2006a) Classification of the Tatra Mountains lakes (Slovakia) using chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae). Biologia, 61 (18), 191–201.
https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-006-0131-8
Bitušík, P., Kopáček, J., Stuchlík, E. & Šporka, F. (2006b) Limnology of Lakes in the Tatra Mountains. Biologia, 61 (18), 1–222.
https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-006-0117-6
Bitušík, P., Trnková, K., Chamutiová, T., Sochuliaková, L., Stoklasa, J., Pipík, R., Szarlowicz, K., Szacilowski, G., Thomková, K., Šporka, F., Starek, D., Šurka, J., Milovský, R. & Hamerlík, L. (2018) Tracking human impact in a mining landscape using lake sediments: a multi-proxy palaeolimnological study. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 504, 23–33.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.04.021
Boggero, A., Füreder, L., Lencioni, V., Simcic, T., Thaler, B., Ferrarese, U., Lotter, A.F. & Ettinger, R. (2006) Littoral chironomid communities of Alpine lakes in relation to environmental factors. Hydrobiologia, 562, 145–165.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1809-6
Brodersen, K.P., Pedersen, O., Lindegaard, C. & Hamburger, K. (2004) Chironomids (Diptera) and oxy-regulatory capacity: An experimental approach to paleolimnological interpretation. Limnology and Oceanography, 49, 1549–1559.
https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2004.49.5.1549
Brodersen, K.P. & Quinlan, R. (2006) Midges as palaeoindicators of lake productivity, eutrophication and hypolimnetic oxygen. Quaternary Science Reviews, 25 (15–16), 1995–2012.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2005.03.020
Brooks, S.J., Langdon, P.G. & Heiri, O. (2007) The Identification and Use of Palaearctic Chironomidae Larvae in Palaeoecology. QRA Technical Guide No. 10. QRA, London, 276 pp.
Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (2013) The larvae of Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic region—Keys and diagnoses. In: Andersen, T., Sæther, O.A., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (Eds.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic Region. Keys and diagnoses. Larvae. Insects Systematics & Evolution, Supplements 66, pp. 39–136.
Cranston, P.S. & Krosch, M.N. (2015) DNA sequences and austral taxa indicate generic synonymy of Paratrichocladius Santos-Abreu with Cricotopus Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae). Systematic Entomology, 40 (4), 719–732.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12130
Cuppen, H.P.J.J. & Tempelman, D. (2018) Identification key for the 4th stage larvae of north west European species of Cricotopus (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae). Lauterbornia, 85, 69–90.
Epler, J.H., Ekrem, T. & Cranston, P.S. (2013) 10. The larvae of Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic Region—Keys and diagnoses. In: Andersen, T., Sæther, O.A., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (Eds.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic Region. Keys and diagnoses. Larvae. Insect Systematics & Evolution, Lund, Supplement, pp. 189–386.
Ferrington, L.C. (2007) Global diversity of non-biting midges (Chironomidae; Insecta-Diptera) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595, 447–455.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9130-1
Fittkau, E.J. & Roback, S.S. (1983) The larvae of Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic region—Keys and diagnoses. In: Wiederholm, T. (Ed.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. Part 1. Larvae. Entomologica Scandinavica, Supplement 19, pp. 33–110.
Füreder, L., Ettinger, R., Boggero, A., Thaler, B. & Thies, H. (2006) Macroinvertebrate diversity in Alpine lakes: effects of altitude and catchment properties. Hydrobiologia, 562, 123–144.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1808-7
Gąsiorowski, M. & Sienkiewicz, E. (2010) The Little Ice Age recorded in sediments of a small dystrophic mountain lake in southern Poland. Journal of Paleolimnology, 43, 475–487.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9344-5
Giłka, W. (2007) Przeglad faunistyczny ochotkowatych z plemienia Tanytarsini (Diptera: Chironomidae) Tatrzanskiego Parku Narodowego. A faunistic review of chironomids of the tribe Tanytarsini (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Tatra National Park. Dipteron, 23, 11–17. [in Polish]
Gorek, A. & Kahan, Š. (1973) Prehľad geologického vývoja a stavby Vysokých Tatier [Review of the geological development and structure of the High Tatra Mountains]. Zborník TANAP, 15, 5–88. [in Slovak]
Hamerlík, L. & Bitušík, P. (2008) Records of Chironomidae (Diptera) from a subalpine Tatra lake, new in Slovakia. Lauterbornia, 62, 131–133.
Hamerlík, L., Dobríková, D., Szarlowicz, K., Reczynski, W., Kubica, B., Šporka, F. & Bitušík, P. (2016) Lake biota response to human impact and local climate during the last 200 years: A multi-proxy study of a subalpine lake (Tatra Mountains, W Carpathians). Science of the Total Environment, 545, 320–328.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.049
Hamerlík, L., Svitok, M., Novikmec, M., Veselská, M. & Bitušík, P. (2017) Weak altitudinal pattern of overall chironomid richness is a result of contrasting trends of subfamilies in high-altitude ponds. Hydrobiologia, 793 (1), 67–81.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2992-3
Ilyashuk, B.P., Ilyashuk, E.A., Makarchenko, E.A. & Heiri, O. (2010) Midges of the genus Pseudodiamesa Goetghebuer (Diptera, Chironomidae): current knowledge and palaeoecological perspective. Journal of Paleolimnology, 44 (2), 667–676.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-010-9446-0
Kowalyk, H.E. (1985) The larval cephalic setae in the Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) and their importance in generic determinations. The Canadian Entomologist, 117, 67–106.
https://doi.org/10.4039/Ent11767-1
Kownacki, A. (2010) Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) of the Tatra National Park: distribution, ecology, zoogeography. (Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) Tatrzańskiego Parku Narodowego rozmieszczenie, ekologia, zoogeografia). Nauka a zarządzanie obszarem Tatr i ich otoczeniem, 2, 113–118. [in Polish]
Kownacki, A. (2011) Significance and conservation of Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) in aquatic ecosystems of Poland (Znaczenie i ochrona Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) w ekosystemach wodnych Polski). Forum Faunistyczne, 1 (1), 4–11. [in Polish with English Summary]
Kubovčík, V. (2012) Palaeoecology of Tatra Mts. lakes: Chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae), climate change and acidification. Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, 95 pp. [in Slovak]
Langdon, P.G., Ruiz, Z.O.E., Wynne, S., Sayer, C.D. & Davidson, T.A. (2010) Ecological influences on larval chironomid communities in shallow lakes: implications for palaeolimnological interpretations. Freshwater Biology, 55 (3), 531–545.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02345.x
Larocque-Tobler, I. (2014) The Polish sub-fossil chironomids. Palaeontologia Electronica, 17 (1), 1–28.
Matěna, J. & Frouz, J. (2000) Distribution and ecology of Chironomus Meigen species in the Czech Republic (Diptera, Chironomidae). In: Hoffrichter, O. (Ed.), Late 20th Century Research on Chironomidae: An Anthology from the 13th International Symposium on Chironomidae. Shaker Verlag, Aachen, pp. 543–548.
Medeiros, A.S. & Quinlan, R. (2011) The distribution of the Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) along multiple environmental gradients in lakes and ponds of the eastern Canadian Arctic. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 68 (9), 1511–1527.
https://doi.org/10.1139/f2011-076
Michailova, P., Kownacki, A., Woznicka, O., White, K., Dean, A. & Szarek-Gwiazda, E. (2014) Macropelopia nebulosa group (Diptera, Chironomidae, Tanypodinae)—karyotype and morphology of larvae and pupae. Zootaxa, 3852, 83–100.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3852.1.3
Moller Pillot, H.K.M. (2013) Chironomidae Larvae of the Netherlands and Adjacent Lowlands. Biology and Ecology of the aquatic Orthocladiinae. KNNV Publishing, Zeist, 312 pp.
Moubayed-Breil, J. & Bitušík, P. (2019) Taxonomic notes on the genus Chaetocladius (laminatus-group) (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) II. Descriptions of C. bitusiki sp. n. and C. mantetensis sp. n., two relict species inhabiting cold alpine springs and streams. Biologia, 74 (11), 1489–150.
https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-019-00253-8
Nicacio, G. & Juen, L. (2015) Chironomids as indicators in freshwater ecosystems: an assessment of the literature. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 8 (5), 393–403.
https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12123
Novikmec, M., Veselská, M., Bitušík, P., Hamerlík, L., Matúšová, Z., Klementová, B.R. & Svitok, M. (2015) Checklist of benthic macroinvertebrates of high altitude ponds of the Tatra Mountains (Central Europe) with new records of two species for Slovakia. Check List, 11 (1), 1522.
https://doi.org/10.15560/11.1.1522
Oliver, D.R. & Roussel, M.E. (1983) Redescription of Brillia Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) with descriptions of Nearctic species. The Canadian Entomologist, 115 (3), 257–279.
https://doi.org/10.4039/Ent115257-3
Pinder, L.C.V. & Reiss, F. (1983) The larvae of Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic region—Keys and diagnoses. In: Wiederholm, T. (Ed.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. Part 1. Larvae. Entomologica Scandinavica, Supplement 19, pp. 149–294.
Rieradevall, M. & Brooks, S.J. (2001) An identification guide to subfossil Tanypodinae larvae (Insecta: Diptera: Chironomidae) based on cephalic setation. Journal of Paleolimnology, 25, 81–99.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008185517959
Rossaro, B. & Lencioni, V. (2015) A key to larvae of Diamesa Meigen, 1835 (Diptera, Chironomidae), well known as adult males and pupae from Alps (Europe). Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research, 47, 123–138.
https://doi.org/10.4081/jear.2015.5516
Ruse, L. (2010) Classification of nutrient impact on lakes using the chironomid pupal exuvial technique. Ecological Indicators, 10 (3), 594–601.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.10.002
Sæther, O.A. (1976) Revision of Hydrobaenus, Trissocladius, Zalutschia, Paratrissocladius, and some related genera (Diptera: Chironomidae). Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 195, 1–287.
Sæther, O.A., Ashe, P. & Murray, D.A. (2000) Family Chironomidae. In: Papp, L. & Darvas, B. (Eds.), Contribution to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera (with special reference to flies of economic importance). Appendix. Science Herald, Budapest, pp. 113–334.
Sæther, O.A. & Andersen, T. (2013) 8. The larvae of Prodiamesinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic Region—Keys and diagnoses. In: Andersen, T., Sæther, O.A., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (Eds.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic Region. Keys and diagnoses. Larvae. Insect Systematics & Evolution, Supplement, Lund, pp. 189–386.
Serra-Tosio, B. (1973) Ecologie et bogéographie des Diamesini d´Europe (Diptera, Chironomidae). Travaux du Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie et de Pisciculture de l’Université de Grenoble, 63, 5–175.
Schmid, P.E. (1993) A key to the larval Chironomidae and their instars from Austrian Danube Region streams and rivers. With particular reference to a numerical taxonomic approach. Part I. Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae and Orthocladiinae. Wasser und Abwasser, 3, 1–514.
Silva, F.L. & Ekrem, T. (2016) Phylogenetic relationships of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) inferred from morphology. Systematic Entomology, 41 (1), 73–92.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12141
Soponis, A. (1977) A revision of the Nearctic species of Orthocladius (Orthocladius) van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae). The Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 102, 1–187.
https://doi.org/10.4039/entm109102fv
Spies, M. & Sæther, O.A (2013) Chironomidae. Fauna Europaea. In: Beuk, P. & Pape, T. (Eds.), Fauna Europaea: Diptera, Nematocera. Fauna Europaea. Version 2.6. Available from: http://www.faunaeur.org (accessed 10 November 2019)
Stoklasa, J., Dobríková, D., Sochuliaková, L., Pipík, R. & Hamerlík, L. (2017) Identifying white spots on the roadmap of Late Pleistocene and Holocene palaeolimnology in Slovakia: Review and future directions. Biologia, 72 (11), 1229–1239.
https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0152
Štefková, E. & Šporka, F. (2001) Long-term ecological research of high mountain lakes in the High Tatras (Slovakia). Ekologia, 20 (2), 101–106.
Vološčuk, I. (Ed.) (1994) Tatranský národný park [Tatra National Park]. Gradus, Martin, 551 pp. [in Slovak]
Walker, I.R. (2001) Midges: Chironomidae and related Diptera. In: Smol, J.P., Birks, H.J.B. & Last, W.M. (Eds.), Tracking environmental change using late sediments. Vol. 4. Zoological Indicators, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 43–66.