Records of Parochlus steinenii in the Maritime Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions

Melisa Gañan; Tamara Contador; Javier Rendoll; Felipe Simoes; Carolina Pérez; Gillian Graham; Simon Castillo; James Kennedy; Peter Convey

doi:10.15468/2cfwd7

Records of Parochlus steinenii in the Maritime Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions

Citation

Gañan M, Contador T, Rendoll J, Simoes F, Pérez C, Graham G, Castillo S, Kennedy J, Convey P (2020). Records of Parochlus steinenii in the Maritime Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions. Version 1.5. Universidad de Magallanes. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/2cfwd7 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-11.

Description

This study provides a complete description of the geographical distribution of Parochlus steinenii (Diptera: Chironomidae), the only flying insect occurring naturally in the Antarctic continent. The distribution encompasses the South Shetland Islands (Maritime Antarctic), South Georgia (sub-Antarctic) and parts of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CHBR, southern Chile).

Purpose

This database was developed as one of the main objectives of two Chilean-funded research projects addressing understanding the effects of climate change on sub-Antarctic and Antarctic insects. It provides a robust and up-to-date dataset documenting the distribution of Parochlus steinenii in the Maritime Antarctic, the sub-Antarctic and the CHBR in southern South America (Chile).

Sampling Description

Study Extent

The area of study in Maritime Antarctica includes the South Shetland Islands and part of the north-west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, both of which are included in Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Region (ACBR) 3, North-west Antarctic Peninsula (for more information see Terauds et al., 2012; Terauds & Lee, 2016). In the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (Magallanes sub-Antarctic region, Rozzi et al., 2012), the study area includes the Navarino Island, the Cabo de Hornos National Park and the Diego Ramírez Marine Park. Records of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia are also included. During surveys the presence of any life stage of the species was recorded, macrohabitat was described, climatic variables recorded and a reference collection of individuals made.

Sampling

To determine the presence of Parochlus steinenii through the areas described, intensive field surveys were conducted through accessible ice-free areas. At each surveyed location, all accessible rivers, streams, lagoons and lakes were searched in detail over a period of 3-6 h, depending on the weather conditions and local logistics. Presence/absence was determined by examining the shoreline habitats to confirm the presence of larvae, pupae or adults under stones, rocks, sediment and/or submerged vegetation. Water body typology and macrohabitat were described following Hans & Reinhardt (2006). Each site visited was georeferenced using a Garmin 78SC GPS. Climatic variables (water temperature, air temperature, wind speed and relative humidity) were measured and, finally, samples collected of living individuals for research into phenology and physiology, and of individuals immediately preserved in alcohol (95%) for genetic studies. All samples were transported to the Wankara Laboratory at Magallanes University in Puerto Williams, Chile. Characteristics of the species according to the taxonomic key of Wirth & Gressitt (1967) were verified in the laboratory. The species was recorded in all locations surveyed except Diego Ramirez Island and the north-west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Survey data were combined with information from a careful bibliographic review (see Torres 1956; Wirth and Gressitt 1967; Brundin 1970; Edwars and Usher 1985; Rauschert 1985; Shimada et al. 1991; Richard et al. 1994; Convey and Block 1996; Allegrucci et al. 2006; Hahn and Reinhardt 2006; Toro et al. 2006; Agius et al. 2008; Rico and Quesada 2013).

Quality Control

Each record of the species obtained in the field was georeferenced using a Garmin 78SC GPS. Most records obtained from literature included geographical coordinates. Where this was not the case, records were assigned a georeference by identification of the body of water described in the study.
Geographic names used for records presented here are the official name used in the maps prepared by the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (CGA) and by the Military Geographical Institute (IGM) of Chile. For sites lacking formal names, ‘unofficial’ names were assigned.

Method steps

The study was conducted throughout the latitudinal and environmental gradient that includes the southern tip of South America in the sub-Antarctic Magellanic ecoregion (54-57°S), and the Scotia Arc distribution of P. steinenii in the sub-Antarctic (South Georgia, 53-54°S) and Maritime Antarctic (South Shetland Islands, 63-64°S) regions. The geographical range of the study involves both small-scale microhabitat environmental gradients and the larger spatial scale 10-degree latitudinal gradient. In the maritime Antarctic South Shetland Islands, we specifically surveyed ice-free areas on Deception, Livingston, Greenwich, Robert, Nelson, and King George Islands. In the north-west coast of Antarctic Peninsula we surveyed the Trinity Peninsula and Litchfield Island. In the CHBR, we surveyed altitudinal gradients located along the north coast of Navarino Island, in Horn Island and the Diego Ramirez archipelago. Parochlus steinenii was found throughout the study area excepting the Diego Ramírez archipelago and the two locations along the north-west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Note that, more widely, the species has never been recorded in extensive terrestrial/freshwater studies from any location along the Antarctic Peninsula or from the South Orkney Islands (Chown & Convey, 2016). Fieldwork in the Antarctic was conducted during six austral summer seasons (2013/14 – 2018/19) during field expeditions organized by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) to the South Shetland Islands and the British Antarctic Survey to South Georgia. In the Magellanic sub-Antarctic region of southern Chile (in the CHBR), fieldwork was organized by the Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program of the Universidad de Magallanes. To characterize the distribution of P. steinenii in the South Shetland Islands, we conducted intensive surveys throughout accessible ice-free areas. All accessible sites were sampled for a period of 4-6 h, depending on climatic conditions and logistic support. We additionally sourced all available information from the existing literature (see Wirth & Gressitt, 1967; Brundin, 1970; Allegrucci et al., 2006; Hann & Reinhard, 2006; Toro et al., 2006; Rico & Quesada, 2013).
We assessed the presence/absence of P. steinenii (as larvae, pupae or adults) by searching close to the shoreline of lakes and streams, and specifically under rocks and vegetation, and in sediments.

Additional info

Two publications have been generated from these data: 1. Gañán Mora, M., T.A. Contador & J.H. Kennedy. 2015. La vida en los extremos: el uso de SIG para estudiar la distribución de la mosca antártica alada, Parochlus steinenii (Diptera: Chironomidae), en las Islas Shetland del Sur (Antártica marítima).Pp.1599-1608, in de la Riva, J., P. Ibarra, R. Montorio & M. Rodrigues (eds.). Análisis espacial y representación geográfica: innovación y aplicación. Universidad de Zaragoza-AGE. ISBN: 978-84-92522-95-8. 2. Contador T, Gañan M, Bizama G, Fuentes-Jaque G, Morales L, Rendoll J, Simoes F, Kennedy J, Rozzi R, Convey P (2020) Assessing distribution shifts and ecophysiological characteristics of the only Antarctic winged midge under climate change scenarios. Scientific Reports 10: e9087. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65571-3

Taxonomic Coverages

The present dataset reports occurrences of the specie Parochlus steinenii.

Parochus steinenii
common name: winged Antarctic midge rank: species

Geographic Coverages

The dataset comprises the South Shetland Islands, specifically King George, Nelson, Robert, Livingston and Deception Islands in the Maritime Antarctic, South Georgia in the sub-Antarctic, Horn and Navarino Islands in the CHBR (southern South America, Chile).

Bibliographic Citations

Agius J, Gibson J, Rico E, Quesada A (2009) Paleolimnological evidence confirms that Parochlus steinenii (Gerke) is not a recent introduction to the Antarctic Peninsula Region. Chironomus Newsletter of Chironomidae Research 22: 18–21. - doi: 10.5324/cjcr.v0i22.604
Allegrucci G, Carchini G, Todisco V, Convey P, Sbordoni V (2006) A molecular phylogeny of Antarctic Chironomidae and its implications for biogeographical history. Polar Biology 29:320–326. - 10.1007/s00300-005-0056-7
Brundin L (1970) Diptera: Chironomidae of South Georgia. Pacific Insects Monograph 23: 276–276. -
Chown SL, Convey P (2016) Antarctic entomology. Annual Review of Entomology 61: 119–137 - DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023537
Contador T (2011) Benthic macroinvertebrates of temperate, sub-Antarctic streams: the effects of altitudinal zoning and temperature on the phenology of aquatic insects associated to the Róbalo river, Navarino Island (55°S), Chile. PhD Thesis. University of North Texas,Denton, 140 pp. -
Contador T, Kennedy JH, Rozzi R, Villarroel JO (2015) Sharp altitudinal gradients in Magellanic Sub-Antarctic streams: patterns along a fluvial system in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (55°S). Polar Biology 38: 1853–1866. - DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1746-4
Contador T, Gañan M, Bizama G, Fuentes-Jaque G, Morales L, Rendoll J, Simoes F, Kennedy J, Rozzi R, Convey P (2020) Assessing distribution shifts and ecophysiological characteristics of the only Antarctic winged midge under climate change scenarios. Scientific Reports 10: e9087 - 10.1038/s41598-020-65571-3
Convey P, Block W (1996) Antarctic Diptera: ecology, physiology and distribution. European Journal of Entomology 93: 1–13. -
Edwards M, Usher MB (1985) The windged Antarctic midge Parochlus steinenii (Gerke) (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the South Shetland Islands. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 26: 83–93. - DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1985.tb01553.x
Hahn, S. & Reinhardt, K. Habitat preference and reproductive traits in the Antarctic midge Parochlus steinenii (Diptera: Chironomidae). Antarct. Sci. 18, 175 (2006). - DOI:10.1017/S0954102006000204
Pisano E (1980) Catálogo de la flora vascular del archipiélago del Cabo de Hornos. Anales Del Instituto de La Patagonia (Chile) 11: 151–189. -
Pisano E, Schlatter R (1981) Vegetación y flora de las islas Diego Ramirez (Chile). I. Características y Relaciones de la flora vascular. Anales del Instituto de La Patagonia 12: 183–194. Rauschert M (1985) Beobachtungen an der Chironomide Parochlus steinenii auf der Insel King George (Südshetlandinseln, Antarktis) (Diptera, Chironomidae). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 32: 183–188. - DOI:10.1002/mmnd.19850320125
Regional ecosystem profile – Polar and Sub-polar Region (2017) EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, Claire-Sophie Azam, Cédric Marteau, Vincent Piton, Cynthia Borot, Paul Tixier. Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF). BEST, Service contract 07.0307.2013/666363/SER/B2, European Commission, 225 pp. [+ 31 Annexes, 24–27]. -
Richard KJ, Convey P, Block W (1994) The terrestrial arthropod fauna of the Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands. Polar Biology 14: 371–379. - DOI: 10.1007/BF00240257
Rico E, Quesada A (2013) Distribution and ecology of chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) on Byers Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica. Antarctic Science 25: 288–291 - DOI: 10.1017/S095410201200096X
Rozzi R, Armesto JJ, Gutiérrez J, Massardo F, Likens G, Anderson CB, Poole A, Moses K, Hargrove G, Mansilla A, Kennedy JH, Willson M, Jax K, Jones C, Callicott JB, Kalin MT (2012) Integrating ecology and environmental ethics: Earth stewardship in the southern end of the Americas. BioScience 62: 226–236. - DOI: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.3.4
Shimada K, Ohyama Y, Pan CX (1991) Cold-hardiness of the Antarctic winged midge Parochlus steineni during the active season at King George Island. Polar Biology 11: 311–314. - DOI:10.1007/BF00239023
Simões F (2019) Ecophysiology, morphology and phylogeography of insects in the Scotia Arc. PhD Thesis. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 191 pp. -
Terauds A, Chown S, Morgan F, Peat J, Watts D, Keys H, Convey P, Bergstrom D (2012) Conservation biogeography of the Antarctic. Diversity and Distributions 18: 726–741. - 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2012.00925.x
Terauds A, Lee JR (2016) Antarctic biogeography revisited: updating the Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions. Diversity and Distributions 22: 836–840. - DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12453
Torres BA (1956) Primer hallazgo de Tendipedidos alados en la región Antártica. Podonominae, una nueva subfamilia para la citada región. Anales de la Sociedad Científica Argentina 161: 41–52. -
Wirth WW, Gressitt JL (1967) Diptera: Chironomidae (Midges). In: Gressitt JL (Ed.) Entomology of Antarctica, vol. 10, Antarctic Research Series. American Geophysical Union, Washington, 197–203. - DOI: 10.1029/AR010p0197
Hårsaker K, Aspaas AM, Dolmen D, Ekrem T, Munkeby TB, Stur E, Frode Ø, Aagaard K, Finstad AG (2020) Terrestrial and limnic invertebrates systematic collection, NTNU University Museum. Version 1.290. NTNU University Museum. Occurrence dataset. - DOI: 10.15468/fsreqb
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Contacts

Melisa Gañan
originator
position: Researcher
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Millennium Nucleus of Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL)
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305 / +5698186306
email: melysa_gm@yahoo.es
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6411-9295

Tamara Contador
originator
position: Associate Professor of University of Magallanes
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Millennium Nucleus of Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL). Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
email: contador.tamara@gmail.com
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0250-9877

Javier Rendoll
originator
position: PhD student
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
email: javier.rendoll@gmail.com

Felipe Simoes
originator
position: PhD student
Departament of zoology, University Museum of Zoology. British Antarctic Survey.
Downing Street
Cambridge
GB
email: pezao143@gmail.com

Carolina Pérez
originator
position: MsC student
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
email: ca.pereztroncoso@gmail.com

Gillian Graham
originator
position: MsC student
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas
1511W Sycamore
Denton
US
email: GillianGraham@my.unt.edu

Simon Castillo
originator
position: PhD student
Department of Ecology, Pontificia Universidad Católica
Avda. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 340
Santiago
CL

James Kennedy
originator
position: Regents Professor of Biological Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas. Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes
1511W Sycamore
Denton
US
email: james.kennedy@unt.edu

Peter Convey
originator
position: Individual Merit Scientist
British Antarctic Survey. Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes
High Cross, Madingley Road
Cambridge
GB
email: pcon@bas.ac.uk

Melisa Gañan
metadata author
position: Researcher
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara. University of Magallanes (UMAG)
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305 / +5698186306
email: melysa_gm@yahoo.es
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6411-9295

Tamara Contador
metadata author
position: Associate Professor of University of Magallanes
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara. University of Magallanes (UMAG)
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
email: melysa_gm@yahoo.es
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0250-9877

Javier Rendoll
metadata author
position: PhD student
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
email: javier.rendoll@gmail.com

Felipe Simoes
metadata author
position: PhD student
Departament of zoology, University Museum of Zoology. British Antarctic Survey.
Downing Street
Cambridge
GB
email: pezao143@gmail.com

Carolina Pérez
metadata author
position: MsC student
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
email: ca.pereztroncoso@gmail.com

Gillian Graham
metadata author
position: MsC student
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas
1511W Sycamore
Denton
US
email: GillianGraham@my.unt.edu

Simon Castillo
metadata author
position: PhD student
Department of Ecology, Pontificia Universidad Católica
Avda. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 340
Santiago
CL

James Kennedy
metadata author
position: Regents Professor of Biological Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas. Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes
1511W Sycamore
Denton
US
email: james.kennedy@unt.edu

Peter Convey
metadata author
position: Individual Merit Scientist
British Antarctic Survey. Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes
High Cross, Madingley Road
Cambridge
GB
email: pcon@bas.ac.uk

Melisa Gañan
author
position: Researcher
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Millennium Nucleus of Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL).
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305 / +5698186306
email: melysa_gm@yahoo.es
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6411-9295

Tamara Contador
principal investigator
position: Associate Professor of University of Magallanes
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Millennium Nucleus of Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL). Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0250-9877

Javier Rendoll
author
position: PhD Student
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
email: javier.rendoll@gmail.com

Felipe Simoes
author
position: PhD
Department of Zoology, University Museum of Zoology. British Antarctic Survey.
Downing Street
Cambridge
GB
email: flsimoes28@gmail.com

Carolina Pérez
author
position: MsC student
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
email: ca.pereztroncoso@gmail.com

Gillian Graham
administrative point of contact
position: MsC Student
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas
Denton
US
email: GillianGraham@my.unt.edu

Simon Castillo
administrative point of contact
position: PhD student
Department of Ecology, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas
Santiago
CL

James Kennedy
author
position: Regents Professor of Biological Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas. Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes.
Denton
US
email: james.kennedy@unt.edu

Peter Convey
author
position: Individual Merit Scientist
British Antarctic Survey. Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes.
Cambridge
GB
email: pcon@bas.ac.uk

Melisa Gañan
administrative point of contact
position: Researcher
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Millennium Nucleus of Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL).
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
Cabo de Hornos
CL
Telephone: +56612621305 / +5698186306
email: melysa_gm@yahoo.es
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6411-9295

Tamara Contador
administrative point of contact
position: Associate Professor of University of Magallanes
Laboratorio de estudios dulceacuícolas subantárticos y antárticos Wankara (Universidad de Magallanes). Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, Universidad de Magallanes. Millennium Nucleus of Invasive Salmonids (INVASAL). Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.
Teniente Muñoz 166
Puerto Williams
CL
Telephone: +56612621305
email: contador.tamara@gmail.com
userId: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0250-9877