ISSN 0373-5680 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009 145

Capacity building for freshwater insect studies in northern , : DARWIN Initiative programme

BROOKS, Stephen J.*, Luis M. HERNÁNDEZ*, Julieta MASSAFERRO**, Gustavo R. SPINELLI*** & Malcolm PENN*

* Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK; e-mail: [email protected] **INIBIOMA /CONICET, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina ***Museo de Ciencias Naturales de , Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina

Biodiversidad de insectos acuáticos en Patagonia Norte, Argentina: programa Iniciativa DARWIN

„„ RESUMEN. Este proyecto fue financiado durante un período de tres años, desde septiembre de 2006 a través de la Iniciativa Darwin del gobierno Británico. El objetivo de este trabajo es el estudio de los insectos acuáticos del Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (PNNHP), Patagonia, Argentina. El parque incluye una gran variedad de hábitats que comprenden arroyos, ríos y lagos los cuales se distribuyen desde el bosque siempreverde frío, hasta la zona árida de estepa. Todo el material será identificado y depositado en las colecciones del Museo La Plata y el Museo de Historia Natural de Londres. Los fondos de la Iniciativa Darwin han sido utilizados para equipar un laboratorio de biodiversidad en las oficinas del PNNHP en Bariloche y la estación de investigación en Puerto Blest. Toda la información de los insectos acuáticos y las distintas formaciones vegetales donde éstos se han encontrado, se incluirá en una base de datos (la primera de su tipo en Patagonia) que utilizará la metodología GIS para analizar patrones de distribución de las especies en el parque. En estos momentos se están produciendo varias guías de campo para identificar los insectos acuáticos del PNNHP. Es nuestro deseo que los resultados obtenidos en este proyecto, contribuyan a la conservación de los sistemas acuáticos en Argentina y América del Sur.

PALABRAS CLAVE. Iniciativa Darwin. Patagonia. Insectos Acuáticos.

„„ ABSTRACT. This project was funded from September 2006 for three years by the British Government’s Darwin Initiative programme. The focus of our project is the study of aquatic insects from Nahuel Huapi National Park (NHNP) in Patagonia, Argentina. The park includes a wide range of wetlands, including montane streams, lowland lakes and marshes, distributed within temperate rainforest and arid steppe. The material will be identified and stored in a fully referenced and accessible collection at La Plata Museum and the Natural History Museum, London. Darwin Initiative funding has been used to equip a biodiversity laboratory at National Park Headquarters in Bariloche and also a field station at Puerto Blest. Information on the insect species in NHNP will be entered into a GIS database, together with a vegetation classification and wetland characteristics, to model freshwater insect data spatially and create a biodiversity database, the first of its kind in Patagonia. We hope

Recibido: 16-II-2009; aceptado: 25-III-2009 146 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009 that the experiences we gain during the project, the insect collections and databases, the publications, and the many other products, will be used to further enhance wetland conservation throughout Argentina and southern South America.

KEY WORDS. Darwin Initiative. Patagonia. Aquatic Insects.

INTRODUCTION children and non-specialists, through the production of specialist and non-specialist Darwin Initiative. The Darwin Initiative identification guides, and through media programme is one of the responses by the exposure. The projects are expected to British Government to the Rio Earth Summit leave a lasting legacy in the host country in 1992 and Convention on Biodiversity. and promote sustainable use of biodiversity Funds are provided through the Darwin resources. Initiative by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ‘assist those Focus and aims of the project. The countries which are rich in biodiversity but location of the project under consideration poor in financial resources to implement the in this paper is the Nahuel Huapi National Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Park (NHNP), in northern Patagonia, which through the funding of collaborative projects surrounds the Argentinean resort town of which draw on UK biodiversity expertise’. Bariloche. The focus of the project is on the Funds have been made available on an biodiversity of freshwater insects in NHNP. annual basis since 1992 and, since 2005, The primary aims of the project are to a) after the launch of Phase II of the Darwin compile an inventory of freshwater insects Initiative, £7 million a year was committed that occur in NHNP and map this onto to the programme. vegetation zones using GIS; b) assemble a The focus of the Darwin Initiative, as curated and accessible reference collection of specified on the programme website (http:// freshwater insects from NHNP at the Museo darwin.defra.gov.uk), has been on projects de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata (UNLP); that: c) facilitate scientific study of the freshwater • assist countries rich in biodiversity but insect fauna of NHNP by equipping a field poor in resources with the conservation of station and laboratory in NHNP; d) promote biological diversity and implementation the understanding of freshwater insects in of the Biodiversity Convention; Patagonia by providing specialist papers • draw on British expertise in the field and identification guides; e) encourage the of biodiversity; next generation of freshwater ecologists by • are collaborative, involving either providing taxonomic, ecological and field local institutions or communities in the courses to post graduate students; f) promote host country; greater awareness of the importance and • have a real impact on the ability of sustainable use of wetlands in the region by the host country to meet its obligations the provision of non-specialist field guides, under the Biodiversity Convention; posters and courses. • are of high quality and scientific We hope that the approach we have taken excellence. in this project to promote awareness and The emphasis placed by the Darwin greater understanding of wetland biodiversity Initiative is on projects that improve the will be used as a model in other parts of understanding in the host country of South America and we will welcome the biodiversity through research, and promote opportunity to collaborate with colleagues the study of biodiversity through the initiation and share our experiences. Funding for the of training programmes for students, school project is available between September BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 147 2006 and August 2009, but we hope that There have already been some studies of this will be just the start of a long-lasting the terrestrial elements of the biota but little legacy of wetlands research, conservation is known about the freshwater insects, so and awareness in the region. baseline data is essential against which any future changes can be compared. The Puerto Project background. At present, Blest field station, situated in the heart of the the freshwater insect fauna in northern Andean forest near Bariloche, was built by Patagonia is poorly known and knowledge Universidad del Comahue in 2005 but needs and interest is constrained by a lack of equipping to be fully functional. It is one adequate identification guides and reference goal of this project to develop Puerto Blest collections. In addition, there is poor public field station into a centre for the study of understanding of the importance of wetlands freshwater ecosystems and the interpretation for biodiversity and in providing basic of wetland ecosystems. human needs. Freshwater insect biodiversity There is currently poor knowledge of in Argentina is threatened by human the regional fauna and flora of NHNP and impacts, especially nutrient enrichment the area is inadequately mapped so the and habitat modification. Even in National full extent of wetlands is unknown. The Parks, increasing pressure from tourism project will provide an infrastructure for the poses a threat. Our project will address these collection of freshwater insect biodiversity issues by: (a) building infrastructure in the data and vegetation associations. This Nahuel Huapi National Park, which has baseline data, against which future changes been identified as one of the most important can be assessed, is essential because of the conservation areas in Argentinean Patagonia; increasing pressure of tourism and fishing in (b) providing a wetland interpretation centre the NHNP area and because of the possible where tourists, sport fishermen, students impacts of climate change. The current lack and researchers will be able to study of awareness of conservation issues in local freshwater insects and understand their role communities will be addressed by training in freshwater ecosystems; (c) developing programmes and interpretive material that identification guides, reference collections will be available at Puerto Blest. These and an inventory of freshwater insects for the are prerequisites for the conservation of National Park. Patagonian wetlands. The Nahuel Huapi National Park (NHNP) The project will provide a detailed is a biodiversity hotspot in northern Patagonia database of freshwater insects from NHNP. (Fig. 1) where Sub-Antarctic rainforest meets The species distribution data will be linked Valdivian rainforest. These forests are isolated to a vegetation classification using GIS and from other similar forests within South digital imaging to model freshwater insect America by orographic and climatic barriers. data spatially and create a biodiversity data As a consequence, they have evolved a rich repository, the first of its kind in Patagonia. and largely endemic biota. In addition, NHNP A fully curated synoptic reference collection includes the ecotone between temperate of freshwater insects from NHNP will be montane rainforest and arid steppe, which established at the Puerto Blest field station further increases the biodiversity of the for use by student classes. The remaining region. Consequently, NHNP contains a wide material will be deposited in the Natural diversity of wetland habitats. This pristine History Museum, London (NHM) and Museo area is ideal for biodiversity and conservation de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata (UNLP) and studies. The area attracts many national and will be used to develop identification guides international tourists including eco-tourists, to freshwater insects of the region. These sport fishermen and skiers and the National guides will be multi-tiered from technical Park Authority (APN) is concerned about keys to simple identification charts for use the impacts of increased tourist pressure by visitors to the park, sport fishermen and and climate change on these ecosystems. community groups. These latter products 148 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009

Fig. 1. Map showing the Nahuel Huapi National Park area. 83 sites were sampled in the North, 182 sites in the Centre and in 2009, new sites (23, 24 and 25) will be sampled in the southern part of the NHNP.

will be used to generate interest in wetland research projects and learn about wetland conservation in local communities. The biodiversity. Results will be disseminated field station will be developed for use as an through scientific publications, a dedicated interpretive centre for wetlands promoting website, posters and simple identification the value and sustainable use of wetlands to charts, as well as local and national media. non-specialist visitors to the park. The centre will be equipped with microscopes, PCs and Project Partnerships. The project necessary infrastructure for its use by students involves the close collaboration and from schools and universities to carry out cooperation of biologists and conservationists BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 149 drawn from several institutions in Britain and therefore the reader should consult them for Argentina, who bring complementary skills more details. and expertise. The lead UK institution is the Natural History Museum, London (NHM) Location. The NHNP and the National which is the base for Stephen Brooks (project Reserve Nahuel Huapi are located between leader, and specialist in Chironomidae, the latitude 40º8’ and 41º35’ south and Odonata, Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera), longitude 71º2’ and 71º57’ west. It occupies Luis M. Hernández (specialist in Simuliidae) approximately 710,000 ha and was the and Malcolm Penn (specialist in GIS and first national park to be declared as such forest botany). The lead institute in Argentina in Argentina, when it was donated to the is Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata country by Dr. Francisco P. Moreno in 1903 (UNLP), which is the base for Gustavo (Fig. 1). The park is part of a continuous series Spinelli (in-country leader, Ceratopogonidae of protected areas that extend for more than specialist) and Mariano Donato (specialist one million hectares including Lanin National in Chironomidae). Others actively engaged Park in the north and Puyehue National park in the project are Miguel Archangelsky towards the west in . Towards the south, (specialist in Coleoptera) and Pablo Pessacq it is limited by the Rio Manso Inferior and to (specialist in Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera) the east by the rivers Villegas, Ñirihuau, and from Universidad de la Patagonia, Esquel, Limay. Within the park are located the towns Chubut (UNP), and Javier Muzón (specialist of San Carlos de Bariloche (22.000 ha), Villa in Heteroptera and Odonata) from Instituto de La Angostura (8000 ha), and Villa Mascardi Limnologia, La Plata (ILPLA). Administración and Traful (600 ha), making it one of the most Parques Nacionales (APN) is another key complex in Argentina from the point of view partner, where the lead contact is Susana of conservation and management. Within Seijas, who provide essential logistical the park there are three distinct ecological support for fieldwork, including access units that are representatives of one the most to sites, use of vehicles and support from extreme ecological gradients in the world: Rangers, and provision of meetings rooms High-Andean, Andean-Patagonic Forests and the space in which we have set up (which also includes sectors of Valdivian the Biodiversity Laboratory. The final main Forests), and Patagonia Steppe (see Table I). partner is Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche (CRUB/UNC), from where Julieta Climate. The main characteristics of Massaferro coordinates the project on the the Nahuel Huapi landscape are defined by ground and Karin Heinemann, who manages climatic changes dating from the Tertiary and the Puerto Blest field station. Two staff are Quaternary periods. The last ice mass started employed directly by the project, Fernanda retreating around 13000 yrs and the transition Montes de Oca and Analia Garré. In addition, between the different environmental units several post-graduate students based at have not changed much to the present day. the cooperating Argentinean institutes, are The temperature and precipitation varies working on research directly involved with within the three main ecological units within the project. the Park. In NHNP the annual precipitations STUDY AREA decrease markedly from west (4000 mm in Puerto Blest) to east (500 mm Rio Limay) in The Nahuel Huapi National Park less than 100 km. This is due to the steep - basic details. The characterisation of relief of the mountain range in this area. This climate, drainage, geology, topography, and phenomenon is also known as “sombra de vegetation follows the publications of Martin lluvia” [rain shadow] with 60% of the rainfall & Mermoz (2005) and Monjeau (2006). occurring mainly between May-August. The However, here we have only summed up the average temperature ranges from 8ºC in the most relevant information from those papers, lowlands and 3ºC in the higlands in winter. 150 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009 TABLE I. Main ecological units in Nahuel Huapi National Park following Monejau (2006).

EcologicalUnits EnvironmentSur face (Km2)%of thePark

High-Andean 140019 Forests (including HumidFor ests 460060(14 %iscovered by lakes) ValdivianForest) TransitionForests 107015

Steppe LowreliefedSteppe* 208 2.74

High reliefedSteppe* 248 3.26

* Low reliefed steppe and high reliefed steppe was classified based on topography and not vegetation.

In summer the temperature varies between coast. There are many other lakes in NHNP 33ºC during the day to 15ºC at night. for example Traful (the second largest with The High-Andean unit has a cold and 76 km2), Espejo, Correntoso, Gallardo and humid climate, and precipitation varies Gutiérrez. It is at the end of Lake Gutiérrez between 1200 to 2000 mm mainly in the that the division between the Atlantic and winter months. Within this unit areas of the Pacific is located. permafrost are found above 2200 m altitude; The Manso River Basin is located to the these tend to disappear towards the east south of the Park, and it is formed by streams because of the low altitude of the Andes. of glacial origin. This system originates at the Here the mean temperature is 2.4ºC with point where three of the four glacier branches temperature reaching 0ºC between July merge at Cerro Tronador. The basin is divided and September. In the rainforest subunit in Manso Superior, Manso Medio and Manso the climate is temperate and humid with Inferior, which delimit the extreme south of temperatures of 8ºC in low areas and 5.5ºC the Park. The waters of Manso Superior open at high altitude. In the area of transitional into Lake Mascardi, reaching via the Manso forests (ecotones) the temperature is similar Medio the Guillelmo, Fonck, Roca, Felipe to the rainforest unit. However, precipitations and Martin Lakes. The Manso Inferior River are scarce only reaching 1200 to 800 mm a joins the Villegas River, which crosses the year. The climate in the Steppe is temperate Andes to Chile through Portillo de Cochamó. and semi-arid with annual temperatures of In Chile it joins the Puelo River, opening into 8ºC and precipitations of 1000 to 600 mm. the Pacific Ocean.

Drainage. One of the main characteristics Geology. The North Patagonia geological of the drainage in NHNP is that the rivers province is located between latitude 39º reach the Pacific Ocean via the Manso River to 43º south. The topography is mainly Basin, and the Atlantic Ocean via Limay River mountanous and glacial origin. The most Basin, the latter being the most important extreme altitudinal gradients within the park river in the park, which also includes the are located in the valleys of the Rio Manso Nahuel Huapi Lake. This lake is one of the Inferior (500 m) and the Cerro Tronador largest in Argentina expanding over 560 (3,554 m). However, most of the area of the km2. The Rio Limay, which originates at the park is situated between 700 and 800 m. In east of the lake, joins the Neuquén River to general, the soils are not well developed and form the Negro River reaching the Atlantic have originated from volcanic ashes (Andisol BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 151 Table II. Classification of the vegetation in the Nahuel Huapi National Park by Martin & Mermoz (2005). Vegetation typesDominantspecies Height (m)atwhich dominant arefound Colihue Forest Nothofagusdom be yi 1000-1100m Cipr és Forest Austrocedrus chilsensis 1100 m Lenga Forest Nothofaguspum ilio 1000-1500m Nire forest,and tall forest of Nothofagusantarctica Below1200 m Nire Smallforests of Nire and/or Nothofagu ntarctic a, Chusqueaculeou Between1100-1400m Caña Lowforestof Lenga Nothofaguspum ilio 1600-1700m Semidesertathighaltitude Poa tristigmatica, Festuca montiola ,Senecio sp., 1500-1600m Nassuaviasp. HerbaceousSteppe Stipaspeciosa, Mulinum spinossum, Festuc apallecens 750-800 mtill 1400m LowreliefedSteppe Discaria articula ta,Berbe risbuxifolia Below1100 m LowreliefedSteppe with Discaria articula ta,Berbe risbuxifolia,Lomatia hirsuta, - disperse trees Maytenus boaria,Austrocedruschilensis SavannahsofHighAltitude Mostly he rbaceous plants 1000-1400m Areas modified by ruraland Plantago,Holcus, Rumex, Poa,Trifolium - urbansettlements soils) with a high content of allophane. steppe, the modifying forces are more due to This province is composed of metamorphic the action of water than to glaciers. This can and magma rocks of several ages. On top be seen by the change of valley profiles from of these rocks volcanic sediments were the classic “U” to “V” shape. In the steppe deposited during the Mesozoic and Tertiary. several process of sedimentation coexist, At the same time, other sediments of and two geoforms can be recognized, the volcanic origins were deposited by the end low reliefed steppe and high reliefed steppe. of the Tertiary and Quaternary together with elements of glacial origin. The formation of Vegetation. The dominant landscape in the Andino-Patagonia mountain range was the NHNP is the Patagonia Forest that has a completed in the Miocene approximately close phylogenetic relationship with eastern 15 millions years ago. More recently, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and volcanic activity gave rise to the domes of other areas in the Oriental Region. Martin Tertiary basaltic sediments of high altitude, & Mermoz (2005) stated that there are 14 such as the Cerro Tronador, the highest types of vegetation zones in the park, of point in NHNP. By the end of the Tertiary which the forests of Coihue (Nothofagus and throughout the Quaternary dramatic dombeyi), Ciprés (Austrocedrus chilensis), fluctuations of the climate occurred bringing Lenga (N. pumilio), Ñire (N. antarctica), and about glacial and interglacial periods that the Caña Colihue (Chusquea coleou) are modified the landscape and the drainage of predominant (see Table II). However, a new the region. Volcanic and seismic activity is characterization of the vegetation of the park still common in NHNP. is being carried out at present by Malcolm In the High Andean zone, at 1600 m Penn, one of the authors of this study. there is an “archipelago” of steep mountains that extended beyond the frozen cover of In the High-Andean ecological unit the the mountain during the period of glacial vegetation is of semi-desert with species maxima. It is here that most streams and rivers such as Poa tritigmatica, Luzula chilensis, originate, starting mainly with a small lake Senecio sp. and Nassuvia sp. There are also or lagoon of high altitude. The ecological hydrophilic species near water bodies, e.g. unit of humid forest was covered by ice less Abrotanella diemii, Senecio carbonensis and than 10,000 years ago, which gave rise to Menovillea hirsute. Below this unit, the “forest different types of soil. At the ecotone forest- line” is formed by a monospecific forest of 152 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009 Lenga, which changes in height with altitude. flotsam sampling the aquatic biotopes; and It varies from a small bush near rocks at 1700 light trapping, flight interception trapping m to trees of more than 20 m at 1000 m of and sweep netting the terrestrial vegetation altitude. The understorey of the Lenga forest adjacent to the wetlands. is formed by species such as Drimys winteri, The fieldwork seasons are between Maytenus disticha and Chusquea coleou. November and March in each of the three At the level of 1100 m species of Colihue years of the project. During the first season, with an understorey of Caña Colihue can wetlands in the central part of the park were be found. The area surrounding Puerto Blest sampled. Sites in the north of the park were is the main representative of the Valdivian sampled during the second field season and Forest in the park, and here it is common sites in the south will be sampled in the final to find Alerce (Fitzroya cuppresoides) and field season. Specimens collected by hand Cipres de las Guayteca (Pilgerodendron from the aquatic biotopes are preserved in uviferum) in the mallines [=swamplands], 80% ethanol in the field. Specimens of larval as they are locally known. The vegetation of and pupal Simuliidae and Chironomidae the mallines is mainly herbaceous, which is are also collected alive for rearing in the densely distributed. Another type of forest in laboratory so that immature stages can be this area is the Ñire forests, which can grow associated with the adult stages. A full list from 2 to 10 m. of the environmental data and other details In the ecotone forest-steppe (the transition and photographs were collected at each forest) the distribution of the forests is limited sampling site. Malaise traps are positioned due to a dryer climate that appears to make in suitable locations and serviced every 15 this forest more isolated. The forests of Lenga days. Light traps are run for one night. Trap- are only found in pockets to the south and to collected specimens are sorted into order or the east of the park. The forest of Ñire has a family level in the laboratory. wider ecological range forming small pockets together with Schinus patagoniucs, Berberis Reference collection and database. spp., Colettia spinossima and maitenes Specimens identified by the specialist (Maytenus boaria). Other bushes appear in taxonomists are curated, referenced and the steppe, where precipitations are less than stored at UNLP. A supplementary collection 600 mm, e.g. Discaria articulata, Berberis will be deposited at NHM, but all primary type buxifolia and Fabiana imbricata. material will be permanently deposited at UNLP. All the specimens and environmental ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS OF THE information are being databased and cross- PROJECT referenced into a GIS, which also includes a vegetation classification system, and this is The specific results of the project will be being used to model freshwater insect data described in deeper detail in some of the spatially and create the first biodiversity accompanying papers. The intention here database of its kind in Patagonia. is to illustrate the scope of the project by outlining our approach and major outputs. Infrastructure. Darwin Initiative funding has been used to purchase furniture, Field work. Insects are being sampled laboratory and IT equipment for the from a representative range of wetland Puerto Blest field station and a biodiversity biotopes throughout NHNP. These include laboratory in Bariloche. The Puerto Blest montane and lowland streams, lakes and field station includes a laboratory, meetings marshes, distributed within temperate room, kitchen and two small dormitories. rainforest and arid steppe. Both adult and The Biodiversity Laboratory is currently larval stages of the freshwater insects are being used for processing the material being sampled using the appropriate methods collected during the project. Both facilities including kick sampling, sweep netting and will be available for use beyond the end of BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 153 the project and provide a valuable legacy for freshwater insects, freshwater ecology and biodiversity studies in NHNP for the future. wetlands conservation, we are producing Project funds have also been used to provide a series of scientific papers, popular and facilities in UNLP for the long-term storage specialist books, pamphlets and posters on of material collected during the project. In the freshwater insects of the region. Two addition, a digital imaging system has been popular publications (Massaferro & Rojas, purchased and installed at ILPLA. The system 2007; Darwin Initiative et al., 2007) are uses high quality microscopy and software already available in local book shops, that compiles a montage of a series of images APN offices and have also been distributed taken sequentially through the focal plane to through local schools. We are currently produce a crisply focused whole specimen preparing a wetlands interpretive display at image. the APN information centre at Puerto Blest which will introduce the work of the project Outreach, training and education. and illustrate the biodiversity, ecology and An important element of the project is to range of wetlands to be found in NHNP. The promote awareness of the sustainable use project has generated a lot of media interest and understanding of wetland ecosystems. and has been the focus of several articles in Conservation of this fragile environment the national and local press, and members of will not be possible unless this and the next the project team have been interviewed on generation of adults value it. To achieve this we local and national television and radio. We have been visiting local schools to introduce hope that this exposure will inform people children to the insects that live in freshwaters about the objectives and achievements of the by giving them the opportunity to use nets project, help to raise interest in freshwater to collect them from ponds and streams, and insects and also in the importance and examine the animals under microscopes. We urgency of wetlands conservation and what have also run introductory courses for APN they can do to contribute to this. Rangers and sport fishermen on freshwater insect identification and ecology. Adults Transfer of biodiversity knowledge. and children alike find these intimate views The Argentinean scientists working on the into the vastly different worlds of freshwater project have visited the Natural History insects awe-inspiring and it is then relatively Museum, London (NHM), on several easy to enthuse them to develop this interest. occasions. This has provided them with the APN Rangers have also been taught how opportunity of examining reference material freshwater insects can be used to biomonitor and consulting literature that may not be rivers and detect pollution incidents that easily to obtain in Argentina. Of particular may not otherwise be apparent simply by importance are the type specimens in NHM chemical analysis of the water. Seeing the collections which are essential to confirm differences in abundance and diversity of the identity of material collected in the field freshwater insects in adjacent stretches of in Argentina, and to verify the names of polluted and unpolluted river is a graphic specimens from UNLP. The NHM collections illustration of the impact that pollution can are especially rich in Diptera types collected make. We have also run several workshops by F.W. Edwards (e.g., Edwards, 1931; Ingram on freshwater insect identification and & Macfie, 1931) in the Bariloche region early ecology for graduate and under-graduate in the 20th Century. students. Both project field assistant staff The project scientists from NHM have members are registered for higher degrees also made return visits to Argentina in order research material collected by the project. to participate in field work and familiarise The material is also forming the basis of four themselves with the various wetland habitats additional PhD theses under supervision by in NHNP, collect data for GIS, train the project partners. assistants employed on the project in field To further encourage an interest in work and curation techniques, visit UNLP to 154 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009 examine the collections of freshwater insects, and non-specialist audiences on freshwater discuss logistic support from ANP and hold insects and the importance of wetlands for project meetings with all the participants to biodiversity; 6) publishing field guides, discuss progress and future developments manuals and papers for the identification of and plan strategy. freshwater insects.

CONCLUSIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Darwin Initiative project has already We thank DEFRA and the Darwin Initiative achieved some of its goals in the first 18 for funding project 15/025 “Capacity building months of the project. An important reason for freshwater insect studies in northern for this is the excellent esprit de corps that Patagonia, Argentina”. has developed between the project partners who have been supporting each other and working closely together towards aims that LITERATURE CITED were mutually agreed at the beginning of the project. 1. DARWIN INITIATIVE. Nahuel Huapi National Park and University of Comahue members. 2007. Fauna Nativa: The project partnership has already Invertebrados. Leaflet. succeeded in its goals to support Argentinean 2. EDWARDS, F. W. 1931. Simuliidae. In: Diptera of Patagonia and South Chile. British Museum (Natural History), institutions to build capacity to meet CBD London 2: 121-154. commitments by: 1) providing resources 3. INGRAM, A. & J. W. MACFIE. 1931. Ceratopogonidae. In: Diptera of Patagonia and South Chile. British Museum to equip and furnish the Puerto Blest field (Natural History), London 2, 121-154. station as a wetlands study and interpretive 4. MARTIN, C. E. & M. MERMOZ. 2005. Mapa de vegetación centre; 2) furnishing and equipping a room del Parque y la Reserva Nacional Nahuel Huapi. An. Parques Nacionales 27, 51-62. as a biodiversity research laboratory in ANP 5. MASSAFERRO, J & F. ROJAS. 2007. Guía para la headquarters; 3) training students and park identificación de macroinvertebrados acuáticos de Patagonia. Freshwater Biological Association. Leaflet. rangers to collect and identify freshwater 6. MONJEAU, A. 2006. Perfil de área protegida Argentina, insects and in biomonitoring techniques; 4) Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. Parks Watch, Fortaleciendo las Areas Protegidas para Conservar la providing baseline information about the Biodiversidad. ParksWatch [pdf unnumbered pages distribution of freshwater insects in NHNP report]. to ANP; 5) providing courses to specialist