Life history strategies of Annitella obscurata (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) in Norway.

This project will serve to complement a study of Trichoptera in Sierra Nevada National Park, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Environment, from a faunistic, zoogeographic and ecological point of view, and applied to the use of these insects as sensitive of the global climate change. Trichoptera is a highly diverse group of insects that cover a wide range of ecological conditions, which make them ideal as bioindicators of impairment aquatic ecosystems. The overall aim of the study is to describe the lif e history of some endemic species of Trichoptera (from genus Annitella) in high mountain ecosystems which are relevant in detecting climate change because of their adaptation to these ecosystems. Climate changes have also more impacts in these species bec ause of their peculiar characteristics. Another goal is the elaboration of a molecular phylogeny of species from the same genus of Annitella so that we could carry out a more exhaustive study on their historical process of colonisation and diversification . The Annitella genus is constitute by 13 species with a shared characteristic of living in high mountain ecosystems. We found them in isolated mountain systems that are affected by repetitive cycles of colder and warmer periods. We could use this genus t o understand the settler effect of glaciations. Our hypothesis is that glacial periods, as well as post-glacial periods, could have been key factors in the current distribution of high mountain species, among which we find the Annitella. We find that stud ying the life cycle of A. obscurata in Norway, the specie with wider distribution in Europe, could be benefit to compare the life history of this specie with the endemic ones in Sierra Nevada. What is more, we could clarify ecological aspects that are vit al in understanding the restricted distribution from other species of the genus. The study set in Norway will be carried out at the Natural History Museum in collaboration with Professor John E. Brittain.