Thermal-sensitivity

Guides

• Heterocloeon curiosum

  curious small minnow mayfly

  Heterocloeon curiosum is a small minnow mayfly in the family Baetidae, native to North America. It has been studied in Virginia river systems, where it demonstrates bivoltine life history with two summer generations. Reservoir construction with surface release can significantly alter its emergence timing, larval density, and fecundity through thermal regime changes.

  EphemeropteraBaetidaemayflybenthicfreshwaterNorth-Americabivoltinereservoir-impactthermal-sensitivity

• Pteronarcys californica

  giant salmonfly, salmonfly, California giant stonefly

  Pteronarcys californica, commonly called the giant salmonfly, is among the largest stoneflies in North America. The nymphal stage lasts 3–4 years in cold, well-oxygenated rivers, after which adults emerge in synchronized mass events during late spring to early summer. Adults are strikingly colored with bright orange abdomens, leg joints, and thorax segments, and carry egg masses resembling clusters of salmon roe. The species serves as a critical food source for salmonid fishes and is highly valued by fly anglers, making it both ecologically and culturally significant across western North American river systems.

  Plecopterastoneflyaquatic-insectbioindicatorsalmonid-preyfly-fishingdetritivorecoldwater-specialistthermal-sensitivitysynchronized-emergencewestern-North-Americariver-conservation