A case study on the Trichoptera fauna of springs in the escarpment mountains of southern Africa (Insecta, Trichoptera)

Abstract

The Trichoptera assemblages of three springs in the escarpment and on the Waterberg of Namibia, and of two springs in the Great Escarpment of South Africa were collected at irregular intervals. The species composition of each spring is presented and discussed in terms of permanence and stability of spring areas. The study has revealed a poor fauna in the Namibian escarpment, which consists of widespread species whereas the springs on the Waterberg and in the Great Escarpment are more speciose and contain relict and possible endemic species as well as widespread and euryoecious species. The differences are due to different degrees of isolation and distance from other freshwater ecosystems and suitable aquatic biotopes in the arid and semiarid environment of southwestern Africa.