The aquatic Coleoptera of Prince Edward Island, Canada: new records and faunal composition

Abstract

AbstractTh e aquatic Coleoptera (Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Elmidae, Dryopidae, Heteroceridae)of Prince Edward Island, Canada is surveyed. Seventy-two species are now known to occuron Prince Edward Island, 26 of which are added to the island’s faunal list. Th ree species, Gyrinus aquirisLeConte, Oulimnius latiusculus (LeConte), and Helichus striatus LeConte, are removed since there are novoucher specimens or published records to substantiate their presence. Th e name Dineutus horni is designatedas an incorrect subsequent spelling of Dineutus hornii Roberts, 1895. Th e composition of the faunais briefl y discussed, both from regional and zoogeographic perspectives. Th ere is only one introducedspecies, Helophorus grandis Illiger. Only one third of the aquatic fauna recorded on the neighbouringmainland has been found on Prince Edward Island, perhaps refl ecting an island-associated diminution,the paucity of collecting, an area eff ect, or a combination of all these factors. Th e island faunas of PrinceEdward Island, Cape Breton Island, and insular Newfoundland are compared. Prince Edward Island’sis 36% smaller than the others, in contrast with the island’s carabid fauna which is almost identical inmagnitude with that of Cape Breton. Th is might refl ect dispersal obstacles, the relative paucity of aquatichabitats on the island, or an insuffi cient collecting eff ort. Further research would be desirable, both to betterdiscern the composition of the province’s fauna, as well as to monitor the health of aquatic ecosystemsin relation to anthropogenic activities.