A survey of Trichoptera from the Tributaries of the Doring and mainstream Olifants Rivers, Cedarberg, South Africa with implications for conservation

Abstract

The tributaries of the Olifants River draining the Cedarberg Mountains in the Western Cape are well known for their diverse fauna of endemic freshwater fish. Aquatic ecosystems in the region have also been identified as being particularly important in terms of ecosystem conservation. Recent surveys of aquatic macroinvertebrates have indicated that the region is rich in Trichoptera, with a number of regional endemic species, some of which are not recognizable as known described species. The distribution of certain species appears to be confined to either the arid east-flowing tributaries of the Doring River or else the wetter west-flowing tributaries of the mainstream Olifants River.