Distributional trends and species richness of Maryland, USA stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera), with an emphasis on the Appalachian region

Faunistic studies of regional biodiversity of aquatic insects are increasing in importance as declines are noted globally. Federal and state government conservation attempts for rare and threatened species are predicated upon the initial research of specialized taxonomists and trained field biologists. Reporting of aquatic insect occurrence data provides a baseline for conservation agencies to compare water quality monitoring studies. Updated fieldwork, literature reviews, and database queries for stoneflies from the mid-Atlantic USA state of Maryland necessitated an assessment of species diversity for the state. Seven new state records and one new literature record are presented, bringing the total number of species to 122. Chao1 estimates of species richness are presented for diversity hotspots and the state as a whole, indicating that increased sampling is still necessary to fully understand diversity patterns. Accompanying are assessments of elevation trends and adult presence patte...