Addressing biodiversity knowledge shortfalls in New World Helicopsychidae (Insecta, Trichoptera): Potential distribution, environmental gradients, and identification of conservation and research priority areas

PLOS One | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327580 July 28, 2025 1 / 22 OPEN ACCESS Citation: Pereira R, Calor A (2025) Addressing biodiversity knowledge shortfalls in New World Helicopsychidae (Insecta, Trichoptera): Potential distribution, environmental gradients, and identification of conservation and research priority areas. PLoS One 20(7): e0327580. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327580 Editor: Halil Ibrahimi, University of Prishtina, ALBANIA Received: March 18, 2025 Accepted: June 17, 2025 Published: July 28, 2025 Peer Review History: PLOS recognizes the benefits of transparency in the peer review process; therefore, we enable the publication of all of the content of peer review and author responses alongside final, published articles. The editorial history of this article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0327580 Copyright: © 2025 Pereira, Calor . This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, RESEARCH ARTICLE Addressing biodiversity knowledge shortfalls in New World Helicopsychidae (Insecta, Trichoptera): Potential distribution, environmental gradients, and identification of conservation and research priority areas Rafael Pereira 1,2☯*, Adolfo Calor2☯ 1 Laboratório de Organismos Aquáticos – LOA, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Aquáticos Tropicais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz – (PPGSAT – UESC), Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 2 Laboratório

de Entomologia Aquática – LEAq, Instituto de Biologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Evolução, Universidade Federal da Bahia (PPGBioEvo, UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil ☯ These authors contributed equally to this work. * rafaelpsilvape@gmail.com Abstract This study provides an integrative analysis of Helicopsychidae biodiversity in the New World (NW), examining their distribution patterns, environmental gradients, biodiver- sity hotspots, and biodiversity knowledge shortfalls. We estimated species richness, delineated potential distribution, and identified areas of priority for research/conser- vation efforts. Our estimates indicate that up to 75% of NW Helicopsychidae species remain undescribed, with a notable Linnean shortfall at the subgenus level: approxi- mately 50% of H. (Cochliopsyche) species and up to 77% of H. (Feropsyche) species are yet to be described. Knowledge of semaphoronts is also limited, with immature stages documented for only 15% of H. (Feropsyche) species and 6% of H. (Cochlio- psyche). Distributional records are concentrated in the Brazilian subregion (between 0°–24°S), and most species have a short environmental distribution gradient. Based on currently known, priority conservation areas are in the Antilles and the Tropical Forest. For H. (Feropsyche), priority areas include low-altitude and coastal regions with low-order streams, whereas H. (Cochliopsyche) conservation priorities lie in the large river basins, especially in the Amazon and Atlantic Forests. Future research

efforts should focus on H. (Feropsyche) in the Chaco and high-altitude areas of the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga domains, as well as on H. (Cochliopsyche) across South America’s high order river (e.g., Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná, and São Francisco Rivers). Here, highlights recent advances in the taxonomy and distribution cataloguing of NW Helicopsychidae, despite significant progress, marjory of spe- cies remain undescribed, emphasizing the need for continued research. Although well-sampled regions like the Antilles, south Central America, Amazon coastal areas, and Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor should be prioritized for conservation,