Elevational biodiversity gradients in the Neotropics: Perspectives from freshwater caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)

Fig 1. Map of the study localities in the Guayllabamba watershed across an elevation gradient (600–3,500 m a.s.l.) in the equatorial Andes. 1) Mashpi-Shungo reserve; 2) Mashpi Lodge locality 1; 3) Mashpi Lodge locality T; 4) Intillacta Reserve; 5) Bellavista Reserve; 6) Cedral Reserve; 7) Verdecocha Reserve. Map based on based on a freely available Digital Elevation Model produced by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)– NASA: https://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/ext. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272229.g001 Table 1. Study localities in the Guayllabamba watershed across an elevation gradient (600–3,500 m a.s.l.) in the equatorial Andes and environmental parameters. T = temperature. Locality Mean Elevation Natural Agricultural Drainage Slope Mean T Average Precipitation (m) Vegetation Cover Area (˚) ˚C Minimum (mm) (%)� (%)� (ha) T ˚C Mashpishungo 1595 619 94 6 15.21 14.0 21.64 20.25 Mashpi 1 2176 903 100 0 27.36 33.5 19.43 19.32 Mashpi T 2400 1028 100 0 339 31.8 20.6 19.42 Intillacta 1983 1874 85 15 68.1 18.9 15.98 14 Bellavista 1405 2281 100 0 36.3 24.8 13.61 11.92 Cedral 1247 2325 100 0 63 24.3 13 12.81 Verdecocha 1089 3464 99 1 554.04 35.0 9.8 8.1 �calculated for drainage area https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272229.t001 PLOS ONE Elevational biodiversity gradients of Neotropical caddisflies PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272229 August 5, 2022 4 / 17