| Summary: | Climate change has a disproportionately effect on northern ecosystems. To measure this impact we need to understand the structure of northern communities and the influence of current and historical climate events. Insect of the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPTs) are excellent subjects for study because they are widespread and good bioindicators. The objectives of this study are: (1) Determine patterns of distribution and community composition of northern EPTs. (2) Understand the role of historical events (i.e., Pleistocene glaciations). We found that northern EPT communities are influenced by temperature and precipitation. Also, community composition and population structure of EPT exhibit a similar geographical pattern, with differences on either side of Hudson Bay, suggesting the influence of glaciations in shaping communities of EPTs in northern Canada. The COI barcode approach provided a reliable means for identifying specimens to produce the first wide-scale study of community structure and biogeography of northern EPTs. M.Sc.
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