Not just a taxonomist, but a naturalist! The foundations of “Froehlich’s Autonomous Stonefly Republic”

ABSTRACT Prof. Dr. Claudio Gilberto Froehlich’s career is presented here using numbers and actions guided by a genuine way to study biodiversity, especially aquatic ecosystems. An extensive number of publications is accompanied by an investment in human resources training and establishing a vast network of collaborators and friendships. Dr. Peter Zwick mentioned the Southeast Region of Brazil as “Froehlich’s Autonomous Stonefly Republic”, to express the magnitude of Prof. Froehlich’s scientific production on Neotropical Plecoptera. In this special volume in honor of Prof. Froehlich, the numbers of his career support Zwick's affirmation. Thirty-nine students graduated in MSc and/or PhD courses, two books, and 20 book chapters were published, as well as 95 articles on geoplanids, onychophorans, cnidarians, mayflies, coleopterans, caddisflies, and especially stoneflies. Froehlich’s legacy includes different ways to observe nature, from taxonomy to ecology, from flatworms to stoneflies.