Chapter 17 - Aquatic Insect Ecology

Abstract

Aquatic insects are abundant in most freshwater habitats and often exhibit high diversity. In aquatic food webs, they serve as food items for nearly the full range of vertebrate and invertebrate predators, and many function as predators themselves. This chapter provides a brief overview of: constraints on aquatic insect species diversity, life history, and community structure; the role of aquatic insects in ecosystem processes; the impact of land use, climate change, and disturbances on their communities; and the utility of aquatic insects in biomonitoring studies. The review encompasses both lentic and lotic habitats, as well as a brief coverage of saline habitats. The discussion is placed in the context of how physical and life history factors constrain the distribution and abundance of aquatic insects, thereby altering communities and ecosystem function.