Perennial phenology patterns and ecological traits of Dixidae (Insecta, Diptera) in lotic habitats of a barrage lake system

Abstract

Dixidae (Insecta, Diptera) are an interesting ecological component in freshwater ecosystems. They are merolimnic insects with larvae and pupae living in aquatic habitats while adults live in terrestrial habitats in close proximity to water. The goals of this study were to determine the phenology patterns of Dixidae and what influences them, to analyse their preference for microhabitats, and to determine the main ecological factors that have an influence on the composition of Dixidae. Adult Dixidae were collected monthly in the period from 2007 to 2008 at 10 sites, from 2009 to 2010 at four sites, and from 2011 to 2014 at three sites in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Adult specimens were collected using pyramid-type emergence traps. A total of 1271 Dixidae were collected during eight years of study belonging to five species of the genus Dixa. Dixa submaculata was most abundant species at the spring and upper reach of Bijela rijeka Stream and the upper reach of Crna rijeka Stream. Dixa nebulosa was most numerous at the Kozjak-Milanovac tufa barrier site. Dixa puberula was the dominant species at the rest of the sites. Dixa puberula and Dixa submaculata were univoltine, bivoltine or trivoltine, depending on the site, while Dixa nebulosa was only univoltine. The highest diversity was recorded at the tufa barrier Kozjak-Milanovac, and the highest number of species, four species, was found at the upper reach of the Crna rijeka Stream. The greatest number of specimens was recorded at the Labudovac tufa barrier, 128 specimens in 2014. Water temperature is the main ecological factor that influences the phenology of Dixidae at the tufa barriers and lower streams. Discharge affected the abundance of Dixidae. Dixa puberula prefers moss as a substrate and a faster water velocity.