Aquatic Insect Community Composition Research Articles

Consequences of a terrestrial insect invader on stream-riparian food webs of the central Appalachians, USA

The terrestrial invader hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) decimates eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) stands that dominate riparian zones of Appalachian forest streams. However, the ecological consequences for linked aquatic-terrestrial ecosystems remain unknown. We measured stream-riparian trophic linkages at 21 sites of Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia representing a chronosequence of T. canadensis decline. We measured reciprocal fluxes of basal resources (periphyton, terrestrial detritus), emerging aquatic insect flux rate and community composition, riparian orb-weaving spider density, and estimated spider trophic position and reliance on aquatically-derived energy using stable isotopes (13C, 15N, 2H) and Bayesian mixing models. Stream periphyton biomass was greater at uninvaded reference sites than at invaded sites and composition of the terrestrial-to-stream detritus flux changed with T. canadensis decline. Emergent aquatic insect community composition was partly explained by hemlock decline status, but the relative abundance of functional feeding groups was not. Riparian orb-weaving spider densities were highest at sites with severe hemlock decline (F = 4.27, p = 0.022), but were not linked to insect emergence flux rates (p > 0.10). Both trophic position ( $${\overline{x}}$$ = 2.4) and relative reliance on aquatically-derived energy ( $${\overline{x}}$$ = 83%) were comparable among spider families (Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Pisauridae) and site decline status. Although spider δ13C signatures were unrelated to those of the most numerous emergent insect families, δ15N signatures of Araneidae and Pisauridae tracked emergent insect δ15N (r2 = 0.42 and 0.78, respectively), suggesting a trophic linkage. Overall, the ecological consequences of this invader were clearest at lower trophic levels, with more nuanced impacts on riparian spiders.

How Habitat Filtering Can Affect Taxonomic and Functional Composition of Aquatic Insect Communities in Small Amazonian Streams.

Responses in taxonomic and functional composition of communities were analysed in small Amazonian streams at the small and large scale (habitat patches, river segment scale, and catchment scale). We hypothesised that similar responses in community structure to local environmental factors were a correlation between taxonomic and functional composition. To evaluate the response of taxonomic composition to environmental variables, redundancy analysis (RDA) and RLQ analysis were performed to investigate the response of community abundance (L) as a function of the environment (R) and traits (Q). The fourth-corner analysis was applied to summarize specific interactions between environmental variables and traits. Then, community taxonomic composition was associated with models at multiple scales of habitat (i.e. riparian/channel, substrates, and water variables). Likewise, the fourth-corner tests and RLQ axes showed associations between trait composition and environmental variables related to variables, such as riparian cover and channel morphology followed by variation in substrate size and composition. Unexpectedly, these results did not show specific associations between unique environmental variables and traits. At last, results showed that local conditions of stream habitat regulated community structure and functional composition of aquatic insects. Thus, these findings indicate that the local environmental filtering appears to be strongly associated with selected species traits adapted to occur in a range of habitat conditions. Despite the low number of analysed streams, these results provide important information for understanding the simultaneous variation in functional trait composition and community composition of aquatic insect assemblages.

The effect of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) contamination on aquatic insect community composition and metamorphosis

Metal contamination of freshwater ecosystems is a great threat to aquatic insect communities. In the past, focus has been on the toxic effects on the insect larvae, despite emerging evidence showing that negative effects can occur during metamorphosis to adults. There is therefore a risk that traditional studies on insect larvae would underestimate effect from metals. In this study, we investigated the effect of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) on aquatic insect abundance, including metamorphosis and adult emergence at 9 lakes, near an abandoned Pb/Zn mine, with different Pb and Zn concentrations in sediment and water. Further, differences in response to metal contamination among taxa, and potential community composition changes, were also investigated. Total insect abundance was not affected by metal contamination, but Zn had a negative effect on metamorphosis and proportionally less adults emerged compared to larval abundance when the bioavailable Zn concentration in water increased. The opposite pattern was found for bioavailable Pb (negative effect on larvae but not on adult emergence). All studied insect groups had similar response to metal contamination, and no change in community structure towards dominance of more tolerant taxa was observed. Our study shows that it is important to include metamorphosis when metal toxicity is evaluated in aquatic insects, and that metals can have opposite and contradicting effects. Thus, although combined cocktail effects of metal mixtures are important to assess, effects of individual metals can be underestimated.

Influence of oil palm monoculture on the taxonomic and functional composition of aquatic insect communities in eastern Brazilian Amazonia

Large scale palm oil plantations for the production of vegetable oil are among the most harmful agricultural activities to biodiversity, especially given their rapid expansion, worldwide. Many cases of species loss have already been recorded in Asian countries, although research is still incipient in the Amazon basin, and the environmental impacts of these monocultures on freshwater ecosystems in the Neotropical region are still poorly understood. The present study evaluated the effects of oil palm plantations on the physical structure of stream habitats and the resulting changes in the taxonomic and functional composition of aquatic insect communities. A total of 2100 specimens of the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera were collected during the present study, representing 40 genera and 16 families. The hypothesis tested was that the taxonomic and functional diversity of the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (Insecta) decreases in streams surrounded by oil palm plantations in comparison with those embedded in forested areas. In the plantation streams, the taxonomic richness and composition, and the functional richness are modified significantly. Functional composition appeared unaltered despite reduced canopy cover associated with oil palm streams. These effects emphasize the importance of the riparian vegetation for the protection of the aquatic communities found in oil palm plantations. The maintenance of the riparian vegetation may mitigate the impacts of plantations, contributing to the conservation of insect communities and associated biodiversity.

Fluvial geomorphology and aquatic‐to‐terrestrial Hg export are weakly coupled in small urban streams of Columbus, Ohio

AbstractAlthough mercury (Hg) contamination is common in stream ecosystems, mechanisms governing bioavailability and bioaccumulation in fluvial systems remain poorly resolved as compared to lentic systems. In particular, streams in urbanized catchments are subject to fluvial geomorphic alterations that may contribute to Hg distribution, bioaccumulation, and export across the aquatic‐to‐terrestrial boundary. In 12 streams of urban Columbus, Ohio, we investigated the influence of fluvial geomorphic characteristics related to channel geometry, streamflow, and sediment size and distribution on (1) Hg concentrations in sediment and body burdens in benthic larval and adult emergent aquatic insects and (2) aquatic‐to‐terrestrial contaminant transfer to common riparian spiders of the families Pisauridae and Tetragnathidae via changes in aquatic insect Hg body burdens as well as in aquatic insect density and community composition. Hydrogeomorphic characteristics were weakly related to Hg body burdens in emergent insects (channel geometry) and tetragnathid spiders (streamflow), but not to Hg concentrations in sediment or benthic insects. Streamflow characteristics were also related to emergent insect density, while wider channels were associated with benthic insect community shifts toward smaller‐bodied and more tolerant taxa (e.g., Chironomidae). Thus, our results provide initial evidence that fluvial geomorphology may influence aquatic‐to‐terrestrial contaminant Hg transfer through the collective effects on emergent insect body burdens as well as on aquatic insect community composition and abundance.

Effects of environmental factors on the species composition of aquatic insects in irrigation ponds

AbstractAlthough irrigation ponds contribute to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, they have experienced declines in recent years. We therefore examined the relationships between various environmental factors and the community composition of aquatic insects, specifically insect predators, in irrigation ponds to gain knowledge that would aid in the conservation and restoration of biodiversity. We selected Odonata, Hemiptera and Coleoptera as target taxonomic groups and conducted censuses of these groups in 21 ponds in Shiga, central Japan. In total, we collected 30 and 10 species (or species groups) of Odonata and Hemiptera, respectively, and 17 species of Coleoptera. A partial canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the following four environmental factors significantly affected the species composition of aquatic insect communities: the number of emergent plant species, percent concrete revetment, presence of litter and peripheral length. Among these variables, the number of emergent plant species was the most potent factor, perhaps because emergent plants serve as sites for oviposition and emergence, and provide refugia for aquatic insects (odonate nymphs in particular). In contrast, some species specifically inhabited sites poor in emergent plants. This study shows that reductions in concrete revetments are necessary for the conservation of biodiversity. This would lead to increases in the number of aquatic plant species, which provide habitats and oviposition sites for many aquatic insects. Furthermore, to enrich the local biodiversity of aquatic insects, groups of irrigation ponds with different environments are needed.

Impact of flood intensity on aquatic insect communities in a Korean stream under monsoonal climate

As a consequence of climate change, localized torrential rainfall has increased in intensity and frequency in Northeast Asia under the influence of the monsoonal climate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of flood intensity on aquatic insect communities in a Korean stream, where the summer monsoonal flood is normal. Quantitative sampling was conducted according to stream reaches (upstream, midstream, and downstream sites) in Gapyeong stream, located in the central Korean peninsula, during July 2008–October 2009. Sampling was conducted within 48 hours after every rain event during the rainy season, and flood intensity was evaluated using the total amount of precipitation for 3 days before sampling. Precipitation was categorized in 100 mm increments. Water velocity and Froude number (Fr) were measured, and mean species abundance and species richness were determined. Habitat orientation groups (HOGs) were analyzed. Data were analyzed using nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination and two‐way analyses of variance .As a result, the velocity increased as precipitation increased at all sites, and the Fr at the upstream and midstream sites were below critical flow for all precipitation categories. The EPT‐group (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) together with Diptera were >90% in abundance at all study sites. The mean abundance of some major taxa (i.e., Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera) decreased significantly as precipitation increased, particularly, at the downstream site. The mean abundance of all HOGs was more influenced by the relatively large amount of precipitation (e.g., >200 mm) at all sites. According to NMS ordination, the amount of precipitation was the major factor determining the composition of aquatic insect communities in the study stream. In conclusion, aquatic insect communities in the Gapyeng stream were significantly influenced by the intensity of precipitation, and the impact was intensified at the downstream site.

Leaf litter from insect‐resistant transgenic trees causes changes in aquatic insect community composition

Summary1. Recent research has addressed how transgenic residues from arable crops may influence adjacent waterways, aquatic consumers and important ecosystem processes such as litter breakdown rates. With future applications of transgenic plants in forestry, such concerns may apply to forest stream ecosystems. Before any large‐scale release of genetically modified (GM) trees, it is therefore imperative to evaluate the effects of genetic modifications in trees on such ecosystems.2. We conducted decomposition experiments under natural stream conditions using leaf litter from greenhouse grown GM trees (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides) that express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins (cry3Aa; targeting coleopteran leaf‐feeding beetles) to examine the hypothesis that GM trees would affect litter decomposition rates and/or the aquatic arthropod community that colonizes and feeds on leaf litter in streams.3. We show that two independent transformations of isogenic Populus trees to express Bt toxins caused similar changes to the composition of aquatic insects colonizing the leaf litter, ultimately manifested in a 25% and 33% increases in average insect abundance.4. Measurements of 24 phenolic compounds as well as nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) in the litter did not significantly differ among modified and wild‐type trees and were thus not sufficient to explain these differences in the insect assemblage.5. Decomposition rates were comparable among litter treatments suggesting that the normal suite of leaf traits influencing decomposition was similar among litter treatments and that the shredding functions of the community were maintained despite the changes in insect community composition.6. Synthesis and applications. We report that leaf litter from GM trees affected the composition of aquatic insect communities that colonized litter under natural stream conditions. This suggests that forest management using GM trees may affect adjacent waterways in unanticipated ways, which should be considered in future commercial applications of GM trees. We also argue that studies at different scales (e.g. species, communities and ecosystems) will be needed for a full understanding of the environmental effects of Bt plants.

Advancing theory of community assembly in spatially structured environments: local vs regional processes in river networks

Previous articleNext article No AccessMetacommunity Ecology of Riverine NetworksAdvancing theory of community assembly in spatially structured environments: local vs regional processes in river networksSwanChristopher M. and BrownBryan L.SwanChristopher M.Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250 USA1E-mail addresses: [email protected] Search for more articles by this author and BrownBryan L.Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634 USA2[email protected] Search for more articles by this author Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250 USAForestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634 USAPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Volume 30, Number 1March 2011 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1899/10-150.1 Views: 101Total views on this site Citations: 18Citations are reported from Crossref Journal History This article was published in the Journal of the North American Benthological Society (1986-2011), which is continued by Freshwater Science (2012-present). © 2011 by The North American Benthological SocietyPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Francis O. Arimoro, Unique N. Keke Stream biodiversity and monitoring in North Central, Nigeria: the use of macroinvertebrate indicator species as surrogates, Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, no.2424 (Feb 2021): 31003–31012.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12922-wG Nicacio, E J Cunha, N Hamada, L Juen How Habitat Filtering Can Affect Taxonomic and Functional Composition of Aquatic Insect Communities in Small Amazonian Streams, Neotropical Entomology 49, no.55 (May 2020): 652–661.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-020-00780-zJun Wang, Jiancheng Hu, Tao Tang, Jani Heino, Xiaoming Jiang, Zhengfei Li, Zhicai Xie Seasonal shifts in the assembly dynamics of benthic macroinvertebrate and diatom communities in a subtropical river, Ecology and Evolution 10, no.22 (Jan 2020): 692–704.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5904Stephen R. Midway, Brandon K. Peoples Effects of life‐history traits on stream fish abundances across spatial scales, Ecology of Freshwater Fish 28, no.44 (Apr 2019): 639–649.https://doi.org/10.1111/eff.12482Catherine N. Reuter, Michael D. Kaller, Colleen E. Walsh, William E. Kelso Fish Assemblage Response to Altered Dendritic Connectivity in the Red River Basin, Central Louisiana, The American Midland Naturalist 181, no.11 (Jan 2019): 63.https://doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031-181.1.63Christopher J. Patrick and Bryan L. Brown Species Pool Functional Diversity Plays a Hidden Role in Generating β-Diversity, The American Naturalist 191, no.55 (Mar 2018): E159–E170.https://doi.org/10.1086/696978Jere A. Boudell Metacommunity Dynamics of Riparian Ecosystems, (May 2018): 133–140.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_48Galen Holt and Peter Chesson Scale-Dependent Community Theory for Streams and Other Linear Habitats, The American Naturalist 188, no.33 (Jul 2016): E59–E73.https://doi.org/10.1086/687525Matthew J. Wilson and Matthew E. McTammany Spatial scale and dispersal influence metacommunity dynamics of benthic invertebrates in a large river, Freshwater Science 35, no.22 (Feb 2016): 738–747.https://doi.org/10.1086/685732Jere A. Boudell Metacommunity Dynamics of Riparian Ecosystems, (Aug 2016): 1–8.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6172-8_48-5Jere A. Boudell Metacommunity Dynamics of Riparian Ecosystems, (Jan 2017): 1–8.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6172-8_48-6Lucas J. Driver, David J. Hoeinghaus Spatiotemporal dynamics of intermittent stream fish metacommunities in response to prolonged drought and reconnectivity, Marine and Freshwater Research 67, no.1111 (Jan 2016): 1667.https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15072S. Mažeika P. Sullivan, Katie Hossler, Christina M. Cianfrani Ecosystem Structure Emerges as a Strong Determinant of Food-Chain Length in Linked Stream–Riparian Ecosystems, Ecosystems 18, no.88 (Jul 2015): 1356–1372.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-015-9904-7Russell G. Death, Ian C. Fuller, Mark G. Macklin Resetting the river template: the potential for climate-related extreme floods to transform river geomorphology and ecology, Freshwater Biology 60, no.1212 (Jul 2015): 2477–2496.https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.12639Chris Sutherland, Angela K. Fuller, J. Andrew Royle, Olivier Gimenez Modelling non‐Euclidean movement and landscape connectivity in highly structured ecological networks, Methods in Ecology and Evolution 6, no.22 (Dec 2014): 169–177.https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12316Ciro C. Z. Branco, Pitágoras C. Bispo, Cleto K. Peres, Aurélio F. Tonetto, Luis H. Z. Branco The roles of environmental conditions and spatial factors in controlling stream macroalgal communities, Hydrobiologia 732, no.11 (Mar 2014): 123–132.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-1852-2AL-SHAMI SALMAN ABDO, CHE SALMAH MD RAWI, ABU HASSAN AHMAD, MADZIATUL ROSMAHANIE MADRUS Biodiversity of stream insects in the Malaysian Peninsula: spatial patterns and environmental constraints, Ecological Entomology 38, no.33 (Mar 2013): 238–249.https://doi.org/10.1111/een.12013Michael D. Kaller, Catherine E. Murphy, William E. Kelso, Mark R. Stead Basins for Fish and Ecoregions for Macroinvertebrates: Different Spatial Scales Are Needed to Assess Louisiana Wadeable Streams, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142, no.33 (May 2013): 767–782.https://doi.org/10.1080/00028487.2013.768547

Land use, habitat integrity, and aquatic insect assemblages in Central Amazonian streams

The distribution and composition of aquatic insect communities in streams at a local scale are considered to be primarily determined by environmental factors and interactive relationships within the system. Here, we evaluated the effects of forest fragmentation and forest cover changes on habitat characteristics of streamlets (igarapes) in Amazonian forests and on the aquatic insect communities found there. We also developed a habitat integrity index (HII) based on Petersen’s protocol (1992) to evaluate physical integrity of these streamlets and to determine its efficiency to interpret the environmental impacts on this system. We studied 20 small streams at the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP INPA/SI) study areas, Central Amazonia, 80 km north of Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil. The vegetation cover was estimated by using LANDSAT images and classified in the following categories: exposed soil, pastures, secondary forests (capoeiras), and primary forests. Stream habitat features were evaluated by using a HII based on visual assessment of local characteristics. Aquatic insects were sampled in four major stream substrates: litter deposited in pools or backwaters, litter retained in riffles, sand, and marginal banks. Stream habitat characteristics were significantly correlated to land use and riparian forest condition. Overall aquatic insect richness and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) richness were significantly lower in pasture streams, and their taxonomic composition differed significantly from streams in forested areas. However, these metrics were not significantly correlated to the stream HII. Taxonomic composition of bank insect assemblages changed significantly between streams with low and high values of HII. There was no significant relationship between the proportion of primary forest cover and the faunal metrics. Only drastic changes in the vegetal cover seem to induce significant changes in the aquatic insect community. Matrix habitat heterogeneity, distance to forest fragments, the presence of areas of secondary forest, and the intrinsic capacity to disperse in many of the insect groups may have contributed to attenuate the effects of habitat disturbance on aquatic insect assemblages in streamlets.

EFFECTS OF TRIOPS NEWBERRYI (NOTOSTRACA: TRIOPSIDAE) ON AQUATIC INSECT COMMUNITIES IN PONDS IN THE COLORADO DESERT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The association between a size-selective floodwater predator, the tadpole shrimp Triops newberryi, and aspects of the aquatic insect community (successional pattern, size structure, and composition) were studied in replicate ponds in the Coachella Valley of southern California. The abundance of early colonists, particularly the mosquito Culex tarsalis, chironomid larvae, and mayfly nymphs, and the size structure of the aquatic insect communities in ponds containing tadpole shrimps differed significantly from ponds without shrimps. Based on headwidths of co-occurring aquatic insects, ponds containing tadpole shrimps at densities >5 individuals m–2 had fewer small instars of aquatic insects relative to ponds without Triops. The composition of aquatic insect communities in ponds containing tadpole shrimps differed from ponds without Triops, particularly during the first 3 weeks after inundation. These results suggest that effects of tadpole shrimps, such as predation on early life history stages of co-occurr...