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Insects
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Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution
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Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Ecology, Diversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 14004

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Marija Ivković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: ecology and phenology of aquatic insects, taxonomy and systematics of aquatic Diptera; Empididae; biogeography; phylogeny; insects in springs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic Insects are generally the most important component of freshwater ecosystems in terms of the number of species and their biomass. They do not form a distinct taxonomic group within the class of insects, but are linked by their ecology, as they spend all or part of their life cycle in different types of aquatic habitats. Most of them are merolimnic, i.e., their juvenile life stages are restricted to aquatic habitats, while the adults are terrestrial. There are numerous representatives of aquatic insects, starting with the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (known as EPT taxa), which are widely used in freshwater ecology, water quality assessment and ecosystem-type categorization. However, probably the most numerous aquatic insects, in terms of number of species and their occurrence, in virtually all aquatic habitats are invariably representatives of the order Diptera. Aquatic insects are extremely important for monitoring freshwater ecosystems and many of them serve as bioindicator species. The phenology of aquatic insects is also an interesting topic as well, especially when considering the transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitats. The study of aquatic insects is crucial, not only because many of them are the most important vectors in the transmission of various diseases to humans and animals, but also because aquatic insects are the most numerous and diverse group of animals in aquatic habitats and are therefore essential for understanding the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Knowledge of aquatic insects is still incomplete for many groups and virtually unknown for some, which may be further exacerbated by climate change and other factors.  

With this in mind, we have decided to guest-edit a Special Issue focusing on the diversity, ecology and evolution of aquatic insects. We invite biologists, taxonomists, ecologists, molecular biologists and other scientists to contribute to this Special Issue. Our goal and vision are to acknowledge that the study of aquatic insects is fundamental to today’s science. We are looking for high-quality original submissions and reviews that address and update our understanding of the biological and ecological aspects of aquatic insect fauna.

Dr. Marija Ivković
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aquatic insects
  • biogeography
  • climate change
  • conservation
  • diversity
  • ecological traits
  • freshwater habitats
  • integrative taxonomy
  • phenology
  • species richness

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1637 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Bioenergetics and Life History Traits of Chironomus riparius–Consequences of Food Limitation
by Evridiki Klagkou, Andre Gergs, Christian U. Baden and Konstadia Lika
Insects 2024, 15(11), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15110848 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 562
Abstract
Chironomids have a number of characteristics that make them a useful group for investigating the impact of environmental and chemical stressors on their life cycle stages. It is crucial to first understand sensitivities to environmental factors and provide a basis for interpreting the [...] Read more.
Chironomids have a number of characteristics that make them a useful group for investigating the impact of environmental and chemical stressors on their life cycle stages. It is crucial to first understand sensitivities to environmental factors and provide a basis for interpreting the results of toxicity tests. We focused on Chironomus riparius–one of the most studied species in aquatic toxicity tests—to understand the changes during the larval stage under conditions of food abundance and limitation. We developed a model based on Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory, a framework to capture the entire life cycle of an individual under varying food and temperature conditions. Available information from this study and the literature pointed out that the first three larval instars are immature and the fourth larval instar is mature, during which the organism saves, in two phases, energy for essential processes occurring during the subsequent non-feeding stages. The model can successfully predict the observed prolonged fourth instar duration under food limitation, the times of life history events (e.g., pupation and emergence), and egg production. This model has the potential to be integrated with toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic models to study the effects of toxicants on a variety of biological traits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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16 pages, 9272 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Climate Change on Indicator Wetland Insects: Predicting the Current and Future Distribution of Two Giant Water Bugs (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) in South Korea
by Seon Yi Kim, Changseob Lim, Ji Hyoun Kang and Yeon Jae Bae
Insects 2024, 15(10), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100820 - 19 Oct 2024
Viewed by 725
Abstract
Giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) are top predators in wetland ecosystems, serving as biological indicators of the health of lentic ecosystems and as effective biological control agents for freshwater snails and mosquitoes. This study aimed to predict the current and future distribution of [...] Read more.
Giant water bugs (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) are top predators in wetland ecosystems, serving as biological indicators of the health of lentic ecosystems and as effective biological control agents for freshwater snails and mosquitoes. This study aimed to predict the current and future distribution of two Korean giant water bugs, Appasus japonicus and Diplonychus esakii, under three climate change scenarios, contributing to the sustainable management of wetland ecosystems in South Korea. Using MaxEnt models, we employed seven climatic and three non-climatic variables to investigate the habitat preferences and distribution patterns of the species. The results revealed that A. japonicus is likely to experience a northward range contraction due to climate change, while D. esakii is predicted to expand its distribution northward without losing its current range. These responses may lead to occupancy turnover between the two species, potentially driving reassembly in aquatic organism community. Elevation was the primary factor influencing the distribution of A. japonicus, whereas annual mean temperature was the most informative variable for D. esakii, both factors derived under the current climate conditions. These findings suggest that both species are highly sensitive to climate change, with potential range shifts toward higher latitudes and elevations. This study provides insights into how climate change could impact two giant water bugs, thereby supporting future efforts to manage and conserve wetland ecosystems in this country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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19 pages, 28649 KiB  
Article
Mitogenome-Based Phylogeny with Divergence Time Estimates Revealed the Presence of Cryptic Species within Heptageniidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera)
by Zhi-Qiang Guo, Chen-Yang Shen, Hong-Yi Cheng, Yu-Xin Chen, Hui-Yuan Wu, Kenneth B. Storey, Dan-Na Yu and Jia-Yong Zhang
Insects 2024, 15(10), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100745 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 627
Abstract
Heptageniidae are known for their flat heads and bodies and are divided into three subfamilies. Despite the extensive diversity within this group and considerable efforts made to understand their evolutionary history, the internal classifications and origin time of Heptageniidae remains controversial. In this [...] Read more.
Heptageniidae are known for their flat heads and bodies and are divided into three subfamilies. Despite the extensive diversity within this group and considerable efforts made to understand their evolutionary history, the internal classifications and origin time of Heptageniidae remains controversial. In this study, we newly sequenced 17 complete mitogenomes of Heptageniidae to reconstruct their phylogenetic positions within this family. Because of the ambiguous time of origin, our study also estimated the divergence time within Heptageniidae based on five fossil calibration points. The results of BI and ML trees all highly supported the monophyly of Heptageniidae and three subfamilies. The phylogenetic relationship of Rhithrogeninae + (Ecdyonurinae + Heptageniinae) was also recovered. The divergence time showed that Heptageniidae originated from 164.38 Mya (95% HPD, 150.23–181.53 Mya) in the mid-Jurassic, and Rhithrogeninae originated from 95.54 Mya (95% HPD, 73.86–120.19 Mya) in the mid-Cretaceous. Ecdyonurinae and Heptageniinae began to diverge at 90.08 Mya (95% HPD, 68.81–113.16 Mya) in the middle Cretaceous. After morphological identification, analysis of the mitogenome’s composition, genetic distance calculation, phylogenetic analysis, and divergence time calculation, we suggest that two different populations of Epeorus montanus collected from Aksu, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (40°16′ N, 80°26′ E) and Xinyuan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (43°20′ N, 83°43′ E) in China are cryptic species of E. montanus, but further detailed information on their morphological characteristics is needed to fully identify them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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16 pages, 3087 KiB  
Article
Water Colour Shapes Diving Beetle (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) Assemblages in Urban Ponds
by Wenfei Liao
Insects 2024, 15(5), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15050308 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1439
Abstract
Dramatic land-use changes in urban landscapes can drive water colour darkening by washing compounds, such as organic matter and iron, from terrestrial ecosystems into urban blue space, consequentially affecting aquatic communities. Here, I studied how pond water colour changes along an urban gradient [...] Read more.
Dramatic land-use changes in urban landscapes can drive water colour darkening by washing compounds, such as organic matter and iron, from terrestrial ecosystems into urban blue space, consequentially affecting aquatic communities. Here, I studied how pond water colour changes along an urban gradient and how diving beetles (Dytiscidae) respond to the water colour gradient in 11 ponds with fish and 15 ponds without fish in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. I found that the pond water colour exhibited a non-significant decreasing pattern along the urban gradient, indicating that urbanisation may not necessarily drive brownification in urban ponds. Dytiscid species richness and abundance exhibited significant positive correlations with increasing water colour in ponds with fish but no significant correlation in ponds without fish. Some species, such as Agabus spp. and Dytiscus spp., appeared tolerant to highly coloured water, whereas some species, such as Hyphydrus ovatus and Hygrotus spp., tended to occur in clear water, indicating that brown water may provide dytiscids with prey refuges, but some species are intolerant to brown water. The study highlights the importance of urban pondscape heterogeneity to meet the needs of aquatic invertebrates that prefer different water colours and for the multifunctioning of urban ponds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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17 pages, 2928 KiB  
Article
Response of Chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) to Environmental Factors at Different Spatial Scales
by Bruno Rossaro and Laura Marziali
Insects 2024, 15(4), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15040272 - 14 Apr 2024
Viewed by 3845
Abstract
Factors responsible for species distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates, including responses at different spatial scales, have been previously investigated. The aim of the present research was to review the most relevant factors explaining chironomid species distribution focusing on factors operating at different spatial scales, [...] Read more.
Factors responsible for species distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates, including responses at different spatial scales, have been previously investigated. The aim of the present research was to review the most relevant factors explaining chironomid species distribution focusing on factors operating at different spatial scales, such as latitude, longitude, altitude, substrate, salinity, water temperature, current velocity, conductivity, acidity, dissolved oxygen, nutrient content etc. acting at regional levels and at a large or small water basin level. Data including chironomid species abundances from different lentic and lotic waters in Italy and other surrounding countries were analyzed using partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA) and multiple discriminant analysis (DISCR). Spatial analyses, including univariate Moran’s I correlograms, multivariate Mantel correlograms and Moran’s eigenvector maps (MEMs), were thereafter carried out. The results showed that habitat type, including different types of lotic waters (i.e., kryal, crenal, rhithral, potamal) and different lake types (i.e., littoral, sublittoral, profundal zones), is the most significant factor separating chironomid assemblages, while spatial factors act only as indirect influencers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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16 pages, 2412 KiB  
Article
The Emergence of the Family Scirtidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Lotic Karst Habitats: A Case Study over 15 Years
by Ana Klarin, Marija Ivković and Vlatka Mičetić Stanković
Insects 2024, 15(4), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15040226 - 26 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1134
Abstract
Due to ongoing changes and a decline in biodiversity, science today should rely on long-term species-based ecological studies. We have conducted a long-term ecological dynamics study on the water beetle family Scirtidae, which, although it is very abundant in benthic communities, is still [...] Read more.
Due to ongoing changes and a decline in biodiversity, science today should rely on long-term species-based ecological studies. We have conducted a long-term ecological dynamics study on the water beetle family Scirtidae, which, although it is very abundant in benthic communities, is still poorly studied. The main objective of this study was to investigate the population aspects (composition, diversity, sex ratio) and ecological aspects (emergence patterns, seasonal dynamics and preferences for environmental factors) of the family Scirtidae over 15 years in Plitvice Lakes NP, Croatia. The study was conducted at three sites and in five different substrate types. A total of three taxa with different distributions were recorded in the study area: Hydrocyphon novaki and H. deflexicollis on the tufa barriers and the Elodes sp. in the spring area. The sex ratio was in favour of males in spring and early summer, while it shifted in favour of females towards the end of autumn. The abundance and emergence of the family were primarily determined by the environmental parameters which showed the greatest fluctuations over a period of 15 years: water temperature, water discharge and oxygen saturation. Our results clearly show that Scirtidae can be used as indicators of stream zonation and habitat quality. Based on the methodology and the results of this study, we conclude that Scirtidae should be used in future monitoring and protection measures in karst freshwater habitats in southeastern Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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18 pages, 2851 KiB  
Article
Odonata Assemblages in Urban Semi-Natural Wetlands
by Marina Vilenica, Andreja Brigić, Ana Štih Koren, Toni Koren, Mirela Sertić Perić, Bruno Schmidt, Tomislava Bužan and Sanja Gottstein
Insects 2024, 15(3), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15030207 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1370
Abstract
As the human population in urban areas is continuously growing, urbanization is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. To mitigate the negative effects, the inclusion of blue zones (aquatic habitats) in modern urban development practices is strongly recommended, as they could be [...] Read more.
As the human population in urban areas is continuously growing, urbanization is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. To mitigate the negative effects, the inclusion of blue zones (aquatic habitats) in modern urban development practices is strongly recommended, as they could be beneficial for the local biodiversity conservation. Odonata are a flagship group and are widely used in freshwater conservation as ecological indicators of habitat integrity and health. However, our understanding of their ecological requirements in urban landscapes is not yet complete. Therefore, we analyzed the taxonomic and functional diversity of Odonata in a semi-natural wetland in the Croatian capital. This study was conducted in the summers of 2020 and 2023. Most taxonomic and functional assemblage metrics were comparable between the two main habitat types, anthropogenically disturbed and natural oxbow lakes. However, significant differences were found in relation to the time scale, where most metrics were lower in 2023, indicating the negative impact of extreme climate events (including droughts) that occurred in this region after 2020. With 19 species recorded, our results indicate that semi-natural urban wetlands, especially natural oxbow lakes, have great potential to function as good habitats for Odonata, where even some species of conservation concern were detected. When developing landscape management plans in urban areas, it is essential to consider the importance of habitat heterogeneity in terms of good structure of aquatic macrophytes (presence of submerged, emergent and floating vegetation), which would ensure the most suitable habitat conditions for local Odonata species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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12 pages, 2463 KiB  
Article
Demography and Behaviour of Teinopodagrion oscillans (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae) in a Protected Area of the Colombian Andean Region
by Fredy Palacino-Rodríguez, Diego Andres Palacino, Andrea Penagos Arevalo and Adolfo Cordero-Rivera
Insects 2024, 15(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020125 - 9 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1705
Abstract
The demography and behaviour of Teinopodagrion oscillans was studied in a protected area in the Andean region of Colombia. Adult damselflies were individually marked, and using their recapture histories, we estimated survival, longevity, sex ratio, and population size using Cormack-Jolly-Seber models. Other aspects [...] Read more.
The demography and behaviour of Teinopodagrion oscillans was studied in a protected area in the Andean region of Colombia. Adult damselflies were individually marked, and using their recapture histories, we estimated survival, longevity, sex ratio, and population size using Cormack-Jolly-Seber models. Other aspects of their behaviour were recorded. Survival, recapture, and lifespan (14.1 ± 0.59 days) were similar for both sexes and all age groups. Mature males were larger, and the distance from the water was similar for all individuals. The most supported model was the time-dependent model for survival and recapture. This suggests that weather variations affect the demography of this population in a significant way. Individuals exhibited high fidelity to their site perch, perching with open wings near water on a variety of perches. Mature males make short flights from the perch to intercept conspecific and interspecific males and to hunt prey. The tandem position was formed on macrophytes, and then the pair flew away. Oviposition lasted for 11.23 min on average, with the females ovipositing by abdomen submersion. Our results offer insights into the demographic characteristics and behaviour of this species, providing crucial information for the short- and long-term, from the demography of one species to the conservation of ecosystems of the Andean region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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14 pages, 2468 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Chironomid Emergence at a Karst Tufa Barrier in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
by Valentina Dorić, Ivana Pozojević, Viktor Baranov, Zlatko Mihaljević and Marija Ivković
Insects 2024, 15(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010051 - 11 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1332
Abstract
Chironomids are found in all types of freshwater habitats; they are a ubiquitous and highly diverse group of aquatic insects. Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia and consists of numerous and diverse freshwater habitats, making the [...] Read more.
Chironomids are found in all types of freshwater habitats; they are a ubiquitous and highly diverse group of aquatic insects. Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia and consists of numerous and diverse freshwater habitats, making the area an ideal location for long-term research into the chironomid emergence patterns and phenology. The main objectives of this study were to identify the composition of the chironomid community, determine the phenology of the identified species, and assess the main factors influencing their emergence in Plitvice Lakes. During 14 years of research, more than 13,000 chironomids belonging to more than 80 species were recorded. The most abundant species was found to be Parametriocnemus stylatus. The highest abundance of chironomids was recorded in lotic habitats with faster water current over substrates of moss and algae and pebbles. Water temperature and the availability of organic matter were found to be the main factors that drive chironomid emergence at the tufa barrier studied. In the last years of this study, a prolonged flight period was observed. Although this is not statistically significant (at this stage of the study), it could be due to a higher water temperature in winter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution)
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