Environmental Factors Affecting Distribution of Caddisfly (Trichoptera) Larvae in Mountain Streams of Northeastern Turkey

Trichoptera is one of the most important components of freshwaters used in biomonitoring studies to determine the different degradations in aquatic ecosystems. Though such works are necessary, there is a huge gap in ecological studies on Trichoptera larvae in northeastern Turkey. We examined the eff...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inland water biology 2021-09, Vol.14 (5), p.581-589
Main Authors: Ekingen, Pınar, Kazancı, Nilgün
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allochthonous deposits
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic insects
Biodiversity
Biodiversity hot spots
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomonitoring
Dissolved oxygen
Distribution
Ecological studies
Electrical conductivity
Electrical resistivity
Environmental factors
Feeding behavior
Feeding habits
Fresh water
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Geoecology/Natural Processes
Headwaters
Larvae
Life Sciences
Macroinvertebrates
Mountain streams
Office equipment
Plant cover
Riparian environments
Riparian forests
Riparian vegetation
Rivers
Shredding
Streams
Substrates
Trichoptera
Vegetation
Zoobenthos
Zooperiphyton
Zooplankton
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Summary:Trichoptera is one of the most important components of freshwaters used in biomonitoring studies to determine the different degradations in aquatic ecosystems. Though such works are necessary, there is a huge gap in ecological studies on Trichoptera larvae in northeastern Turkey. We examined the effects of some environmental variables on the distribution of caddisfly larvae inhabiting the streams arising above the tree line. To determine the relationships between larvae distribution and environmental variables (riparian forest, riparian vegetation, stream size -width-, altitude, pH, substrate, electrical conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen), 66 sites were selected from five different streams (Aksu, Değirmendere, Solaklı, İyidere, Fırtına) in 2008, 2009, and 2011. In total, 22 caddisfly genera belonging to 13 Trichoptera families were identified. It was found that riparian forest was the most important variable affecting the distribution of caddisfly larvae in open canopy headwater streams. Larvae exhibiting shredder feeding behavior were found both in the stations above and below the tree line. It is supposed that shredders can utilize both allochthonous materials coming from trees and riparian vegetation. Since this region is a biodiversity hotspot, it is becoming increasingly important to determine the ecological preferences of macroinvertebrates as soon as possible to use them in biomonitoring studies in the future.
ISSN:1995-0829
1995-0837
DOI:10.1134/S1995082921050047