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

• 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
• ISSN: 1995-0829; 1995-0837
• DOI: 10.1134/S1995082921050047

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.