Pervasive decline of subtropical aquatic insects over 20 years driven by water transparency, non-native fish and stoichiometric imbalance

Autor(es)

Romero, Gustavo Q. ^[1] ; Moi, Dieison A. ^[2] ; Nash, Liam N. ^[3] ; Antiqueira, Pablo A. P. ^[1] ; Mormul, Roger P. ^[2] ; Kratina, Pavel ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Dept Anim Biol, Lab Multitroph Interact & Biodivers, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] State Univ Maringa UEM, Grad Program Ecol Inland Water Ecosyst PEA, Dept Biol DBI, Ctr Biol Sci CCB, Maringa, Parana - Brazil

^[3] Queen Mary Univ London, Sch Biol & Chem Sci, Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS - England

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: BIOLOGY LETTERS; v. 17, n. 6 JUN 9 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Insect abundance and diversity are declining worldwide. Although recent research found freshwater insect populations to be increasing in some regions, there is a critical lack of data from tropical and subtropical regions. Here, we examine a 20-year monitoring dataset of freshwater insects from a subtropical floodplain comprising a diverse suite of rivers, shallow lakes, channels and backwaters. We found a pervasive decline in abundance of all major insect orders (Odonata, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Megaloptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Diptera) and families, regardless of their functional role or body size. Similarly, Chironomidae species richness decreased over the same time period. The main drivers of this pervasive insect decline were increased concurrent invasions of non-native insectivorous fish, water transparency and changes to water stoichiometry (i.e. N : P ratios) over time. All these drivers represent human impacts caused by reservoir construction. This work sheds light on the importance of long-term studies for a deeper understanding of human-induced impacts on aquatic insects. We highlight that extended anthropogenic impact monitoring and mitigation actions are pivotal in maintaining freshwater ecosystem integrity. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/26243-8 - Eventos extremos de precipitação e seus efeitos sobre a estrutura de comunidades e funcionamento ecossistêmico
• Beneficiário: Pablo Augusto Poleto Antiqueira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 18/12225-0 - Unificando determinantes ambientais e espaciais da estrutura de redes tróficas em escalas espaciais
• Beneficiário: Gustavo Quevedo Romero
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 19/08474-8 - Ecossistemas aquáticos continentais sob mudanças climáticas: impactos em múltiplos níveis de organização
• Beneficiário: Gustavo Quevedo Romero
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa de Pesquisa sobre Mudanças Climáticas Globais - Temático