Ecology of benthic crustaceans in the Cautin river (38°S, Araucania region, Chile)

The Cautin river is located in the Araucania region, Chile (38°S), and is characterized by alterations through human interference in its surrounding basin, by the presence of introduced salmonids, and by its mixed regime, which originates from melting snow in summer and rains in winter. The fauna of this river includes an invertebrate fauna composed of both endemic and widespread species, which has, however, been only poorly studied until now. The aim of the present study was to make a review of the ecological role of the benthic inland water crustaceans of the River Cautin, in order to understand their importance in the ecosystem of the river. The literature revealed the presence of abundant populations of amphipods and freshwater crabs as well as of aquatic insects along the river’s course. Many of these crustaceans are prey for both introduced salmonids and native fishes. Similar results have been reported for other southern Argentinean and Chilean Patagonian rivers.

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First report of inventory and role of macroinvertebrates and fish in Cautín river (38° S, Araucania region Chile)

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.203511 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 215-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Vega ◽

P. De los Ríos ◽

F. Encina ◽

J. A. Norambuena ◽

J. Barile ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecological Role ◽

Snow Melting ◽

Introduced Fish ◽

Human Interference ◽

Inland Water ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Freshwater Crabs ◽

Mixed Regime ◽

Native Fishes

Abstract The Cautin river is located in the 137 years old Araucania region, Chile (38°S), and is characterized by alterations through human interference due agriculture and towns in its surrounding basin, the presence of salmonids, and by its mixed regime, originated from snow melting in summer and rains in winter. The aim of the present study was to make a review of the inventory and ecological role of the benthic inland water macroinvertebrates of the River Cautin, in order to understand their importance in the ecosystem of the river. The fauna of this river includes a fauna composed of endemic and introduced fish, which has, however, been only poorly studied until now. The literature revealed the presence of abundant populations of Diptera, Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera larval stages, and few crustaceans specifically amphipods and freshwater crabs along the river’s course. Many of these macroinvertebrates are prey for both introduced salmonids and native fishes. Similar results have been reported for other southern Argentinean and Chilean Patagonian rivers.

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First report the role of benthic macroinvertebrates as preys for native fish in Toltén river (38° S, Araucania region Chile)

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.232661 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

J. Barile ◽

R. Vega ◽

P. De los Ríos-Escalante

Keyword(s):

Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽

Native Species ◽

Native Fish ◽

Ecological Role ◽

Main Prey ◽

Human Interference ◽

Chilean Patagonia ◽

Chironomidae Larvae ◽

Native Fishes

Abstract The Toltén river is located in the 137 years old Araucania region, Chile (38° S), and is characterized by low alterations through human interference due agriculture and towns in its surrounding basin, the presence of native fishes and salmonids, and by its lake effluent regime originated from Villarrica lake. The aim of the present study was to make a review of ecological role of the benthic inland water macroinvertebrates as preys for native fishes of the River Toltén, in order to understand their importance in the ecosystem of the river. The literature revealed that the main prey for native fishes are Chironomidae larvae, nevertheless there are not specific reports for Tolten river. The exposed results are similar with similar native species for Patagonia, and these native species would have prey for introduced salmonids, or these species would have prey competition with introduced salmonids in according to the literature descriptions for Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia.

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Monitoring of adult aquatic insect activities and ecological role in the riparian zone of streams in the Western Ghats, India

IRA-International Journal of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2455-4499) ◽

10.21013/jas.v4.n3.p10 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 460

Author(s):

T. Kubendran ◽

M. Ramesh

Keyword(s):

Aquatic Insects ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Riparian Zone ◽

Food Resource ◽

Aquatic Insect ◽

Ecological Role ◽

Freshwater Biodiversity ◽

The Western Ghats ◽

Adult Aquatic Insects

<div>The Western Ghats, running parallel to the west coast of India between 8° N and 21° N is a prominent feature of the peninsular India. In freshwater biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats, no information is available on activates and ecological role of adult aquatic insect in the riparian zone of streams. Most adult aquatic insects that emerge from streams live briefly in the nearby riparian zone. Adult activities, such as mating dispersal and feeding influence their distribution in the terrestrial habitat. An observation at Kurangani streams, Western Ghats, India has shown that both numbers and biomass of adult aquatic insects are greatest in the near stream vegetation; however, adult insects can be relatively common 1 to 10 feet from the stream. Why because, adult aquatic insects are abundant and they are primary food resource for many riparian insectivores. The role of adult aquatic insects in the riparian zone must be better understood for riparian and aquatic food chain to be complete. </div>

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Ecological role of benthic crustaceans in Chilean north Patagonian lakes and rivers (Araucania region, 39°S)

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003643 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 90 (4) ◽

pp. 437-447 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Francisco Encina ◽

Rolando Vega ◽

Gladys Lara ◽

Patricio De Los Ríos-Escalante

Keyword(s):

Native Vegetation ◽

Ecological Role ◽

Aquatic Communities ◽

Drainage Basins ◽

Freshwater Crabs ◽

Patagonian Lakes ◽

Habitat Damage ◽

Industrial Zones ◽

Mineral Concentrations

The Chilean north Patagonian inland waters are characterized by their low mineral concentrations. In their original status, many of these ecosystems have native vegetation in their surrounding drainage basins, but in the last decades the native vegetation was replaced by agricultural, urban, and industrial zones, with as a result of these human alterations that those aquatic communities changed. The aim of the present study was to make a literature review about the ecological role of crustaceans in Chilean north Patagonian lakes and rivers. The literature mentioned the presence of amphipods (Hyalella), crayfishes (Samastacus spinifrons), and freshwater crabs (genusAegla), and many of these species hold a conservation risk due to the consequences of habitat damage and/or their high endemism. These crustaceans are important for the degradation of particulate organic matter originating from the surrounding vegetation, and are prey for native and introduced salmonid fishes. Similar patterns had already been observed for Argentinean Patagonian rivers.

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Persistence of central Australian aquatic invertebrate communities

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf13131 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 65 (6) ◽

pp. 562 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

J. Brim-Box ◽

J. Davis ◽

K. Strehlow ◽

G. McBurnie ◽

A. Duguid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Social Factors ◽

Aquatic Insects ◽

Aquatic Invertebrate ◽

Invertebrate Fauna ◽

Significant Percentage ◽

European Settlement ◽

Central Australia ◽

Terrestrial Biodiversity

Central Australia supports a restricted but important range of freshwater systems, including small, permanent spring-fed streams and larger riverine pools ranging from permanent to ephemeral. These sites support a significant percentage of the aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity within the region. Comparison of records from the first exploratory scientific expedition to the area in 1894, and surveys conducted in 1986, 1994 and 2008, revealed the persistence of the aquatic invertebrate fauna, despite the recent impacts of European settlement. The presence of aquatic insects with Gondwanan origins suggests affinities with assemblages present in a much wetter era (~18 000 years ago). Persistence can be attributed to multiple environmental and social factors, including the role of local aquifers in sustaining permanent systems, the remote and inaccessible nature of the sites, and the protection and management afforded by reservation within national parks. Characterisation of the drivers and stressors that influence these ecosystems suggests that climate change could potentially result in a loss of endemic and relictual species. Hence, the relictual waterbodies of central Australia can be viewed as potential ‘sentinel’ sites for assessing the impacts of changing conditions.

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