Aquatic insects associated with macrophytes in wetlands of the middle basin of Atrato River, Chocó - Colombia

Aquatic macrophytes play an important role in lentic systems, since they constitute the particular habitat of several groups of aquatic insects and play a fundamental role in structuring their communities. The objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of the aquatic entomofauna associated with macrophytes in wetlands of the middle basin of the Atrato River, Chocó-Colombia. For four months, collections of aquatic insects associated with the roots of different aquatic plants were made, using a quadrat of one m2, equipped with a 0.5 mm mesh, with three replicates per swamp. Simultaneously, some physical and chemical variables of the water were measured. The community of aquatic insects was composed of 6 orders, 23 families, and 36 genera. The most representative orders were Hemiptera (Heteroptera) and Odonata and the most abundant families were Noteridae (Coleoptera) and Libellulidae (Odonata). The diversity index presented a range between 2.39 and 2.07 bits/ind, with Plaza Seca as the most representative wetlands, while the dominance was between 0.16 and 0.11. The most abundant functional group was that of predators. The variables pH, water temperature and transparency presented significant differences between swamps and there were important associations between the aquatic entomofauna, and the abiotic variables analyzed.