| Title | Response of Chironomids to Key Environmental Factors: Perspective for Biomonitoring |
| Abstract | Chironomids are the species-richest family among macroinvertebrates and are often used as indicators of ecological conditions in inland waters. High taxonomic expertise is needed for identification and new species are still being described even in the well-known West Palearctic region. Our Microsoft Access relational database comprises data on Chironomid species collected in rivers and lakes in Italy and some other European countries over a period of about 50 years, often associated with physical-chemical data, but in some cases, only data on Chironomids are available with no associated environmental data. The aim of the present paper was to propose the calculation of
ecological traits of Chironomid species as a tool to derive information on water quality, when only data on Chironomid species composition are present, while environmental data are lacking. Traits summarizing the species' response to environmental variables were evaluated, with emphasis on natural and man-influenced factors: current velocity, water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients. Traits calculations were carried out in the R environment using a subset of our data, including both environmental data and Chironomid abundances. The relations between sites, Chironomid, species and traits were evaluated using correspondence analysis and other multivariate methods. The response of species showed an interaction among different factors, with the possibility of ordering species along a single environmental gradient, extending from cold running waters to warm standing waters, with few exceptions. |
| Source | Insects 13, pp. 911 |
| Keywords | chironomidaefreshwatersmacroinvertebratesecological indicators |
| Journal | Insects |
| Editor | Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, |
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.3390/ insects13100911 |
| Authors | Rossaro B., Marziali L., Boggero A. |
| Text | 471867 2022 10.3390/ insects13100911 chironomidae freshwaters macroinvertebrates ecological indicators Response of Chironomids to Key Environmental Factors Perspective for Biomonitoring Rossaro B., Marziali L., Boggero A. Dipartimento Ambiente Territorio, Universita degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; National Research Council Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , via del Mulino 19, 20861 Brugherio, Italy; National Research Council Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy Chironomids are the species richest family among macroinvertebrates and are often used as indicators of ecological conditions in inland waters. High taxonomic expertise is needed for identification and new species are still being described even in the well known West Palearctic region. Our Microsoft Access relational database comprises data on Chironomid species collected in rivers and lakes in Italy and some other European countries over a period of about 50 years, often associated with physical chemical data, but in some cases, only data on Chironomids are available with no associated environmental data. The aim of the present paper was to propose the calculation of ecological traits of Chironomid species as a tool to derive information on water quality, when only data on Chironomid species composition are present, while environmental data are lacking. Traits summarizing the species response to environmental variables were evaluated, with emphasis on natural and man influenced factors current velocity, water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients. Traits calculations were carried out in the R environment using a subset of our data, including both environmental data and Chironomid abundances. The relations between sites, Chironomid, species and traits were evaluated using correspondence analysis and other multivariate methods. The response of species showed an interaction among different factors, with the possibility of ordering species along a single environmental gradient, extending from cold running waters to warm standing waters, with few exceptions. 13 Published version https //www.mdpi.com/2075 4450/13/10/911 03/10/2022 Response of Chironomids to Key Environmental Factors Perspective for Biomonitoring 2022_Response Chiro env factors_Rossaro etal.pdf Articolo in rivista Molecular Diversity Preservation International 2075 4450 Insects Insects Insects Insects. angela.boggero BOGGERO ANGELA laura.marziali MARZIALI LAURA |
