Diversity of aquatic Diptera (Insecta: Diptera) in a high-Andean watershed of Tolima Colombia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/9ee7n610Keywords:
assemblage;, aquatic macroinvertebrates; , Colombia;, highmountain;, hydrological cycle;, lotic systems; , NeotropicsAbstract
Introduction: Aquatic dipterans are key components of mountain lotic ecosystems due to their diversity, ecological sensitivity, and bioindicator value. The Combeima River Basin (Tolima, Colombia) is a high-Andean basin essential for water supply, but it is affected by anthropogenic pressures. Objective: To expand knowledge on the diversity and abundance of aquatic dipterans along the Combeima River Basin (Ibagué, Tolima) during contrasting hydrological periods. Methods: Three samplings were conducted over an annual hydrological cycle (September 2022, June and September 2023), covering both the dry and rainy seasons. Five samples were taken at each station using three different sampling methods: Surber net (on sediment, rock, and leaf-litter substrates), screen net, and sieves. All samples were pooled into a unique sample for data treatment. Larvae were separated, preserved, and identified using available taxonomic keys; for Chironomidae, clearing and mounting techniques were applied, considering different diagnostic characters for identification. Diversity was estimated using Hill numbers and rarefaction curves. NMDS and ANOSIM analyses were applied to explore community patterns. Results: A total of 1 586 larvae belonging to 11 families and 28 genera were collected. Chironomidae were the most abundant (74.56 %), followed by Simuliidae (15.76 %) and Blepharoceridae (6.24 %). In contrast, Dolichopodidae, Dixidae, and Stratiomyidae were scarce, with only four, two, and one individual recorded per family, respectively. Differences in richness and dominance were observed among stations and periods, related to altitude and anthropogenic disturbances. NMDS showed grouping by station, with greater heterogeneity in impacted sites. Conclusions: Aquatic dipteran communities reflected the combined influence of natural environmental factors and anthropogenic disturbance. A progressive replacement of sensitive by tolerant genera was observed, indicating a clear ecological tolerance gradient and reinforcing their value as bioindicators of environmental quality. These findings provide a robust ecological baseline for future monitoring and conservation programs in high-Andean microbasins.
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