Macrophytes and metaphyton as habitats for insects in temporary and permanent tropical aquatic ecosystems

Abstract

Insect community structures in tropical regions appear to be related to the hydrological regime and energy paths trough autochthonous and allochthones sources. Macrophyte and metaphyton permanent coverage throughout the year generate conditions and resources, such as food and refuge, allowing the establishment of a large number of aquatic insect species. The hydrological regime is based on rain seasonality and has a direct influence on insect lifecycles. We evaluated insect community structures in five systems with differences in macrophyte/metaphyton coverage and hydrological regimes (two temporary wetlands and three permanent cenotes) in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in southeast Mexico. The insect diversity values highly correlated with metaphyton abundance but not with macrophyte coverage. We also found that cenote hydrological stability could produce higher insect diversity in comparison with temporary wetlands.