Biodiversity of aquatic insects in the neotropics: Perspectives and challenges

Abstract

This chapter is aimed to provide an assessment of the conservation status of Neotropical aquatic insects. Thus, we outline the taxonomic and geographic gaps and bias of information, identify some hotspots and conservation strategies of aquatic insects (using Brazil as a study case) and review key human threats to biodiversity loss. In general, odonate insects are the best well-sampled insects in the regions. Unfortunately, only three Neotropical countries have lists of aquatic insect species under threat: Brazil, Bolivia, and Colombia. This contrasts with the large number of hotspots we detect for the region: Mexico (Jalisco, Nayarit, and Central Veracruz), Colombia (Turrano, Manchique, Las Nevadas), Venezuela (Hueque, Piedemonte, Perija, Rios de Guanare, Sierra de San Luis, Ciudad de Coro, Lago de Maracaibo, Ticopuro), Guyana (Kamuku), and Brazil (Jacamira). Major environmental threats include pesticides (this even in protected areas) and cattle ranching. Only Brazil emerges prominently with legal practices that can be used as the framework to protect aquatic insects: a Red List and the use of Conservation Units. Some recommendations for the Neotropics include higher sampling efforts to feed current species lists, formation of specialists in different aquatic insect taxonomic groups, national and international collaborations, and interaction with the government to reach legal frameworks that protect aquatic insects.