Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Biodiversity in Freshwaters in Northeastern Poland

Abstract

Biodiversity is a significant element that describes the ecological state of waterbodies. Eutrophication is a widespread problem that has an impact on water habitats and leads to the succession of sensitive species. Habitat degradation results in significant, predictable decreases in taxonomic diversity. We assessed benthic macroinvertebrate community structure (mainly families) in 9 rivers, 9 ponds, and 23 lakes in northeastern Poland. Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, and Nemathelminthes were the 4 phyla represented, and 76 Insecta families, 5 taxa of Crustacea, and 12 Mollusca families were identified. A total of 91 taxa (mainly families) were recorded in all of the waterbodies studied. Diptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Gastropoda were the major components of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the aquatic habitats studied. The biodiversity values of the macroinvertebrate assemblages in the rivers and lakes studied were similar. This likely resulted from the similar number of habitats in both types of waters. Differences in biodiversity among the various waterbodies could be evidence of the moderate, diversified anthropogenic pressure to which they are subjected. The analysis of similarities indicated that in terms of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities, the waterbodies studied formed three groups, which, with just one exception, consisted separately of rivers, ponds, and lakes.