<b>Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) colonization in different types of artificial substrates</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v27i2.1325

Abstract

Artificial substrates are used for studies on aquatic fauna settling. The objective of this study was to verify the composition, density and richness of larvae of Chironomidae in different types of artificial substrate throughout 96 days of exposition in the Paraná River. Twelve morphospecies of Chironomidae larvae were identified. Cricotopus sp.1 was predominant in the four types of substrates (11933 ind./m-²) and, the greater mean density of the Chironomidae taxa was verified in the wood substrate. Significant differences in relation to the density of Chironomidae between substrate wood and aluminium and as to the richness between substrate wood and PVC in X have been observed. The cluster analysis separated the larvae density according to the substrate form. The physical and structural form of the artificial substrates was the factor that influenced the differences in the composition of the larvae of Chironomidae