<b>Community structure of Chironomidae larvae (Insecta: Diptera), in different artificial substrates and during distinct hydrological phases, in the upper stretch of the Paraná river, Paraná State, Brazil</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v32i2.5387

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of hydrological phases on species composition, density and dominance of Chironomidae larvae in different types of artificial substrates. Samplings were undertaken fortnightly, between August 2004 and December 2005. Cluster analysis evidenced differences in the species composition and density of Chironomidae morphospecies among hydrological phases; according to the Kownacki dominance index, Cricotopus sp. was dominant or subdominant in all substrates and hydrological phases. During the low water phase, the greatest similarity was observed among the substrates with the same shape. In this period, the highest values of species richness and density of larvae were registered in X-shaped substrates. During the high water phase, the rise in the level of the Paraná River influenced on the reduction of mean larvae density, and only in wooden X-shaped and tube-shaped PVC substrates, whose materials best favored larvae fixing, high values of density were verified.