Caddisflies of the Combeima River (Tolima, Colombia) and their relationship to anthropogenic pollution
Among aquatic macroinvertebrates, insects of the order Trichoptera are important because their presence in freshwater systems allows environmental conditions to be assessed. Caddisflies in their larval stage have great potential as bioindicators, thanks to their wide distribution and their ability to adapt to diverse physical, chemical, and biological conditions.
Introduction: Caddisfly larvae have great bioindicator potential due to their wide distribution and response to various physicochemical and biological conditions. Several studies in Colombia have been aimed at determining the possible anthropogenic impacts on the ecology, taxonomy, and biology of this group of aquatic insects. Objective: To evaluate the composition of caddisfly larvae and the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the Combeima River basin (Ibagué, Colombia). Materials and methods: Four sampling points were selected, two in Quebrada Las Perlas and two in the Combeima River, upstream and downstream of the hamlets of Juntas and Villa Restrepo, respectively, during three contrasting periods (rainy season, transition to drought, and transition to rain). Results: 536 larvae belonging to nine families were identified, with the following order of the three most abundant: Hydropsychidae (47.95%), Hydrobiosidae (19.40%), and Helicopsychidae (16.42%). Regarding spatial distribution, the sampling 3 (S3) showed the highest abundance (336 larvae), followed by S2 (127) and S1 (73). The MPs record showed 420 fragments, with dominance in Quebrada Las Perlas (157), and mainly in the form of blue fibers. Conclusion: A reduction in the abundance of caddisfly larvae is highlighted in accordance with that was recorded in previous studies in the basin, which may be associated with changes in land use and differences in sampling eff orts during the hydrological cycle. Likewise, results of macro- and microplastics are reported for the first time for the basin.
Keywords: Bioindicator, Emerging Pollutants, Plastics, Trichoptera.
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