Abstract

ARIAS-DIAZ, DIEGO MAURICIO; REINOSO-FLOREZ, GLADYS; GUEVARA-CARDONA, GIOVANY  and  VILLA-NAVARRO, FRANCISCO ANTONIO. Spatial and temporal distribution of the water beetles in the Coello River Basin (Tolima, Colombia). Caldasia [online]. 2007, vol.29, n.1, pp.177-194. ISSN 0366-5232.

The composition and abundance of aquatic Coleoptera from the Coello River Basin (Tolima, Colombia) were recorded during March, May, July-August and September 2003. A total of 3071 specimens belonging to two suborders, ten families and 27 genera were collected. Genera such as Copelatus, Andogyrus, Hexacylloepus, Hexanchorus, Neocylloepus, Promoresia, Pseudodisersus, Scirtes, Prionocyphon, Dryops, Pelonomus y Tetraglosa are recorded for the Department of Tolima for the first time. Likewise, the genera Oulimnius and Gonielmis are recorded for Colombia and Tolima for the first time. The family Elmidae was the most abundant (92.91%) and diverse (14 taxa), while Dytiscidae and Lampyridae families were less abundant and diverse (1 genus and 2 specimens each). The most representative genera in terms of abundance throughout the basin were Microcylloepus, Heterelmis, Cylloepus, Phanocerus, Tetraglosa y Psephenops. The genera Scirtes, Berosus and Copelatus showed a narrow range of altitudinal and spatial distributions. The station RCOP (1275 m elevation) showed the highest relative abundance (24.35%), while RBA (1820 m) and RAB (1778 m) stations showed the lowest number of organisms (0.06%). During March, a period of transition to rain, the highest relative abundance was recorded; while in May, period of rain, the lowest abundance was observed. Physicochemical variables individually, did not have a significant influence on the community structure of the water beetles in the Coello River basin. However, with a low level of dissolved oxygen, both diversity and abundance were diminished.

Keywords : Coleoptera; Colombia; Diversity; Aquatic insects; Coello River; Macroinvertebrates.

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