Resumo

CASTILLO-VELASQUEZ, Rodolfo M  e  HUAMANTINCO-ARAUJO, Ana A. Variability of the community structure of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Salinas de Chilca, Lima, Peru. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2022, vol.27, n.3, pp.355-365.  Epub 12-Jun-2024. ISSN 0120-548X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v27n3.90324.

The Salinas de Chilca are located at km 65 of the Panamericana Sur highway, represented by three lagoons: La Milagrosa (main lagoon and salt ponds), La Mellicera and La Encantada. The environment of these lagoons belongs to the Subtropical Desert (d-ST) life zone. The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of environmental variables on changes in the macroinvertebrate community structure in the Salinas de Chilca, Lima, Peru. Four collection campaigns were carried out from January to September 2018, establishing twelve sampling stations, three stations for each lentic environment. The sample was collected through sweeps with a 500 µm mesh opening type D network on the shore of each lagoon. The physicochemical parameters of the water presented different values in each lagoon and formed a descending salinity gradient from the saline pools (with hypersaline values) towards the La Encantada lagoon (with mesosaline values). 42 genera of macroinvertebrates were collected, with the most influential genera in community patterns: Heleobia, Larsia, Trichocorixa, Ephydra and Artemia, these organisms represented 83.85 % of the total abundance. The environmental gradient generated by salinity determined two very different groups, a group of species that do not tolerate high salinity values (mesosaline lagoons) from another group of species that support extreme salinity values (hypersaline lagoons); however, predation, anthropic alterations, habitat structure, among other factors, would also be influencing changes in the community structure.

Palavras-chave : aquatic insects; coastal wetlands; diversity; salinity; subtropical desert.

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