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Abstract

Environmental Analysis & Ecology Studies

Genus 1 sp. 2 (Diptera: Chironomidae): The Potential Use of its Larvae as Bioindicators

  • Open or Close Paula A Ossa López1, Narcís Prat2, Gabriel J Castaño Villa3, Erika M Ospina Pérez1, Ghennie T Rodriguez Rey4 and Fredy A Rivera Páez1*

    1 GEBIOME Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

    2 Grup de recerca consolidat FEM (Freshwater Ecology and Management), Departament of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Medi Ambient, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    3 GEBIOME Research Group, Department of Rural Development and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

    3 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

    *Corresponding author: Fredy Arvey Rivera Páez, GEBIOME Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

Submission: November 05, 2018; Published: November 16, 2018

DOI: 10.31031/EAES.2018.04.000589

ISSN: 2578-0336
Volume4 Issue3

Abstract

The family Chironomidae belongs to the most abundant macroinvertebrates in samples for water quality assessment and displays a wide tolerance range to contaminants, which makes it an excellent bioindicator. The species Genus 1 sp. 2 (Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae), included among the larval keys of the Cricotopus-Oliveiriella complex, is difficult to determine based on its larval instar using the current morphological keys, which makes it necessary to use pupae for a species-level identification. In this study, 103 organisms in the IV larval instar were collected from tributaries of the high Chinchiná river basin (Caldas-Colombia), along with eight organisms at the pupal level (reared in the laboratory).

The organisms were morphologically identified, and a molecular analysis of the genes COI and 16S rDNA was performed in order to confirm and associate larvae and pupae. In the larval morphometric analysis, 13 structure measurements were taken, with the aim of finding possible variations among specimens from different sampling stations, and only dorsal head area (DHAr) showed significant differences. The presence of mentum deformities was assessed, a total of 18 specimens showed partial or total teeth deformity, although no significant differences were found between deformity frequency and the sampling stations. The results obtained allow for a molecular determination and association of larvae and pupae of the species Genus 1 sp. 2, and new morphological measurements in larvae that can aid in determining variations resulting from contaminant agents and contributing to establishing this species as a water quality bioindicator.

Keywords:Colombia; Deformities; Molecular analysis; Morphology; Morphometry

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