Effects of Land Use on the Community Structure of Aquatic Invertebrate in Subtropical Streams

Abstract

Streams constitute the water supply of the watersheds and provide the transfer of energy along the course of water, ensuring water biodiversity. Due to the different uses of the earth, the benthic community is being suppressed. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of changes in land use on the abundance, richness, and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in subtropical streams, considering the physical and chemical variables of streams seasonally. In total, 144 samples were collected between February 2022 and November 2023 at 12 sites distributed in a watershed in southern Brazil, four sites for each land use. Herein, 83.520 individuals were identified, comprising 67 taxa. There was a decrease in richness along the forested–rural–urban gradient and a greater abundance in the urban environment, without the significant influence of seasonality. We conclude that the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate in the streams is influenced not only by environmental variables but also by the spatial distribution between streams. The proximity of the streams generates a similarity in dominance. This study contributed to understanding the relationships of the environment with the benthic community and considering the spatial distribution among the streams sampled in future investigations.

Keywords

• aquatic ecosystem
• benthic community
• richness and diversity
• land use changes