Bio Ecology of Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Insects Of Order Coleoptera In The World

Abstract

Khaghani Ramin, Vatandoost Hassan, Tashakori Ghazal, Jalilian Ali

Background: Aquatic Coleoptera plays a major role in freshwater ecosystems and is regarded as an effective bioindicator. At least 23 beetle families, from three of the four extant suborders, are predominantly aquatic as adults, larvae, or both. They play important role in ecosystem functioning, nutrient cycling primary production , decomposition and materials translocation.

Methods: In this study, various databases including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Google Scholar and sciencedirect were used. Results: Aquatic Coleoptera known as water beetles, with more than 13,000 described species, is one of the most abundant aquatic insects. Out of 4 suborders of Coleoptera, the suborder Myxophaga is truly aquatic whereas 8 of the 11 extant families of Adephaga are regarded as truly. As far as Polyphaga is concerned, the largest suborder of Coleoptera, only 13 of the 150 families are regarded as truly aquatic.

Discussion and Conclusion: Water beetles, although defined by their affinity for aquatic ways of life, occupy a broad array of habitats, and have shifted secondarily back to their terrestrial roots (either as adults, larvae or both) on multiple occasions. This ecological variability coupled with repeated, parallel transitions has positioned water beetles as a premier study group for questions related to dispersal, ecological speciation, and diversification rates. The characteristics of a bioindicator are: richness and diversity species, easy handling, ecological faithfulness, fragility to small environmental changes and good organism responses, and water beetles are very integral parts of any biotic component of any water bodies or wetlands. They are indicators of ecological diversity and habitat characteristics.

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