Aquatic Insects Communities in a Saline Water Source - Antofagasta, Chile

Abstract

The aquatic insects include mainly larval stages, that hatch into adults, as occurring in some Diptera, which can generate problems in human health in tropical regions as these can transmit diseases. Some of these are reported from inland and coastal saline waters. The present study is an attept to apply the null models to explain the structure of aquatic insects a small saline water source located at south of Antofagasta town (23°47’ S, Chile), using species associations and niches sharing null models. The results reveal a low taxa number, specifically of Diptera (Ephydridae, Ceratopogonidae and Nematocera). The null models of species associations reveal that the associations are random. Evaluation of the niche sharing reveal that species share ecological niches, and as a consequence there are interspecific competition. The reported taxa are similar with communities for inland water saline ecosystems as far as community structure and taxonomic groups are concerned.