Importância das características do habitat em riachos no cerrado para os atributos funcionais de insetos àquaticos

Abstract

The growing demand for natural resources, combined with inadequate soil management in agricultural, livestock, and urbanization activities, has caused significant degradation in aquatic ecosystems. These changes directly affect the physical structure and organic composition of these environments, leading to a reduction in the number of individuals and the disappearance of more sensitive species, while favoring those that are more tolerant.

The Cerrado, known as a tropical savanna, stands out for its biodiversity and is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot due to its high diversity and endemism. However, the biome faces increasing threats from the expansion of agribusiness, which replaces native vegetation with monocultures and intensifies environmental degradation. In addition to vegetation loss, anthropogenic impacts directly affect aquatic ecosystems, which play an essential role in maintaining biodiversity. These environments are characterized by dynamism and heterogeneity that support a wide variety of species.

However, human-induced modifications often reduce the richness of sensitive species and benefit more resistant organisms, making the monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem services essential. The insect orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) are widely used in biomonitoring studies due to their sensitivity to environmental changes and their ecological importance. These groups exhibit specific adaptations, such as respiration strategies, foraging behaviors, and shelter construction.

Ephemeroptera, for instance, play a key role in the food chain and in organic matter processing; Plecoptera are indicators of well-oxygenated water quality; and Trichoptera contribute to nutrient and detritus recycling. The functionality of these insects is closely linked to environmental conditions and the integrity of streams. The biological and functional diversity of these orders is influenced by factors such as substrate composition, riparian vegetation, and human-induced changes, making them valuable indicators for assessing the conservation status and functioning of aquatic ecosystems.