Mosquito control actions affect chironomid diversity in temporary wetlands of the Upper Rhine Valley

The Upper Rhine Valley, a “hotspot of biodiversity” in Germany, has been treated with the biocide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) for mosquito control for decades. Previous studies discovered Bti nontarget effects in terms of severe chironomid abundance reductions. In this study, we investigated the impact of Bti on species level and addressed the community composition of the nontarget family Chironomidae by use of community metabarcoding. Chironomid emergence data were collected in three mosquito‐control relevant wetland types in the Upper Rhine Valley. For all three sites the chironomid species composition, based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs), was different to varying degrees in the Bti‐treated samples versus control samples, ranging from a significant 63% OTU reduction to an OTU replacement. We assumed that predatory chironomids are less prone to Bti than filter feeders, as the latter feed on floating particles leading to direct ingestion of Bti. However, a comparable percentage of predators and filter feeders (63% and 65%, respectively) was reduced in the Bti samples, suggesting that the feeding strategy is not the main driver for Bti sensitivity in chironomids. Finally, our data was compared to a three‐year‐old data set, indicating possible chironomid community recovery due to species recolonization a few years after the last Bti application. Considering the currently discussed worldwide insect decline we recommend a rethinking of the usage of the biocide Bti, and to prevent its ongoing application especially in nature protection reserves to enhance ecological resilience and to prevent boosting the current biodiversity loss.     

红火蚁入侵对玉米地蜘蛛类群多样性的影响

采用陷阱法和目测法系统研究了红火蚁入侵玉米地对蜘蛛类群多样性的影响.期间共调查到蜘蛛8科16种,其中红火蚁发生区有6科10种,药防区4科5种,对照区8科11种;蜘蛛种类以游猎型为主,隶属于猫蛛科和跳蛛科,优势种包括斜纹猫蛛、乔氏蚁蛛和蚁蛛.在红火蚁发生区,从玉米心叶后期开始红火蚁种群数量不断增加,在玉米抽穗开花期达到最大,为225头,之后缓慢降低,相应的猫蛛属蜘蛛种群数量则逐渐降低,降幅达79.2％;而蚁蛛属蜘蛛的种群数量变化不大.随着玉米植株的生长,红火蚁发生区和药防区的蜘蛛种类、多样性指数和均匀度指数逐渐降低,生态优势度指数却不断升高,而对照区相关指标则相反.表明红火蚁入侵显著改变了玉米地蜘蛛的类群结构.     

Direct and indirect impacts of wildfire on faunal communities of Mediterranean temporary ponds

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