ABSTRACT
The ecology of aquatic insects of
Opi Lake was carried out to determine their composition, abundance and
diversity from February to July, 2014. Adult insects of different species were
collected from the water surface using a dip-net with Nytex® netting of 500µm
mesh. In addition, adult Insects and nymphs were collected from the vegetation
around the lake using a sweep net with mesh size of 250µm, while bottom
dwellers were sampled using a scoop net. The lake was divided into three
sampling stations as a result of the nature and amount of the vegetation, and
the type of substratum found in each location. Station 1 had vegetation, shade
and detritus, Station 2 had no shade, very little detritus and vegetation,
while Station 3 had shade, detritus with no vegetation. The physico-chemical
parameters and heavy metals concentrations of the lake were determined while
the climatic data of the area was collected from the Center for Space Science
University of Nigeria Nsukka.A total number of 1,042 insects representing 30
species, belonging to 26 families and 8 orders were recorded. Odonata had the
highest mean abundance (44.52%) in all the stations, followed by Hemiptera
(23.32%) which was the most diverse group. Hemiptera had the highest number of
families (8 out of the 26 families collected). Other insect orders collected
with their abundance include: Coleoptera (12.28%), Orthoptera (10.29%),
Hymenoptera (5.09%), Diptera (3.36%), Trichoptera (1.06%) and Lepidoptera
(0.01%). Station 1 recorded the maximum number (46.35%) of aquatic insects
throughout the sampling season. However, stations 2 and 3 recorded 28.98% and
24.66% of aquatic insects respectively. The abundance of insects was maximum in
the month of July (20.44%) and minimum in April (8.16%). The abundance and
distribution of insect species varied and were not constant from one month to
another during the period of study, due to biotic and abiotic factors. There
was high species diversity of aquatic insects in the different strata of the
lake, indicating the rich and diverse group of insects in the study area.
Dissolved Oxygen had an inverse relationship with Orthoptera (r = -0.63, p <
0.01) and Hymenoptera (r = -0.54, p < 0.05. Diptera also had negative
relationship with depth (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). There was positive
correlation between Hemiptera and Copper (r = 0.78, p < 0.01), while Iron
also correlated positively with Coleoptera (r = 0.47, p < 0.05)
and Lepidoptera (r=0.59, p < 0.05).Among the insects and zooplankton,
Odonata had positive correlations with Rotifera (r=0.502, p < 0.05), Cyclops
(r = 0.541, p < 0.05), Bosmina (r=0.53, p < 0.05) and Daphnia (r = 0.595,
p < 0.01). Orthoptera also showed positive relationship with Fish egg (r =
0.684, p < 0.01). Also, with phytoplankton, Odonata had positive
relationship with Chlorophycaea (r = 0.505, p < 0.05) and Xanthophycaea (r =
0.499, p < 0.05). Orthoptera correlated positively with Cryptophycaea (r =
0.491, p < 0.05) and Xanthophycaea (r = 0.487, p < 0.05).This therefore,
adds to the fact that undisturbed habitat quality is more suitable for insects
to breed and multiply under the natural ecosystem with abundant food supply.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Plates
Abstract
Chapter One:
Introduction and Literature Review
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Justification of the Study
1.3 Objective of the Study
1.4 Literature Review
1.4.1. Some structural
adaptations of insects in the aquatic community
1.4.2. Major groups of
aquatic insects
1.4.3. Insect taxonomic
diversity
1.4.4. Factors affecting the
distribution and abundance of insects in aquatic environment
1.4.5. Biological constraints
on aquatic insects (role of biotic factors in the distribution and abundance of
aquatic insects)
1.4.6. Substrate Type
1.4.7. Activities and
ecological role of adult aquatic insects
CHAPTER TWO:
MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Study Area
2.2 Meteorological Data
2.3 Aquatic Insects Sampling
2.4 Identification of Insects
2.5 Determination of Physico-chemical Parameters
2.6 Macroinvertebrate Sampling
2.7 Plankton Sampling
2.8 Statistical Analysis
CHAPTER THREE:
RESULTS
3.1 Meteorological Data of Study Area
3.2 Aquatic Insects Sampling and Identification
3.3 Mean Monthly Abundance of Aquatic Insect Orders in Opi Lake
3.4 Correlation Matrix of the Relationship
between Aquatic Insects Abundance in Opi Lake
3.5 Mean Monthly Value of the Physico-chemical Parameters of Opi
Lake
3.6 Correlation of physico-chemical parameters/ Heavy Metals and
Aquatic insect orders
3.7 Mean Monthly Composition and Abundance of Zooplanktons in Opi
Lake
3.8 Mean Monthly Composition and Abundance of Phytoplanktons of
Opi Lake
3.9 Mean Monthly Composition and Abundance of Macroinvertebrates
in Opi Lake
3.10 Correlation of Aquatic Insects and Zooplanktons of Opi Lake
3.11 Relationship of Aquatic Insects and Phytoplankton of Opi Lake
3.12 Relationship of Aquatic Insects and Macroinvertebrate in Opi
Lake
CHAPTER FOUR:
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
4.1 Discussion
4.2 Conclusion
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
AND LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1 Introduction
Aquatic habitats
are known to accommodate a great number of the earth’s arthropods. These
include insects, many of which are known to utilize the aquatic ecosystem in
various ways, and sometimes only at certain stages of their life cycle (Pennak,
1978; Voshell, 2002). Insects are very successful in aquatic ecosystem,
especially the freshwater environment. This is demonstrated by their diversity,
abundance, broad distribution and their ability to exploit most types of
aquatic habitats. The importance of these organisms range from their provision
of support to terrestrial lives through aquatic maintenance of food chains to
serving as indicators of water quality due to their varying tolerance limits to
organic and inorganic substances (Bass, 1994; Mason, 2002).
There are about 751,000 known species of insects, which is
about three-fourths of all species of animals on the planet. Most insects live
on land; their diversity also includes many species that are aquatic in habit
(Westfall and Tennessen, 1996). Freshwater makes up only about 0.01% of world
total water body and contains about 100000 species (8%) out of 1.3 million
scientifically described species (Dudgeon, 1999). Aquatic insects are extremely
important in ecological systems for many reasons (Merritt et al., 2008)
and are the primary bio-indicators of freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds,
wetland, streams and rivers. They serve various purposes such as food of fishes
and other invertebrates, as vectors of pathogens to both humans and animals
(Foil, 1998; Chae et al., 2000). Bio-monitoring pertains to the use of
insects and/or their differential responses to stimuli in their aquatic habitat
to determine the quality of that
Insects generally dominate freshwaters in terms of species
number, biomass and productivity. They have a variety of morphological
adaptations for aquatic life. For breathing, some diving beetles (Coleoptera)
and bugs (Hemiptera) entrap an air bubble beneath the elytra (beetles) and
hemelytra (bugs) within the hydrofuge. The bubble can last for hours or days.
Some adult beetles and bugs have an expanse of hydrofuge to form a layer of air
around them. This oxygen layer is known as a plastron and is replenished by
diffusion from the surrounding water allowing these insects to stay under water
permanently. Many other nymphal insects tend to have gills- abdominal, rectal
or around the mouthparts, to enable under water breathing. Some fly larvae
(Diptera) and damselfly nymphs (Odonata) swim by serpentine action. Dragonfly
larvae (Odonata) are capable of jet propulsion by forcing air from the rectum.
Most bugs (Hemiptera) have modified legs - paddle-like, fringed with hair. Fast
swimmers have bodies that are flattened to be aqua dynamically streamlined.
Surface dwelling bugs have non-wettable hairs (hydrofuge) that allow them to
rest upon and move across the surface of the water.
Adult insects typically move about by walking, flying, or
sometimes swimming. As it allows for rapid yet stable movement, many insects
adopt a tripedal gait in which they walk with their legs touching the ground in
alternating triangles. Insects are the only invertebrates to have evolved
flight. Many insects spend at least part of their lives under water, with
larval adaptations that include gills, and some adult insects are aquatic and
have adaptations for swimming. Some species, such as water striders, are
capable of walking on the surface of water. Insects are mostly solitary, but
some, such as certain bees, ants and termites, are social and live in large,
well-organized colonies. Some insects, such as earwigs, show maternal care,
guarding their eggs and....
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