Macroinvertebrates composition as determinants of larval abundance in the dragonfly Miathyria marcella in tropical wetlands

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Odonate larvae play an important role in macroinvertebrate trophic networks and are excellent indicators of wetland quality. However, despite their ecological importance, research on odonates and how they interact with their environment is scarce. This study aims to assess macroinvertebrate composition as a determinant of larval abundance in Miathyria marcella (Odonata: Anizoptera: Libellulidae). METHODS: In total, 29 samples were collected from six wetlands with different types of hydrological influence using standardized invertebrate sampling techniques in Atlántico, a department located in northern Colombia. Standardized invertebrate sampling techniques were used at 29 sampling points. Obtained data were used to analyze invertebrate abundance and a non-parametric multidimensional scaling analysis was applied. In addition, a correlation analysis was conducted between macroinvertebrate composition and Miathyria marcella larval abundance. FINDINGS: A total of 2586 larvae and 12925 individual macroinvertebrates were collected, distributed across 25 orders and 58 families. The most abundant orders were Neotaenioglossa (26 percent), Odonata (15 percent) Calanoida (10 percent) and Diptera (8 percent). Heatmap and scaling analysis indicated different macroinvertebrate compositions in the sampled wetlands. It was found a high positive correlation between Miathyria marcella and the orders Odonata (R² = 0.84, p-value ≤ 0.05), Coleoptera (R² = 0.52, p-value ≤ 0.05), Basommatophora (R² = 0.60, p-value ≤ 0.05), and Hemiptera (R² = 0.50, p-value ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the abundance of Miathyria marcella responds to the accompanying macroinvertebrates, the composition of which depends on the type of hydrological influence. Assessment approaches that focus on the relationships between macroinvertebrate taxa are important conservation tools for biodiversity assessment. Results from this study will serve as a baseline to propose monitoring and follow-up strategies for environmental sustainability in wetlands in this region.