Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil

The Neotropical region possesses a rich freshwater sponge fauna; however, knowledge about its taxonomy and the community inside the sponges remains fragmentary. Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) larvae associated with freshwater sponges have been largely reported in literature and some genera are rec...

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Main Authors: Ingrid da Silva Fernandes, Gilberto Nicacio, Gilberto Gonçalves Rodrigues, Fabio Laurindo da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2019-02-01
Series:Biotemas
Online Access:https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/58259
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author Ingrid da Silva Fernandes
Gilberto Nicacio
Gilberto Gonçalves Rodrigues
Fabio Laurindo da Silva
author_facet Ingrid da Silva Fernandes
Gilberto Nicacio
Gilberto Gonçalves Rodrigues
Fabio Laurindo da Silva
author_sort Ingrid da Silva Fernandes
collection DOAJ
description The Neotropical region possesses a rich freshwater sponge fauna; however, knowledge about its taxonomy and the community inside the sponges remains fragmentary. Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) larvae associated with freshwater sponges have been largely reported in literature and some genera are recognized as containing species exclusively dependent on these organisms. In this study, we analyze the occurrence of chironomid larvae associated with freshwater sponges (Spongillidae) in northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected in two aquatic systems in Pernambuco, Brazil, in February 2011 and October 2012. In the Rio Sirinhaém, Corvoheteromeyenia australis (Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago) was the only sponge collected, and Polypedilum Kieffer, Goeldichironomus Fittkau, Xenochironomus Kieffer and Cricotopus Van der Wulp were the chironomids found as its associated fauna. On the other hand, in a fishpond, Heteromeyenia cristalina Batista, Volkmer-Ribeiro & Melão, Radiospongilla inesi Nicacio & Pinheiro and Tubella variabilis Boneto & Ezcurra de Drago were the collected sponges, and Polypedilum, Chironomus Meigen, Dicrotendipes Kieffer and Goeldichironomus were the larvae associated with these species. Although only species of Xenochironomus are reported to have close interactions with freshwater sponges, herein we document other Chironomidae genera associated with these organisms. Nevertheless, further investigations are needed to better understand how chironomid larvae use sponges as shelter and/or to avoid predation in a facultative way. The objective of the present study was to analyze the occurrence of Chironomidae inhabitants of freshwater sponges in aquatic systems in the state of Pernambuco, in order to contribute to the knowledge of sponge-dwelling chironomids in northeastern Brazil.
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spelling doaj-art-2ecea4a06bcb4e5895557eeebff776902025-08-20T03:40:14ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaBiotemas0103-16432175-79252019-02-0132110.5007/2175-7925.2019v32n1p3929948Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern BrazilIngrid da Silva Fernandes0Gilberto Nicacio1Gilberto Gonçalves Rodrigues2Fabio Laurindo da Silva3Universidade Federal de PernambucoUniversidade Federal de PernambucoUniversidade Federal de PernambucoUniversidade de São Paulo The Neotropical region possesses a rich freshwater sponge fauna; however, knowledge about its taxonomy and the community inside the sponges remains fragmentary. Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) larvae associated with freshwater sponges have been largely reported in literature and some genera are recognized as containing species exclusively dependent on these organisms. In this study, we analyze the occurrence of chironomid larvae associated with freshwater sponges (Spongillidae) in northeastern Brazil. Samples were collected in two aquatic systems in Pernambuco, Brazil, in February 2011 and October 2012. In the Rio Sirinhaém, Corvoheteromeyenia australis (Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago) was the only sponge collected, and Polypedilum Kieffer, Goeldichironomus Fittkau, Xenochironomus Kieffer and Cricotopus Van der Wulp were the chironomids found as its associated fauna. On the other hand, in a fishpond, Heteromeyenia cristalina Batista, Volkmer-Ribeiro & Melão, Radiospongilla inesi Nicacio & Pinheiro and Tubella variabilis Boneto & Ezcurra de Drago were the collected sponges, and Polypedilum, Chironomus Meigen, Dicrotendipes Kieffer and Goeldichironomus were the larvae associated with these species. Although only species of Xenochironomus are reported to have close interactions with freshwater sponges, herein we document other Chironomidae genera associated with these organisms. Nevertheless, further investigations are needed to better understand how chironomid larvae use sponges as shelter and/or to avoid predation in a facultative way. The objective of the present study was to analyze the occurrence of Chironomidae inhabitants of freshwater sponges in aquatic systems in the state of Pernambuco, in order to contribute to the knowledge of sponge-dwelling chironomids in northeastern Brazil. https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/58259
spellingShingle Ingrid da Silva Fernandes
Gilberto Nicacio
Gilberto Gonçalves Rodrigues
Fabio Laurindo da Silva
Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil
Biotemas
title Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil
title_full Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil
title_fullStr Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil
title_short Freshwater sponge-dwelling Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) in northeastern Brazil
title_sort freshwater sponge dwelling chironomidae insecta diptera in northeastern brazil
url https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/58259
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AT gilbertogoncalvesrodrigues freshwaterspongedwellingchironomidaeinsectadipterainnortheasternbrazil
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