Study on water beetles and water boatmen in Faroese ponds
A specimen of the water beetle Boreonectes multilineatus, collected from a pond on Eysturoy. Photo: Agnes-Katharina Kreiling.
Researchers at Tjóðsavnið have conducted a study on water beetles and water boatmen in Faroese ponds. They conclude that the distribution of water beetles and water boatmen in the Faroes is explained by habitat characteristics, specifically size and depth of the pond.
The researchers found five species of Dytiscidae (diving beetles), one species of Haliplidae (crawling water beetles), and two species of Corixidae (water boatmen). A total of 1522 insects were collected from 57 ponds on the islands Streymoy and Eysturoy. The biggest water body in the study was Toftavatn and the smallest a little pond near Oyri at 400 m above sea level.
There was a higher species diversity in shallower ponds and the community composition differed according to pond size. Geographical location and isolation between ponds, on the other hand, did not influence diversity and community composition.
Small Faroese ponds are simple systems which lend themselves well to study diversity of water insects and their interactions with the environment, which ultimately contributes to our understanding of patterns of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to obtain information on species distributions, diversity, and community composition, as well as their relationship with habitat characteristics.
The results of the study, which is based on data collected 20 years ago, were published as open access paper in the scientific journal “Insects” and is available for free under: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/10/923
Insect communities in Faroese ponds are influenced by size and depth. Graphic: Leivur Janus Hansen
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