ABSTRACT
This seminar work on the ecological benefits of aquatic insects was done taking into consideration basic questions and concepts that can be derived from the given topic of study.
Some of these questions included
-What is an insect?
-What is an aquatic insect?
-Types of aquatic insects
-What is ecology?
-Types of ecology
-Aquatic ecology
-Aquatic insects and their ecological benefits, were used to indicated the depth this work is going to cover.
Information on the aquatic insects and their benefits and risks to the society are scanty among the general public, students and the scientific community, when compared with the same on the land insects. A brief description is furnished about the body structures and features of the eleven orders of aquatic insects that exist.
These orders are Collembola (springtails), Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), Hemiptera (true bugs), Megaloptera (dobsonflies and alderflies), Neuroptera (songillaflies), Trichoptera (caddisflies), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Coleoptera (beetles) and Diptera (true flies).
Detailed information is presented on the beneficial role of aquatic insects in food webs, bio-monitoring, fishing and control of noxious weeds.
The harmful impacts caused by these animals to the society and the ecosystem by way of general nuisance, transmission of diseases and destruction of crops, were all described in the study.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
BODY
CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS
ADAPTATIONS FOR AQUATIC HABITATS
LIFE CYCLES
INSECT LIFE CYCLES IN A TEMPERATE STREAM
SLOW SEASON LIFE CYCLE
FAST SEASON LIFE CYCLE
ADAPTIVE MECHANISM OF INSECTS
SNORKEL WITH A BREATHING TUBE
SCUBA TANK
WALKING ON WATER
OTHER AQUATIC ADAPTATIONS
RIPPLE EFFECT
DOUBLE VISION
OARS
BREATHING UNDERWATER
GENERAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS
PHYSICAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE INSECT COMMUNITY
1. WATER TEMPERATURE
2. VOLUME AND VELOCITY OF WATER FLOW (DISCHARGE)
3. SUBSTRATES
4. ENERGY RELATIONSHIPS
3. SOCIETAL BENEFITS OF AQUATIC INSECTS
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
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