Structure and seasonal dynamics of water bugs communities (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) in anthropic and natural ponds from South-Eastern Transylvania: the role of vegetation and water supply

摘要

Aquatic true bugs communities of several permanent ponds from South-Eastern Transylvania were investigated in order to point out their relations with habitat variables. The large majority of the sampled species are favored by a larger amount of aquatic vegetation, used as shelter and food source. A smaller group is favored by water level constancy and larger water surfaces, while few species are preferring fluctuant water levels, which lead to the increase of the organic matter loads. The three communities investigated throughout the active period of the year are dominated by the same species: Plea minutissima, Ilyocoris cimicoides and Sigara striata, but they strongly differ in the proportion and the structure of the subcommunity formed by less abundant species. The results are encouraging in proposing a habitat quality monitoring system based on the true bugs community, supplementing the existing studies made on larger water bodies.