Taxonomic composition and feeding habits of Chironomidae in Cerrado streams (Southeast Brazil): impacts of land use changes/Composição taxonômica e hábitos alimentares de Chironomidae em riachos de Cerrado (Sudeste do Brasil): impactos de mudanças no uso-do-solo

The Chironomidae family is the most abundant and diverse member of the benthic community in streams, yet their identification is still neglected in many papers. This article aims to compare the richness, abundance and taxonomic composition of Chironomidae in Cerrado streams under different land uses as well as the feeding habit differences between genera of reference areas, sugar cane culture and pasture. The researchers selected seven streams in each land use and sampled six units using Surber sampler. The material was transported live for laboratory processing. Their results showed no significant differences in abundance and richness of Chironomidae among different land use, but they observed greater average values of abundance and richness in streams impacted by pasture. They found a distinct taxonomic composition between reference streams and impacted streams, both sugar cane and pasture. Stenochironomus was the most representative genus in reference areas, while Parametriocnemus was in sugar cane culture and Tanytarsus in pastures.