Freshwater Macroinvertebrates: Main Gaps and Future Trends

• Other Authors: Boggero, Angela (Editor), Garzoli, Laura (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2021
• Subjects: Research & information: general; Biology, life sciences; biological quality element; chemical analysis; Chironomus riparius; DDTs; legacy contaminants; PCBs; POP; standard ecotoxicological tests; Water Framework Directive; lakes; invasion biology; non-indigenous species; Procambarus Clarkii; Pacifastacus Leniusculus; Orconectes Limosus; snails; endemic species; invasive species; random forest model; multivariate analysis; partial dependence analysis; calcrete aquifer; epikarst; hyporheal; hypotelminorheal; stygobiont; bioassessment; temporal trend; altitude; climate; insects; grain-size; sediment; macroinvertebrates; ecological status; multimetric indices; coevolution; epizoosis; grazing; periphyton; scrapers; indices and metrics; sediment quality; St. Lawrence River; highly humic lakes; ecological status assessment; saprobic index; general degradation index
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Freshwater macroinvertebrates play a crucial role in linking sediments and their processes to the food web. Indeed, environmental modifications (e.g., nitrogen deposition, salinity, and temperature increase), pollution (e.g., pesticides and heavy metals), and introduction of alien species are the main drivers of changes that are affecting their communities. This Special Issue aims to present the past and present knowledge on freshwater macroinvertebrates to understand their role as providers of ecosystem services, to highlight the effects of global changes on their community (in the short and long term), and to underline major gaps in their study. Finally, in order to tackle the currently unsustainable use of freshwater natural capital, we welcome ideas and expert opinions on the development of future research linked to national and international regulations.