Fehlinger, L. and Chaguaceda, F. and Tirozzi, P. and Tomás-Martín, M. and Jakobsson, E. and Chonova, T. and Misteli, B. and Scotti, A. and Henriques, J.F. and Rubio_Ríos, J. and Morant, D. and Marle, P. and Kolar, V. and Stamenković, O. and Mondav, R. and Münzner, K. and Osakpolor, S.E. and Bonacina, L. and Nava, V. and Drohan, E. and Fenoy, E. and Llorente, A. and Mathieu-Resuge, M. and Halabowski, D. and Juvigny‐Khenafou, N.P.D. and Martelo, J. and Nash, Liam N. and Fahy, Julie C. and Cunillera‐Montcusí, D. and Balibrea, Ana and Rimcheska, Biljana (2025) Nutrients on the move: Investigating large scale fatty acid exports from European ponds via emerging insects. Limnology and Oceanography. ISSN 1939-5590 (In Press)
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Fehlinger et al. - Nutrients on the move Investigating large scale fatty acid exports from European ponds via emerging.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1878Kb) | Preview |
Abstract
Permanent ponds are key landscape units that supply various ecosystem services. Notably, the export of aquatic subsidies to land via emerging insects may significantly influence terrestrial food webs. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which enhance consumer fitness, are among the essential exported components. The patterns and drivers of dietary exports from ponds via insects remain poorly known, particularly at continental scales. We analyzed the exports of biomass, lipid, and fatty acid contents from emerging insects, sampled in 36 ponds across 11 European countries, from 36°N to 59°N and from 26°W to 19°E, over four seasons. We found that biomass and fatty acid exports decreased with increasing latitude and were higher in spring and summer. Seasonal effects also increased with higher latitudes. Temperature was the most important predictor of insect biomass, explaining 27.6% of the total variation and showing an unimodal response. Thus, increasing temperature may promote exports in colder regions and seasons but may negatively influence biomass exports in already warm regions. The exports of total lipids, PUFA, and eicosapentaenoic acid were correlated to exported biomass, while those of docosahexaenoic acid were linked to the emergence of Chaoboridae. Our findings indicated that PUFA contents were affected by taxonomic insect community composition and pond trophic state (indicated by chlorophyll a). Two of the correlates identified here (temperature and trophic state) are influenced by anthropogenic activity via climate and land use change, respectively. Thus, human activity impacts the food webs in and around ponds by influencing the quantity and quality of nutritional exports.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QS Ecology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Fernando Chaguaceda |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2025 14:43 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2025 14:43 |
| URI: | http://eprints.imdea-agua.org:13000/id/eprint/1738 |
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