Aquatic beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) deposited in the Zoological Collection of the University of Tolima (CZUT)

Abstract

Introduction: Aquatic Coleoptera exhibit great importance within bodies of water, not only for their role in the food chain but also as bioindicators of water quality. Despite the great importance they represent, studies at a specific level or on their wealth and distribution are few in the department of Tolima and the country in general, which is why this study arises. Objective: Expand knowledge about the biota of aquatic beetles in the department of Tolima. Materials and methods: The material deposited in the Zoological Collection of the University of Tolima (CZUT) was used as a basis, the taxonomic determination was carried out and the distribution of the material in the different basins and municipalities of the department of Tolima was established. Results: 16 families, 22 subfamilies, and 61 genera were found, the families being Dytiscidae (13 genera), Elmidae (13 genera), and Staphylinidae (9 genera), on the other hand, these results represented 39,.6% of the genera reported for Colombia and 78.2% for the department of Tolima. The material evaluated comes from 14 of the 18 major basins of the department, with Saldaña, Totare, and Prado being those that showed the greatest richness and abundance of aquatic Coleoptera. Conclusion: Finally, and taking into account the above, it is evident that biological collections represent important repositories of biodiversity, given that there are few occasions in which the review and use of material with a wide temporal and altitudinal range can be carried out. and spatial, therefore, continuing to carry out studies that involve these spaces is vital to knowing and elucidating the country’s biodiversity.