Nutrients on the move: Investigating large scale fatty acid exports from European ponds via emerging insects

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Limnology and Oceanography
Published
2025-08-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.70180
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Isotope Analysis in Ecology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.72
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article

Nutrients on the move: Investigating large scale fatty acid exports from European ponds via emerging insects

Benjamin Misteli, Emma Drohan, Karla Münzner, Noël P. D. Juvigny‐Khenafou et al.
1 citations
Limnology and Oceanography
Isotope Analysis in Ecology
1.72
article

Nutrients on the move: Investigating large scale fatty acid exports from European ponds via emerging insects

Benjamin Misteli, Emma Drohan, Karla Münzner, Noël P. D. Juvigny‐Khenafou, Dariusz Halabowski, Биљана Римческа, Daniel Morant, Teofana Chonova, Olivera S. Stamenković, Margaux Mathieu‐Resuge, Vojtěch Kolář, Ana Balibrea, Jorge F. Henriques, Rhiannon Mondav, Fernando Chaguaceda, Ellinor Jakobsson, Lena Fehlinger, Luca Bonacina, Veronica Nava, Liam N. Nash, Stephen E. Osakpolor, Pierre Marle, David Cunillera‐Montcusí, Pietro Tirozzi, Julie C. Fahy, Alfredo Llorente, Alberto Scotti, Joana Martelo, Encarnación Fenoy, J. L. Rubio, Marina Tomás‐Martín
article en
1 citations

Abstract

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.

Limnology and OceanographyVol. 70(10)
Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (ES), University of Geneva (CH), Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya (ES), Universidade dos Açores (PT), University of Stirling (GB), Uppsala University (SE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Eurac Research (IT), Universität für Weiterbildung Krems (AT), University of Nis (RS), Ifremer (FR), Université de Bretagne Occidentale (FR), Queen Mary University of London (GB), University of the Basque Country (ES), HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (CH), Lund University (SE), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BG), Parc Científic de la Universitat de València (ES), University of Koblenz and Landau (DE), University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Bitola (MK), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE), University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CZ), University of Łódź (PL), Euskadiko Parke Teknologikoa (ES), Sustainability Institute (ZA), Estacion Experimental de Zonas Aridas (ES), Wasser Cluster Lunz (AT), Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (DE), Institute of Entomology (CZ), Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (BG), HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research (HU), IMDEA Water (ES), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), University of Almería (ES), Université de Rennes (FR), University of Aveiro (PT), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES), Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (CH), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT), Meritor (France) (FR), Dundalk Institute of Technology (IE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Isotope Analysis in Ecology
1.72
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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