Knowledge Trends and Emerging Challenges in Neotropical Aquatic Insect Research: An Analysis of the VII Symposium on Neotropical Aquatic Insects.

The Neotropical region harbors rich biodiversity, with aquatic insects playing key ecological roles. Despite research advances, challenges like taxonomic gaps and logistics persist. The seventh Neotropical Aquatic Insects Symposium (VII SIAN; Belém, 2025) gathered 410 participants and 364 abstracts on ecology, taxonomy, biomonitoring, and outreach. Using bibliometric techniques, the presented abstracts were analyzed. Although the SIAN aims to reflect Neotropical research as a whole, the data analyzed in this study primarily represent the Brazilian scientific community (92% of the abstracts), and interpretations should be viewed in that context. Most studies were conducted in Brazil (92%), particularly in the states of Pará, Minas Gerais, and Maranhão. Streams were the most frequently studied environments (69.4%). The most addressed insect orders were Odonata (27.7%), Trichoptera (17.5%), and Ephemeroptera (14.6%). Regarding life stages, 48.9% of the studies focused on immature forms, and 41% on adults. The most prominent research areas were ecology (31.7%) and biomonitoring (26.4%), while taxonomy, conservation, and ecological interactions were less frequently explored. The study highlights the importance of institutional partnerships and the adoption of innovative methods, such as environmental DNA and integrative taxonomy. Additionally, citizen science initiatives have contributed to raising awareness and strengthening research on aquatic insects in the Neotropical region.