Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition and spatial distribution of aquatic invertebrates in temporary wetlands following a severe drought event in southern Brazil. Methods Aquatic invertebrates and limnological variables were collected from 14 temporary wetlands located on the campus of the Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, after a severe drought period in the summer de 2024. Results The temporary wetlands were characterized by small size (70.8 – 336.0 m2), shallow depth (9.0 – 36.0 cm), and water temperature between 20.5 and 29.4 ºC. A total of 3230 invertebrates were identified, encompassing 55 different taxa. The most frequent groups were Diptera (761 individuals), Collembola (526 individuals), and Gastropoda (498 individuals). Additionally, 11 unique taxa were found in temporary wetlands analyzed, with the majority belonging to Arachnida. Based on taxa abundance, two main clusters were observed, the first being composed of temporary wetlands (TW) from 1 to 9, and the second cluster with areas 10 to 14. Conclusions Climate change projections suggest a rising frequency and potential for severe drought events. Temporary wetlands, which harbor significant diversity of aquatic invertebrates, are particularly vulnerable due to their characteristics and dependence on hydroperiods. Severe drought events may impact species composition and distribution, highlighting the need for monitoring and protection of these habitats.
Oleinski et al. (Thu,) studied this question.