Inventory and distribution of macroinvertebrates associated with invasive aquatic vegetation in the Baya River (Northeastern Côte d’Ivoire)

The bed of the Baya River is currently overrun with large clumps of invasive aquatic plants. These invasive plants provide ideal refuges for aquatic macroinvertebrates, which serve as food for many fish and amphibians. The overall objective of this study was therefore to improve our understanding of the influence of these invasive aquatic plants on the macroinvertebrate community of the Baya River. To collect macroinvertebrates, a 1 mm mesh vacuum net was passed through the water column beneath each of the five different types of aquatic plant communities. A correspondence factor analysis was performed to highlight the affinity of macroinvertebrates for the different types of aquatic vegetation. A total of 1115 aquatic macroinvertebrate individuals were captured. These individuals were classified into 2 classes, 6 orders, and 18 families. In terms of taxonomic abundance, the class Insecta is the most represented, with 1030 individuals distributed across 16 families, the most abundant of which is the Chaoboridae, with 236 individuals. The Ludwigia palustris community the largest number of macroinvertebrates, with 273 individuals. Analysis of the factorial plan revealed four groups of macroinvertebrate families, each with a preference for different plant communities as their preferred habitat. Given the important ecological role of invasive plants as habitat for macroinvertebrates, it is necessary to control the spread of these invasive plants to maintain good aquatic biodiversity in the Baya River.