Chironomid communities Eusserthal 2019/2020

The goal of this study was to investigate the response of chironomid communities in artificial ponds to an anthropogenic stressor. Over a period of 16 weeks during the spring and summer of 2020, we sampled the emergence of chironomids and conducted DNA metabarcoding analysis. As a side project, we also developed and tested a novel approach called direct PCR metabarcoding, where the DNA extraction step is omitted. For this, we utilized also chironomids from a similar sampling campaign in the previous year. Direct PCR metabarcoding has the potential to streamline the analysis process and reduce time and cost requirements while still providing valuable insights into chironomid community composition and responses. Chironomids, commonly known as non-biting midges, play vital ecological roles and are considered important bioindicators of freshwater ecosystems. Understanding how these communities respond to anthropogenic stressors is crucial for effective environmental management and conservation efforts. By developing and employing DNA metabarcoding techniques, we aimed to gain insights into the composition and dynamics of chironomid communities in the context of the specific stressor, ultimately contributing to our understanding of ecosystem responses and informing sustainable management strategies for wetland areas.