Abstract
The order Trichoptera has a high ecological interest due to its diversity and environmental sensitivity. Our study examines its taxonomic composition and diversity and assesses its members’ relationships with riverscape components (dissolved oxygen, substrate, pH, riparian vegetation cover, etc.) across the Colombian Andean–Amazonian region. We established 30 sampling sites in three focal regions (Andes, Transition, and Amazon) and conducted field surveys during 2021–2022. Alpha diversity (Hill numbers) and beta diversity (balanced variation in abundance and abundance gradient) were estimated to describe patterns among regions. We further applied multivariate analyses (PCoA, PERMANOVA, RDA, and dbRDA) to relate community structure to environmental variables, along with an indicator value (IndVal) analysis by region. We recorded 22 genera, with Leptoceridae and Hydroptilidae as the predominant families; Smicridea and Leptonema were particularly representative, and eight regional indicator taxa were identified. The Andean region showed the highest Hill numbers, and balanced variation was the dominant component of beta diversity. The PCoA explained 56.37% of the variation and distinguished two significant groups, separating the Andes and Transition regions from the Amazon, as supported by PERMANOVA (F = 8.139; p = 0.001). Altitude, plant-derived substrate (O.Veg), and pH were significant predictors in the RDA and dbRDA models. Overall, these findings indicate that the Andean–Amazonian region harbors a distinctive taxonomic assemblage, with pronounced genus turnover associated with environmental conditions along the riverscape gradient.
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