Buggy Neighbours: Edmonton’s Aquatic Insects

Each of these aquatic beetles and water boatman were carefully sorted from pond muck, meticulously pinned, and posed like a miniature sculpture. Here, they are arranged as though geared to disperse beyond the limits of their pond home. These insects are a selection of over 4000 specimens in my study. And they represent our relatively common, yet usually ignored, neighbours.

There are over 300 stormwater ponds in Edmonton. One of which, Ebbers Pond, is visible in the background of this image. The main purpose of these ponds is to replace wetlands that were lost during the city’s growth and to provide a collection point for runoff and floodwater. Stormwater ponds can also become a habitat for many vertebrates and invertebrates.

My research compares aquatic beetle and water boatman diversity and species composition in Edmonton’s stormwater ponds, with those of rural, non-constructed ponds elsewhere in the province. Additionally, I am investigating what habitat variables species prefer, and how they disperse across the city. For many aquatic insect species, we know little about their ecology. But the longer you look at these intricate creatures, the more intriguing their story becomes.