Chaoborus fly larvae influence global warming

Fly larva

Fly larva of the genus Chaoborus sp

Although until now it was thought that cows were the only animals, apart from humans, that had an important influence on global warming, now scientists have discovered others that have astonished them: Chaoborus fly larvae.

These beings live in the long and ponds, feeding on mosquito larvae until they become adults and come out of the water to reproduce and shortly after they die, since they either do not feed, or they do so on nectar.

A study published in the »Science reports», Carried out by a team of scientists from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin (IGB), has found that Chaoborus fly larvae take advantage of methane gas and expel it back into the water.

These larvae, which during the day remain hidden in the sediments of the lake, at night fill their small vesicles with oxygen and rise to the surface in search of food. However, experts have discovered at certain depths, the pressure of the water is so great that it prevents these bags from filling, which makes the larvae resort to the absorption of methane found in the sediments to fill and use them as well as "floats".

Chaoborus life cycle

Image - UNIGE

Thanks to this survival strategy, the larvae can save up to 80% energy, so they need less food. But this poses a problem: Methane is a gas that occurs naturally in lake sediments, but when used by larvae to propel themselves, it dissolves in water. By doing so, it can reach the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Therefore, experts attribute 20% of methane gas emissions to fresh water. The density of the larvae of the genus Chaoborus in the lakes ranges from 2000 to 130.000 individuals per square meter. To prevent its proliferation, and incidentally reduce the amount of methane that is released into the atmosphere, the authors advocate for greater control of lake water, and of those sources responsible for methane emissions.


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