Interrelations and Adaptations of Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Benthic Algae

Dear Colleagues,

Benthic macroinvertebrates and benthic algae form the foundation of many aquatic ecosystems, representing two closely connected components that play crucial roles in ecological processes and ecosystem functioning. Their morphology, ecological strategies, and adaptive traits reflect long evolutionary histories shaped by complex relationships with their physical environment, with each other, and with a wide range of other aquatic organisms. These interactions and adaptations not only influence the structure and dynamics of populations and communities but also the overall stability, productivity, and health of benthic ecosystems.

This Special Issue aims to highlight studies exploring the intricate web of ecological relationships and adaptive mechanisms that shape the diversity, functioning, and evolution of benthic communities. Contributions focusing on newly described, rare, or endemic taxa are particularly welcome, as they often reveal unique ecological adaptations and strategies that enable survival under specific or extreme environmental conditions.

At population and community levels, we invite studies addressing gradients of environmental factors—from pristine to heavily disturbed benthic habitats—as well as those examining interactions within and between species, such as competition, symbiosis, grazing, predation, and parasitism. Special attention is encouraged for research on macroinvertebrate–algae interactions, which are essential in processes like primary production, nutrient cycling, biofilm formation, and energy flow within benthic ecosystems. Understanding how these relationships and adaptive responses change under environmental stressors, including various forms of pollution, is fundamental for assessing the resilience and long-term sustainability of benthic communities.

At broader ecological and evolutionary scales, we encourage contributions investigating how environmental pressures and biotic interactions have influenced the evolution, adaptation, and functional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and benthic algae. Comparative and integrative approaches linking phylogenetic, genomic, and eco-functional perspectives are especially encouraged, as are studies that combine field observations with laboratory experiments or modelling frameworks.

This Special Issue welcomes both classical and modern methodologies, from morphology-based taxonomy and ecological assessment to molecular and genomic tools, including DNA barcoding, metabarcoding, and other high-throughput sequencing techniques. Contributions may focus on either benthic macroinvertebrates, benthic algae, or their ecological interactions, depending on the specific scope of the study. Collectively, these studies will contribute to a deeper understanding of how adaptations, ecological relationships, and environmental context have shaped the remarkable diversity, structure, and function of benthic macroinvertebrates and benthic algae through time.

Dr. Ana Savić
Guest Editor

Dr. Dejan Dmitrović
Guest Editor Assistant

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• ecology
• interrelations
• adaptation
• benthic macroinvertebrates
• benthic algae