Morphological, behavioural and physiological adaptations of chironomid pupae to oxygen-poor habitats, such as the profundal zone of lakes, are discussed. Lentic and oxy-regulator species possess developed respiratory organs (thoracic horns) and an extensive anal fringe to perform respiratory movements, whereas in rheophilic and oxy-conformer species these structures are reduced or absent. This led to the hypothesis that the number of thoracic horn branches, the number of anal macrosetae and the body size could consititute a measure of a species’ oxygen requirements. These characters were analyzed in 12 species groups collected in 39 Italian lakes. Numbers were correlated to the optimum value of oxygen level, total phosphorus concentration and transparency calculated for each taxon. Taxa with plumose thoracic horns, extensive anal fringe and large body size (Chironomus) inhabited habitats poorer in oxygen than those inhabited by taxa with less extensive respiratory surface and fringe and small body size (Paratendipes, Polypedilum, Microtendipes). Stictochironomus was less tolerant than expected. Further studies are needed into the physiological adaptations of chironomid pupae.
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