Aquatic insects play several functional roles in nutrient cycling within urban streams:Detritivores: Many aquatic insects feed on organic matter, such as leaves and wood, breaking them down into smaller particles. This process releases nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into the water, making them available for uptake by plants and other organisms.Bioturbation: Insects like burrowing mayfly larvae and caddisfly larvae disturb the substrate as they feed and move around, which enhances the mixing of nutrients and oxygen in the sediment and water column.Nutrient Transformation: Aquatic insects can transform nutrients through their metabolic processes. For example, they may convert organic nitrogen into ammonia or nitrate through excretion, contributing to nutrient cycling.Predation and Grazing: Insects that feed on algae or other small organisms regulate their populations, indirectly influencing nutrient dynamics by affecting the growth and composition of algal communities.Respiration and Decomposition: Like all organisms, aquatic insects respire, releasing carbon dioxide into the water. Upon death, their bodies decompose, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem.Habitat Modification: Some aquatic insects construct shelters or modify the physical structure of the stream habitat, creating microhabitats that can influence nutrient availability and cycling for other organisms.