Life cycle and secondary production of Caenis luctuosa (Ephemeroptera) in a semiarid stream (Southeast Spain) (original) (raw)
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Hydrobiologia, 2001
Population dynamics and production of C. luctuosa were compared in two reaches of the Agüera stream (northern Spain). This species showed univoltine winter life history in both sites. However, the start of the recruitment period, and the cohort production interval differed in 1 month between reaches. Secondary production of C. luctuosa ranged from 76 mg m −2 year −1 (upper site) to 93 mg m −2 year −1 (lower site). Although annual production seemed to be mainly influenced by the biomass found at each site, changes in life history may have also been important. The need to have accurate information about life history of the analysed species at the study sites when assessing secondary production is highlighted.
Freshwater Biology, 1982
The production and growth of the larvae of five species of Ephemeroptera in an experimental recirculating stream-channel are described. The most abundant species were Baetis rhodani, which achieved a maximum population density of c. 29,000 m"^ in August, and Ephemerella ignita which reached a density of c. 13,000 m"-in the spring. Three other common speeies, Paraleptophlebia submarginata, Centroptiium luteolum and Caenis rivulorum were present at lower densities {< 1000 m"'^). B. rhodani had five cohorts in a year whilst C. luteolum had two or possibly three. E. ignita. C. rivulorum and P. submarginata were univoltine. Mean speeifie growth rates were calculated for each species, the maximum being 3.26±0.49% length day"' for E. ignita (3 April-15 May). Production of each of these five species of Ephemeroptera was calculated giving a total annual production of 10.2 g dry wt m"^ (computational method).
Archiv Fur Hydrobiologie, 2003
The life history and temporal dynamics in density, biomass, growth rate and secondary production of Habrophlebia lauta and Habroleptoides confusa were compared in 3 sites along the Agüera stream in northern Spain. Both species had univoltine winter life histories. Hb. lauta showed greater abundance and production at downstream sites, while Hd. confusa did at the headwater site. The life history and temporal dynamics in population parameters differed between both species. As a result, temporal overlaps of abundance and, especially, production of these two mayflies were very low, which suggests that irrespective of their abundance, interspecific competition between Hb. lauta and Hd. confusa was unimportant along this stream system.
Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 2016
We analyzed, in the context of the sustainable management of rivers, the variability in the structure and diversity of ephemeropteran larvae communities in relation to the Timiş River biotope factors. Our research revealed that high diversity of the Ephemeroptera was associated with the river sectors having a heterogeneous structure where runs, pools, riffles and lithological substratum (boulders and cobbles) were present. The distribution of different species revealed that there were groups of species which inhabited different mesohabitats, created by riverbed morphodynamic and the type of substratum. The higher values of SO4 2-, NO2-, NO3-, Cl-, Cd, and conductivity in the water influenced negatively the diversity of ephemeropteran communities. The majority of the species presented in the study area thrived at low values of water nutrients and organic load. In order to preserve the diversity of Ephemeroptera in large and medium-sized Carpathian rivers, it is necessary to preserve the natural morphodynamics of river beds, to limit substratum exploitation and to control the water pollution.
Aquatic Sciences, 2009
In mid latitudes, such as the Mediterranean region, one consequence of global climate change will be a progressive shift of permanent to temporary water courses, altering the life histories of present species or making them disappear. Presented here is a study on the life history of a mayfly species, Serratella ignita, in two Mediterranean streams, one permanent and one temporary. The research focuses on life history parameters such as life cycle, nymphal growth pattern, feeding type, biomass and secondary production. The life cycle was univoltine, showing a fast seasonal nymphal growth during four months in the permanent stream and five months in the temporary stream, with a long egg stage with diapause. The cumulated day-degrees during nymphal growth were similar between streams. Both populations behaved mainly as gatherer-collectors, but the population from the temporary stream also played an important role as a scraper. Animal matter was also consumed by nymphs from both populations. Gut content analysis showed that both S. ignita populations were opportunist/generalists, where changes in diet were correlated with size. Biomass and secondary production were notably higher in the permanent stream, but they were also high in the temporary stream. These data show that S. ignita had a high fitness in both streams. Our results support the idea that species such as this one may cope with future global climate change by maintaining, or even increasing, their populations at the expense of more stenoecic species.
Biologia, 2010
The recurrent drying out of small streams in past decades has shown an urgent need to pay attention to the impact of global climate change. The objectives of this study were to describe the effect of drying out on the composition of the mayfly taxocene and evaluate the relevance of individual species traits for survival of mayflies to drying out. The mayfly taxocenes of two model localities, one at an intermittent and one at a permanent brook, were investigated in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Compared with the permanent stream, the taxocene of the intermittent stream was short of nine species, foremost rheobionts and high oxygen demand species. To explain further differences between both stream types in survival and recolonisation ability, 15 species traits were evaluated. These included so-called “ecological traits” (e.g., habitat and substrate range, density, distribution, current velocity adaptation) and “biological traits” connected with life cycle and larval/adult adaptations. Species showing the highest number of advantageous traits (with only exception of Electrogena sp. cf. ujhelyii — species of taxonomically unclear status) were able to successfully survive under the unfavourable conditions of the intermittent brook. Biological traits considered more important in many respects seem to be good predictors for assessing sensitivity to extreme temperature changes, hydrological regime fluctuations and the survival/recolonisation ability of species in exposed habitats.
Acta Oecologica Bulgarica, 2016
We analyzed, in the context of the sustainable management of rivers, the variability in the structure and diversity of ephemeropteran larvae communities in relation to the Timiş River biotope factors. Our research revealed that high diversity of the Ephemeroptera was associated with the river sectors having a heterogeneous structure where runs, pools, riffles and lithological substratum (boulders and cobbles) were present. The distribution of different species revealed that there were groups of species which inhabited different mesohabitats, created by riverbed Morphodynamic and the type of substratum. The higher values of SO4 2-, NO2-, NO3-, Cl-, Cd, and conductivity in the water influenced negatively the diversity of ephemeropteran communities. The majority of the species presented in the study area thrived at low values of water nutrients and organic load. In order to preserve the diversity of Ephemeroptera in large and medium-sized Carpathian rivers, it is necessary to preserve the natural morphodynamics of river beds, to limit substratum exploitation and to control the water pollution.
Currently, the distribution of the European native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is restricted and fragmented over its range. Many European countries have active programmes for conservation of the species, including reintroduction programmes. Here, we have studied four brooks that were restocked with crayfish coming from population rescue from the Brissionnières after a drought in summer 2009. The aim was to validate the use of Ephemeropteran communities as potential bioindicators to select brooks for crayfish restocking. Restocked brooks were surveyed in 2010 and 2012. All brooks showed chemical and physical parameters in accordance with A. pallipes requirements. Three brooks which had high Ephemeropteran richness including Leptophlebiidae species (Habrophlebia lauta and Paraleptophlebia submarginata) have been restocked successfully. No crayfish were observed during the survey in Le Peu, which had only two Ephemeropteran species tolerant of reduced water quality and had no Leptophlebiidae species. Ecological characteristics of Ephemeropteran species and the limitations of their use as bioindicators to select brook for restocking are discussed.
International Review of Hydrobiology, 2012
The life histories and the secondary production of 9 mayflies (Ephemeroptera) species were studied at two sites in a submountain stream (West Carpathians, Slovakia). The disturbed site has a deforested and converted to meadows and pastures catchment and the undisturbed one is a well-preserved submountain stream with 60% of the catchment covered by spruce forests. Differences in the forest cover and in the thermal regime of both streams were reflected in the structural as well as the functional measures. At the undisturbed site, the total secondary production of mayfly community was more than two times higher (3568 mg DW m -2 y -1 ) than at the disturbed site (1446 mg DW m -2 y -1 ). Species could be divided according to their affinity to particular disturbance level. Ecdyonurus picteti, Rhithrogena carpatoalpina, Habrophlebia lauta and Habroleptoides confusa appeared to prefer undisturbed conditions. On the contrary, Ecdyonurus aurantiacus and Habrophlebia fusca occurred only at the disturbed site. The dominant species Baetis rhodani and Electrogena samalorum did not show any clear preference regarding the catchment disturbance. However, nymphs of Electrogena samalorum seem to be more successful at the disturbed site, where they reached bigger body sizes.
Limnologica, 2008
Macroinvertebrates play a key role in lotic ecosystems, as fish prey and processors of organic material. Therefore, their hydraulic preferences have to be integrated in instream habitat models for ecological stream management. This study characterized physical habitat use in terms of shear velocity for the larvae of three Ephemeropteran (Ephoron virgo, Oligoneuriella rhenana, and Serratella ignita), two Trichopteran (Cheumatopsyche lepida and Hydropsyche exocellata) and one Dipteran species (Blepharicera fasciata) in a Mediterranean stream at a relatively low water discharge. O. rhenana, C. lepida, H. exocellata, and B. fasciata larvae were mainly found in high shear velocity conditions, whereas E. virgo and S. ignita larvae were found in low shear velocity conditions. Knowing that habitat preferences should vary during ontogenesis (with respect to changes in biological requirements and/or morphological abilities to withstand high flow, for example), our second objective was to characterize differences in the hydraulic habitat use (in terms of shear velocity) for different size classes of these six species.