A partial analysis of ecological segregation in the chironomid community of a bog lake

A small dystrophic lake was found to support 19 species of chironomid larvae, 13 of which are relatively abundant while the other six are classified as rare as they collectively constituted less than 0.25% of the total chironomid community. With the exception of one species pair, evidence of ecological segregation could be demonstrated for all abundant species that could be morphologically distinguished as larvae. Both members of the overlapping pair fed mainly upon coarse detritus, the most abundant food resource in the lake. Limited data on the six rare species failed to reveal ecological segregation from one or more of the abundant species.