Temporal and spatial responses of Chironomidae (Diptera) and other benthic invertebrates to urban stormwater runoff

In a longitudinal study of two streams whose lower reaches received unattenuated urban stormwater runoff, physical disturbance by stormflow was less important than the persistant unidentified chemical impacts of urban stormwater in limiting the distribution of Chironomidae, and Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Plecoptera (EPT). A hierarchical spatial analysis showed that chironomid density did not decrease from rural to urban stream reaches. Instead, the taxonomic composition of chironomid assemblages was significantly altered in urban versus rural reaches; chironomid assemblages in urban reaches exhibited higher average pollution tolerance scores. In contrast, the density of EPT was significantly lower in urban reaches. Despite higher values of stormflow tractive force in urban reaches, streambed stability tended to be greater in urban reaches. Modeling of temporal variation in chironomid density showed similar patterns in both rural and urban reaches: chironomid density had a unimodal relationship to rainfall index (RI), with highest densities at intermediate values of RI. Models of EPT density over time in rural reaches showed no significant relation to RI, and temporal variation in EPT density in urban reaches was not predictable. The abundance of fine particulate organic matter, including periphyton (FPOM), on cobbles was greater in urban reaches and showed a much greater degree of temporal variation than in rural reaches. In urban reaches, a negative relation between FPOM and RI indicated the importance of stormflow abrasion. Handling editor: K. Martens     

云南抚仙湖摇蚊幼虫的空间分布及其环境分析

2005年6—7月在抚仙湖共采集到摇蚊科幼虫5属6种,其中花纹前突摇蚊和羽摇蚊为优势种,两者的相对密度之和达94.9%,相对生物量之和达97.5％,其现存量基本代表了抚仙湖中摇蚊幼虫的现存量.全湖摇蚊幼虫平均密度为（275±333） ind·m^-2,平均生物量为(0.642±0.763） g·m^-2.花纹前突摇蚊为全湖性分布,羽摇蚊主要分布在明星鱼洞以南湖区,其他种类为局部性分布.小突摇蚊为典型的深水贫营养型种类,其分布的平均水深达107.2 m.抚仙湖摇蚊幼虫密度分布与水深呈极显著正相关(P＜0.001),与底质和水草的关系为沙砾石底＜沙泥底＜细泥底;水草区＜非水草区.与1980年前后的调查资料相比,摇蚊幼虫的出现率和现存量显著增加,并出现了典型富营养型的指示种羽摇蚊,表明抚仙湖水体的营养水平在提高.     

蓖齿眼子菜繁殖多样性研究

 繁殖是影响水生植物生存竞争、分布以及群落结构动态变化的关键因素。通过野外观察和室内试验,较详细地介绍了蓖齿眼子菜(Potamogeton pectinatus)的繁殖策略。研究结果表明:蓖齿眼子菜有性繁殖中具有水表和水下气泡两种传粉方式;种子发生量较大,但种子发芽率低,不到6%,种子繁殖对种群恢复贡献不大,其主要作用在于远程传播和保持持久的种子库。蓖齿眼子菜具有广泛而高效的无性繁殖系统,可以通过断株、根状茎、地上块茎、地下块茎、地上茎节以及叶腋基部进行繁殖,其中最重要的是地下块茎和根状茎,次年种群恢复主要来自于地下块茎和根状茎。此外,对采用蓖齿眼子菜进行沉水植被恢复与重建提出了建议。     

Global diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera: Insecta) in freshwater

The not yet uploaded Trichoptera World Checklist (TWC) [], as at July 2006, recorded 12,627 species, 610 genera and 46 families of extant and in addition 488 species, 78 genera and 7 families of fossil Trichoptera. An analysis of the 2001 TWC list of present-day Trichoptera diversity at species, generic/subgeneric and family level along the selected Afrotropical, Neotropical, Australian, Oriental, Nearctic and Palaearctic (as a unit or assessed as Eastern and Western) regions reveals uneven distribution patterns. The Oriental and Neotropical are the two most species diverse with 47–77% of the species in widespread genera being recorded in these two regions. Five Trichoptera families comprise 55% of the world’s species and 19 families contain fewer than 30 species per family. Ten out of 620 genera contain 29% of the world’s known species. Considerable underestimates of Trichoptera diversity for certain regions are recognised. Historical processes in Trichoptera evolution dating back to the middle and late Triassic reveal that the major phylogenetic differentiation in Trichoptera had occurred during the Jurrasic and early Cretaceous. The breakup of Gondwana in the Cretaceous led to further isolation and diversification of Trichoptera. High species endemism is noted to be in tropical or mountainous regions correlated with humid or high rainfall conditions. Repetitive patterns of shared taxa between biogeographical regions suggest possible centres of origin, vicariant events or distribution routes. Related taxa associations between different regions suggest that an alternative biogeographical map reflecting Trichoptera distribution patterns different from the Wallace (The Geographical Distribution of Animals: With a Study of the Relations of Living and Extinct Faunas as Elucidating the Past Changes of the Earth’s Surface, Vol. 1, 503 pp., Vol. 2, 607 pp., Macmillan, London, 1876) proposed biogeography patterns should be considered. Anthropogenic development threatens biodiversity and the value of Trichoptera as important functional components of aquatic ecosystems, indicator species of deteriorating conditions and custodians of environmental protection are realised.     

Distribution of [14C]-labeled photosynthates within intensively cultured Populus clones during the establishment year

Seasonal patterns of [¹⁴C]-labeled photosynthate distribution within two intensively cultured Populus clones with contrasting phenology ( P. tristis × P. balsamifera cv. 'Tristis no. 1'; P. × euramericana cv. Eugenei) were investigated during the establishment year. During active shoot elongation upper mature leaves exported ¹⁴C acropetally to the expanding leaves and elongating internodes, and basipetally to the stem. Little ¹⁴C was exported to lower mature leaves or lateral branches. At budset the ¹⁴C export pattern shifted dramatically in the basipetal direction, i.e., to the lower stem, hardwood cutting, and roots. The timing of budset was the primary factor determining the differences between the clones, except that in all cases Tristis exported more ¹⁴C to the roots than Eugenei. After budset lower mature leaves had a similar export pattern to upper leaves, but the quantity of ¹⁴C exported to the roots was slightly higher. The results confirm the importance of autumn foliage for root growth in poplar. Clonal differences in seasonal patterns of photosynthate distribution offer potential for the poplar breeder seeking to match a clone's growth pattern with the specific growing season of the site.     

Ecological influences on larval chironomid communities in shallow lakes: implications for palaeolimnological interpretations

1. To correctly interpret chironomid faunas for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, it is essential that we improve our understanding of the relative influence of ecosystem variables, biotic as well as physicochemical, on chironomid larvae. To address this, we analysed the surface sediments from 39 shallow lakes (29 Norfolk, U.K., 10 Denmark) for chironomid head capsules, and 70 chironomid taxa (including Chaoborus) were identified. 2. The shallow lakes were selected over large environmental gradients of aquatic macrophytes, total phosphorus (TP) and fish communities. Redundancy analysis (RDA) identified two significant variables that explained chironomid distribution: macrophyte species richness (P < 0.001) and TP (P < 0.005). Generalised linear models (GLM) identified specific taxa that had significant relationships with both these variables. Macrophyte percentage volume infested (PVI) and species richness were significant in classifying the lake types based on chironomid communities under twinspan analysis, although other factors, notably nutrient concentrations and fish communities, were also important, illustrating the complexities of classifying shallow lake ecosystems. Lakes with plant species richness >10 all had relatively diverse (Hill’s N2) chironomid assemblages, and lakes with Hill’s N2 >10 all had TP <250 μg L⁻¹ and total fish densities <2 fish per m². 3. Plant density (PVI), and perhaps more importantly species richness, were primary controls on the distribution of chironomid communities within these lakes. This clearly has implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions using zoobenthos remains (i.e. chironomids) and suggests that they could be used to track changes in benthic/pelagic production and could be used as indicators of changing macrophyte habitat. 4. Measuring key biological gradients, in addition to physicochemical gradients, allowed the major controls on chironomid distribution to be assessed more directly, in terms of plant substrate, food availability, competition and predation pressure, rather than implying indirect mechanisms through relationships with nutrients. Many of these variables, notably macrophyte abundance and species richness, are not routinely measured in such studies, despite their importance in determining zoobenthos in temperate shallow lakes. 5. When physical, chemical and ecological gradients are considered, as is often the case with palaeo‐reconstructions rather than training sets chosen to maximise one gradient, complex relationships exist, and attempting to reconstruct a single trophic variable quantitatively may not be appropriate or reliable.     

Environmental factors prevail over dispersal constraints in determining the distribution and assembly of Trichoptera species in mountain lakes

Aiming to elucidate whether large‐scale dispersal factors or environmental species sorting prevail in determining patterns of Trichoptera species composition in mountain lakes, we analyzed the distribution and assembly of the most common Trichoptera (Plectrocnemia laetabilis, Polycentropus flavomaculatus, Drusus rectus, Annitella pyrenaea, and Mystacides azurea) in the mountain lakes of the Pyrenees (Spain, France, Andorra) based on a survey of 82 lakes covering the geographical and environmental extremes of the lake district. Spatial autocorrelation in species composition was determined using Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was applied to explore the influence of MEM variables and in‐lake, and catchment environmental variables on Trichoptera assemblages. Variance partitioning analysis (partial RDA) revealed the fraction of species composition variation that could be attributed uniquely to either environmental variability or MEM variables. Finally, the distribution of individual species was analyzed in relation to specific environmental factors using binomial generalized linear models (GLM). Trichoptera assemblages showed spatial structure. However, the most relevant environmental variables in the RDA (i.e., temperature and woody vegetation in‐lake catchments) were also related with spatial variables (i.e., altitude and longitude). Partial RDA revealed that the fraction of variation in species composition that was uniquely explained by environmental variability was larger than that uniquely explained by MEM variables. GLM results showed that the distribution of species with longitudinal bias is related to specific environmental factors with geographical trend. The environmental dependence found agrees with the particular traits of each species. We conclude that Trichoptera species distribution and composition in the lakes of the Pyrenees are governed predominantly by local environmental factors, rather than by dispersal constraints. For boreal lakes, with similar environmental conditions, a strong role of dispersal capacity has been suggested. Further investigation should address the role of spatial scaling, namely absolute geographical distances constraining dispersal and steepness of environmental gradients at short distances.     

The abundance of phytophilous invertebrates on different species of submerged macrophytes*

SUMMARY. 1. We tested Krecker's model (1939) which states that the abundance of invertebrates per unit macrophyte biomass varies with plant species and is higher on plants with finely dissected leaves than on plants with broad leaves. The abundance of invertebrates was measured in thirteen lacustrine macrophyte beds in southern Québec, Canada. The model was tested for the total abundance of invertebrates and for the abundances of Chironomidae, Cladocera, Cyclopoida, Gastropoda, Hydracarina, Ostracoda and Trichoptera. 2. More epiphytic invertebrates were found on the dissected Myriophyllum spp. than on the broad-leaved Potamogeton amplifolius Tuckerm, P. robbinsii Oakes and Vallisneria americana Michx. (P<0.01). More invertebrates were also found on P. amplifolius than on P. robbinsii or V. americana (P<0.01). The total abundance of invertebrates was not systematically related to the degree of plant dissection. 3. The abundances of Chironomidae, Cladocera, Cyclopoida, Gastropoda, Hydracarina, Ostracoda and Trichoptera varied on different plant species (P<0.01). Contrary to Krecker's hypothesis, however, macrophytes with finely dissected leaves (Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum spp.) did not in general support more invertebrates per unit plant biomass than plants with large leaves (Potamogeton amplifolius, P. robbinsii and Vallisneria americana).     

海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林不同空间尺度和径级水平的物种丰富度与个体密度关联

以海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林为研究对象, 基于尖峰岭原始林60 hm²大样地, 分析了7个不同空间尺度(5 m × 5 m、10 m × 10 m、20 m × 20 m、40 m × 40 m、60 m × 60 m、80 m × 80 m、100 m × 100 m)、3个不同径级(胸径(DBH) ≥ 1.0 cm、DBH ≥ 2.5 cm、DBH ≥ 7.5 cm)物种丰富度与个体密度之间的关联性, 以期为负密度制约效应等研究的尺度选择提供参考依据。研究结果表明, 物种丰富度和个体密度之间的关联性是基于空间尺度存在的, 并受分析植株径级大小的影响。DBH ≥ 1.0 cm时, 在4个空间尺度下(5 m × 5 m、10 m × 10 m、20 m × 20 m、40 m × 40 m), 物种丰富度随个体密度增加而增加, 但物种丰富度和个体密度两者间的相关性随取样空间尺度的增大而逐渐下降; 在其他3个空间尺度下(60 m × 60 m、80 m × 80 m、100 m × 100 m), 两者间没有显著相关性。当DBH ≥ 2.5 cm和DBH ≥ 7.5 cm时, 物种丰富度和个体密度间的相关性随空间尺度变化的趋势也与上述结果基本一致; 在60 m × 60 m的空间尺度上, DBH ≥ 1.0 cm时物种丰富度和个体密度相关性不显著, DBH ≥ 2.5 cm和DBH ≥ 7.5 cm两个径级的物种丰富度和个体密度表现出弱相关性。DBH ≥ 2.5 cm和DBH ≥ 7.5 cm时, 各空间尺度下物种丰富度和个体密度之间的决定系数几乎一致, 但高于DBH ≥ 1.0 cm时两者之间的决定系数, 说明大径级植株的个体密度和物种丰富度之间有更强的关联性, 负密度制约效应和自疏效应可能是产生这种现象的主要原因。     

Diel drift of Chironomidae in a large lowland river (Central Poland)

The diel drift patterns of Chironomidae larvae were investigated in a seventh order section of the Warta River (Central Poland) over two diel cycles during May 1989. Three nets (mesh size 400 m) were installed in a cross section of the Warta River.The estimated drift density was low, but was comparable to that calculated for other large rivers. Spatio-temporal fluctuations in abundance and composition of macroinvertebrate drift, including Chironomidae, were observed with the highest density of drifting macrobenthos recorded near the depositional bank of this river. The ratio benthosdrift indicated differing propensities for of the older instars of a given chironomid taxon to drift. Orthocladiinae larvae were the most abundant subfamily of Chironomidae in drift but not in benthos, reaching up to 73% of the total drifting chironomid larvae. More taxa but fewer individuals (about 20% of the chironomid larvae collected) belonged to the tribe Chironomini, the dominant group in benthos.A major part of chironomid drift collection may represent behavioural drift because the net mesh size used in the Warta River was insufficient to catch the earliest instars (distributional drift). Both at the family and subfamily level chironomid larvae exhibited a distinct nocturnal drift periodicity. Nocturnal periodicity was documented for the dominant species, but due to the low density of many chironomid species, it was impossible to determine their diel drift pattern. Some Chironomidae appeared to be aperiodic.     

上海崇明明珠湖摇蚊幼虫群落结构特征及其对水质的指示作用

2006年7月至2008年4月,对上海崇明岛明珠湖摇蚊群落的结构特征进行了季节调查研究.共调查到11种摇蚊,隶属3亚科10属,优势种为红裸须摇蚊和微小摇蚊.聚类分析表明,优势种具有明显的季节性,春夏季优势种为微小摇蚊、秋季为中国长足摇蚊、冬季为红裸须摇蚊.摇蚊群落物种多样性（H′）季节间差异显著,春、秋、冬季较高,夏季最低;物种多样性与均匀度（J）和物种丰富度（S）均显著相关,但主要受均匀度的影响.摇蚊幼虫年平均密度冬季最高、秋季最低,生物量冬季最高,其他3季均处在较低水平上.红裸须摇蚊和微小摇蚊种群动态季节变化显著,而中国长足摇蚊的变化不明显.采用Shannon多样性指数和Hilsenhoff生物指数对明珠湖的水质进行了评价,表明该湖的水质等级为中污染-污染,已达富营养化水平.     

Species richness, abundance, and body size relationships from a neotropical chironomid assemblage: Looking for patterns

We investigated two of the most studied relationships in the macroecological research program (species richness vs. body size and abundance vs. body size) of a local chironomid assemblage from southeastern Brazil. Although numerous studies have examined these relationships, few have investigated how they vary at different temporal scales. We used data from a forested stream to document and examine these patterns at monthly intervals. Both the species body size distribution and the abundance–body size relationship varied temporally. In some months the body size distribution was skewed to the right, whereas in others it approached normality. We found both linear relationships (with different values of slopes), and a polygonal pattern in the abundance–body size relationship. This temporal variation was not related to environmental variables. Our results suggest that body size relationships are temporally instable properties of this chironomid assemblage.     

The germination of somePotamogeton species from South-Bohemian fishponds

A study is presented of germination inPotamogeton angustifolius, P. acutifolius, P. obtusifolius, P. crispus, P. lucens, P. natans, P. pectinatus, P. pusillus andP. trichoides, and the possibility of overcoming dormancy in these species under laboratory conditions. Three of the species, viz.Potamogeton pectinatus, P. pusillus andP. trichoides have been examined in greater detail. Impermeability of the fruit coat appears to be the main reason for the dormancy of these species. The lowest percentage of the impermeable achenes has been recorded inPotamogeton crispus.     

Dispersion of Epiphytic Chironomid Larvae and the Probability of Random Colonization

Dispersion of chironomid larvae between and within stands of the aquatic macrophyte Ranunculus penicillatus var. calcareus was studied by sampling individual leaves of Ranunculus. Two of the six common species exhibited no variation in density between sites, while others had significant variations. A new probability density function was applied to the data and it was revealed that random colonization was not uncommon among these epiphytic larvae. It was suggested that stochastic factors are of some importance in the system under study.     

洪泽湖大型水生植物群落结构和时空格局的GIS模拟

2010—2011年对洪泽湖大型水生植物进行了4个季度全面的调查和研究, 共发现大型水生植物8科12种, 其中沉水植物9种, 挺水植物1种, 浮叶植物2种。马来眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus)、微齿眼子菜(P. maackianu)、篦齿眼子菜(P. pectinatus)和菹草(P. crispus)为全年优势度较高的水生植物, 但4个季节大型水生植物的优势种类组成差异明显。秋季的水草生物量最高, 其次为夏季和冬季, 春季最低。结合GPS (Global Position System)和GIS (Geographic Information System), 利用GIS的Kring插值法对洪泽湖大型水生植物总生物量及主要优势物种的时空分布进行了可视化模拟。结果发现洪泽湖现阶段大型水生植物分布区域主要集中在湖区北部水质较好、透明度较高且相对封闭的成子湖区。文章也分析了洪泽湖大型水生植物变迁的潜在影响因子, 为水生植物保护和生态系统健康提供了基础依据。     

The lack of control of water loss in micropropagated plants is not related to poor cuticle development

To assess if cuticular transpiration could contribute significantly to the high rates of water loss often observed in micropropagated plants after transfer to the nursery, it was tested whether adaxial cuticular water permeance (P) of leaves grown in vitro was higher than that of leaves grown ex vitro. For four species of micropropagated plants with hypostous leaves ( Delphinium elatum hybrid, Doronicum hybrid, Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans, Rodgersia pinnata ), P was determined with two independent techniques which gave similar results. Minimum adaxial overall conductance was measured with the same methods for a Heuchera hybrid which had amphistomatous leaves. Leaves of all species except Heuchera lost 36–65% of their original weight within 25 min after excision. Detached leaves whose abaxial surfaces had been coated lost only 25–38% of their original weight within 5–9 h. Permeances (P) were between 1 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ and 1 × 10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹, which was within the range of typical values found with leaves grown ex vitro. From these results and a critical assessment of the literature it is concluded that there is no evidence that P of micropropagated plants was high enough to contribute significantly to the desiccation problem at the transfer stage.     

Does biogeographical history matter? Diversity and distribution of lotic midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Australian Wet Tropics

Abstract We examined broad scale patterns of diversity and distribution of lotic Chironomidae (Diptera) within the Wet Tropics bioregion of northern Queensland, Australia. Field surveys across broad latitudinal and altitudinal gradients within the Wet Tropics revealed a fauna of 87 species‐level taxa in 49 genera comprising three main elements: a small genuinely tropical fraction, and larger cosmopolitan and Gondwanan components. The latter group originated when Australia, as part of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent, was situated over Antarctic latitudes with a cooler, wetter climate than today. In the Wet Tropics, cool Gondwanan taxa occurred predominantly in upland and shaded lowland sites, but no species appeared narrowly temperature restricted, and there was no faunal zonation with altitude. Most chironomid species occurred at all latitudes within the Wet Tropics, with no evidence for an enduring effect of the historical rainforest contractions on current‐day distribution patterns. These findings contrast with those for aquatic faunas elsewhere in the world and for the terrestrial Wet Tropics fauna. We relate this to the generally broad environmental tolerances of Australian chironomids, and comment on why the latitudinal diversity gradient does not apply to the Australian chironomid fauna.     

Molecular confirmation of Potamogeton × bottnicus (P. pectinatus × P. vaginatus, Potamogetonaceae) in Britain

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and in the chloroplast genome combine to confirm the existence of Potamogeton×bottnicus ( P. pectinatus × P. vaginatus ) in Britain. One of the parents, P. vaginatus , is not currently a member of the British flora, but did occur here in the past (the latest fossil fruits date from 30000 BP) and the hybrid may therefore owe its origin to ancient cross-pollination involving indigenous material or to more recent long-distance dispersal.     

Effects of emergence phenology, taxa tolerances and taxonomic resolution on the use of the Chironomid Pupal Exuvial Technique in river biomonitoring

1. We studied chironomid communities of four rivers in south‐eastern Finland, differing in their water quality, during summer 2004 using the Chironomid Pupal Exuvial Technique, CPET. The aims of the study were to (i) test the adequacy of the generic‐level identification in the CPET method, (ii) define the emergence patterns of chironomid taxa classified as intolerant to organic pollution, (iii) assess the tolerance levels of intolerant chironomids and (iv) identify taxa most indicative of good water quality. 2. Procrustean rotation analysis indicated very strong concordance between the ordinations using either species or genus‐level data, suggesting that generic‐level identification of chironomids is adequate for biomonitoring based on CPET. However, when only a few taxa occur in great numbers, it may be advisable to identify these to the species level, especially if these taxa are important indicators of the impact in question. 3. The detection of a particular species may require accurate timing of sampling, whereas a species‐rich genus might be detected throughout a season. Given that the emergence of chironomid species may vary from year‐to‐year and between sampling sites, community differences detected at the species level may be related to between‐site variation in species’ emergence patterns rather than true differences in species composition. 4. Indicator species analysis (IndVal) showed that the distribution and abundance of intolerant chironomid taxa differed strongly among the studied rivers. Some of the intolerant taxa were restricted to unimpacted conditions, whereas others occurred mainly in impacted rivers. Thus, the indicator status of some genera (e.g. Eukiefferiella, Parametriocnemus, Stempellinella and Tvetenia) needs reassessment.     

Metacommunity patterns of highly diverse stream midges: gradients,chequerboards, and nestedness,or is there only randomness?

Abstract.  1. Several non-random patterns in the distribution of species have been observed, including Clementsian gradients, Gleasonian gradients, nestedness, chequerboards, and evenly spaced gradients. Few studies have examined these patterns simultaneously, although they have often been studied in isolation and contrasted with random distribution of species across sites.
2. This study examined whether assemblages of chironomid midges exhibit any of the idealised distribution patterns as opposed to random distribution of species across sites within the metacommunity context in a boreal drainage system. Analyses were based on stream surveys conducted during three consecutive years. Analytical approaches included ordinations, cluster analysis, null models, and associated randomisation methods.
3. Midge assemblages did not conform to Clementsian gradients, which was evidenced by the absence of clearly definable assemblage types with numerous species exclusive to each assemblage type. Rather, there were signs of continuous Gleasonian variability of assemblage composition, as well as significant nested subset patterns of species distribution.
4. Midge assemblages showed only weak relationships with any of the measured environmental variables, and even these weak environmental relationships varied among years.
5. Midge assemblages did not appear to be structured by competition. This finding was somewhat problematic, however, because the two indices measuring co-occurrence provided rather different signs of distribution patterns. This was probably a consequence of how they actually measure co-occurrence.
6. Although midge assemblages did not show a perfect match with any of the idealised distribution patterns, they nevertheless showed a resemblance to the empirical patterns found previously for several plant and animal groups.