Aquatic Terrestrial Linkages Along a Braided-River: Riparian Arthropods Feeding on Aquatic Insects |
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Authors: | Achim Paetzold Carsten J Schubert Klement Tockner |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Limnology, EAWAG/ETH, P.O. BOX 611, Dübendorf, 8600, Switzerland;(2) Department of Surface Water, EAWAG, Limnological Research Center, Seestrasse 79, Kastanienbaum, 6047, Switzerland;(3) Present address: Catchment Science Center, The University of Sheffield North Campus, Kroto Building, Broad Lane Sheffield, S3 71IQ, UK |
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Abstract: | Rivers can provide important sources of energy for riparian biota. Stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N) together with linear mixing models, were used to quantify the importance of aquatic insects as a food source for a riparian
arthropod assemblage inhabiting the shore of the braided Tagliamento River (NE Italy). Proportional aquatic prey contributions
to riparian arthropod diets differed considerable among taxa. Carabid beetles of the genus Bembidion and Nebria picicornis fed entirely on aquatic insects. Aquatic insects made up 80% of the diet of the dominant staphylinid beetle Paederidus rubrothoracicus. The diets of the dominant lycosid spiders Arctosa cinerea and Pardosa wagleri consisted of 56 and 48% aquatic insects, respectively. In contrast, the ant Manica rubida fed mainly on terrestrial sources. The proportion of aquatic insects in the diet of lycosid spiders changed seasonally, being
related to the seasonal abundance of lycosid spiders along the stream edge. The degree of spatial and seasonal aggregation
of riparian arthropods at the river edge coincided with their proportional use of aquatic subsidies. The results suggest that
predation by riparian arthropods is a quantitatively important process in the transfer of aquatic secondary production to
the riparian food web. |
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Keywords: | boundary Carabidae food web Formicidae Lycosidae riparian stable isotopes Staphylinidae subsidy |
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