Organic matter processing by chironomid larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) |
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Authors: | Hirabayashi Kimio Wotton Roger S |
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Institution: | (1) Liberal Arts (Biology), Yamanashi Women's College, 5-11-1, Iida, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture 4000035, Japan;(2) Department of Biology, Darwin Building, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K |
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Abstract: | In laboratory experiments, we used fluorescent dye markers to investigate processing of organic matter by larvae of Psectrocladius
limbatellus (Holm.) (Diptera: Chironomidae). 59% of the organic matter used was incorporated into tubes, 39% was present in
faecal pellets (both after 24 h), and 2% was found in the larval gut at the end of experiments. Ingested matter passed through
the gut rapidly, resulting in the gut being emptied more than 20 times each day. Further 24-h experiments using dye-marked
faecal pellets showed that 6% of pellets produced were re-ingested and 12% were incorporated into tubes. There was no preference
for conditioned faecal pellets as food over those that had recently been egested and tubes also provided a food reserve on
which larvae feed. Chironomid larvae recycle organic matter resulting in its mineralization and their ‘engineering’ has a
dramatic effect on the substratum.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Chironomidae faecal pellets organic matter processing Psectrocladius limbatellus tube building |
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