Life cycles of caseless caddis flies (Trichoptera) and their synchronisation
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2001 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | 2nd Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences : Abstract Book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | Trichoptera; Rhyacophila; Hydropsyche; Polycentropus; life cycle; synchronisation |
| Description | The life cycles of three caseless caddis flies (Rhyacophila nubila, Hydropsyche siltalai, and Polycentropus flavomaculatus) were studied in the Oslava River (South Moravia, Czech Republic). The life cycle of H. siltalai coexisting there with five other Hydropsyche species (above all H. pellucidula and H. incognita) was univoltine and synchronous. Also the development of most specimens of R. nubila and P. flavomaculatus took one year. However, high asynchrony of their life cycles resulted in the presence of a wide range of developmental stages during all the year. Different levels of synchronisation of the life cycles of Central European caseless caddis flies are discussed: 1. Species usually coexisting with congeneric species or those markedly affected by regular temporal pattern of abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, discharge) or food supply tend to have synchronous life cycles. Moreover a need for net-spinning sites may enhance competition (especially in the family Hydropsychidae). 2. Species not regularly coexisting with congeners and not pronouncedly influenced by regular temporal patterns of abiotic factors or food supply tend to have asynchronous life cycles. Such a life cycle enables them to reduce intraspecific competition and negative effects of non-predictable disturbances. |
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