TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of Notonecta glauca predation on Cyphon larvae (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) populations in small, seasonal ponds
AU - Jeffries, Mike
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Aquatic Cyphon (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) larvae are characteristic inhabitants of small, seasonal ponds across a wetland at Aberlady Bay, Scotland, UK, but not found in adjacent, large permanent ponds. This distribution may be an example of the use of spatial refugia to escape abundant invertebrate predators found in large ponds. Notonecta glauca is a regular component of the permanent waters but erratic colonist of the small seasonal ponds. The surface dwelling habit, activity and lack of intrinsic defences of Cyphon larvae make them very vulnerable to N. glauca. N. glauca was added to seven of the small, seasonal ponds and numbers of Cyphon larvae in these treatment ponds were monitored and compared to those in six control ponds. By the end of the experiment Cyphon numbers in treatment ponds were reduced by more than 50% compared to controls, despite differences in pond hydrology, position, vegetation and other fauna present across replicates, suggesting that predation is an ecologically important process affecting the distribution of Cyphon larvae.
AB - Aquatic Cyphon (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) larvae are characteristic inhabitants of small, seasonal ponds across a wetland at Aberlady Bay, Scotland, UK, but not found in adjacent, large permanent ponds. This distribution may be an example of the use of spatial refugia to escape abundant invertebrate predators found in large ponds. Notonecta glauca is a regular component of the permanent waters but erratic colonist of the small seasonal ponds. The surface dwelling habit, activity and lack of intrinsic defences of Cyphon larvae make them very vulnerable to N. glauca. N. glauca was added to seven of the small, seasonal ponds and numbers of Cyphon larvae in these treatment ponds were monitored and compared to those in six control ponds. By the end of the experiment Cyphon numbers in treatment ponds were reduced by more than 50% compared to controls, despite differences in pond hydrology, position, vegetation and other fauna present across replicates, suggesting that predation is an ecologically important process affecting the distribution of Cyphon larvae.
M3 - Article
VL - 136
SP - 413
EP - 420
JO - Fundamental and Applied Limnology
JF - Fundamental and Applied Limnology
SN - 1863-9135
IS - 3
ER -