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THE EFFECT OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE EGG INCUBATION PERIOD OF MESOCAPNIA OENONE (PLECOPTERA) FROM THE CANADIAN ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

John E. Brittain  and
Robert A. Mutch
John E. Brittain
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N IN4
Robert A. Mutch
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N IN4
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Abstract

Adults of the autumn-emerging capniid stonefiy, Mesocapnia oenone (Neave), were collected from the Bow River in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. After oviposition their eggs were incubated in the laboratory. Successful hatching occurred in the range 2°–15 °C; higher temperatures, except for a short period, were lethal. Eggs subjected to sub-zero temperatures, up to 17 days at −12 °C, also hatched successfully. Within the range 2°–15 °C there was a relationship, linear on logarithmic scales, between water temperature (T °C) and the egg incubation period (Y days), expressed by the equation: Y = 197T−0.59 (r2 = 0.99, P < 0.001). The number of degree-days required for hatching (Z degree-days) increased with increasing temperature (T °C) and also showed a relationship, linear on logarithmic scales, expressed by the equation: Z = 197T0.41 (r2 = 0.97, P < 0.001). In contrast to most other Capniidae, the winter is spent in the egg stage in M. oenone. Our data demonstrate that a combination of a low number of degree-days required for hatching at low temperatures and reduced sensitivity to higher temperatures ensures that egg hatching occurs in the spring. The characteristics of egg development in the autumn-emerging M. oenone are compared with the spring-emerging Capnia atra.

Résumé

Des plécoptères adultes (capniid) d'émergence automnale, Mesocapnia oenone (Neave) ont été ramassés dans la rivière Bow des montagnes rocheuses canadiennes. Après oviposition, leurs oeufs ont été incubés en laboratoire. L'éclosion s'est avérée favorable pour les températures variant entre 2 et 15 °C; les températures plus élevées étaient léthales, excepté pour une courte période. Les oeufs exposés à des températures inférieures à zéro, pour plus de 17 jours à −12 °C, éclosent avec succès s'ils sont réexposés aux températures favorables variant entre 2°–5 °C. Pour les températures se situant entre 2 °et 15 °C, on observe une relation linéaire sur échelle logarithmique entre la température de l'eau (T °C) et la période d'incubation des oeufs (Y jours), exprimée par l'équation : Y = 197T−0.59 (r2 = 0.99, P < 0.001). Le nombre de degrés-jours nécessaires à l'éclosion (Z degrés-jours) croît avec l'augmentation de la température (T °C) et montre également une relation linéaire sur échelle logarithmique, exprimée par l'équation : Z = 197T0.41 (r2 = 0.97, P < 0.001). Contrairement à la plupart des autres Capniidae, M. oenone passe l'hiver sous forme d'oeufs. Nos résultats démontrent que la combinaison suivante : un petit nombre de degrés-jours nécessaires pour l'éclosion à basses températures, et une sensibilité réduite pour les températures plus élevées, assurent l'éclosion des oeufs au printemps. Les caractéristiques propres au développement des oeufs pour M. oenone lors de l'émergence automnale sont comparées à celles de Capnia atra dont l'émergence est printanière.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 116 , Issue 4 , April 1984 , pp. 549 - 554
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1984

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