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LIFE HISTORIES, DIET, AND NICHE OVERLAP OF THREE SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF ELMIDAE (COLEOPTERA) IN A TEMPERATE STREAM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Annette F. Tavares  and
D. Dudley Williams
Annette F. Tavares
Affiliation:
Division of Life Sciences, Scarborough Campus, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4
D. Dudley Williams
Affiliation:
Division of Life Sciences, Scarborough Campus, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4
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Abstract

Promoresia elegans (LeConte), Optioservus fastiditus (LeConte), and Stenelmis nr. bicarinata LeConte coexist in Duffin Creek, Ont., making up 3.78–23.92% of the riffle fauna present.

Promoresia elegans and O. fastiditus appeared to have semi-voltine life histories. Stenelmis nr. bicarinata appeared to be univoltine but with overlapping generations and slow recruitment occurring from late summer to fall; growth was slow in winter but fast in spring and summer.

Based on the index of relative importance (Pinkas et al. 1971), detritus was identified as the most important food source for all size classes and all species throughout the year. Microinorganics ranked second, with diatoms, fungal hyphae, and vascular plant material being the least important food sources. There was no indication of ontogenic food switching in any of the species.

The Schoener (1970) niche overlap index indicated almost complete dietary overlap (Cxy = 0.78–0.97) among the three species throughout the year and the Hurlbert (1978) niche overlap index similarly indicated a convergence of diets (L = 1.31–3.54).

Niche breadth values were found to be high for all species on the rock surfaces (generalist diet) but were lower in the hyporheic zone indicating a higher degree of specialization there.

Résumé

Promoresia elegans (LeConte), Optioservus fastiditus (LeConte) et Stenelmis nr. bicarinata LeConte coexistent à Duffin Creek, Ont., constituant 3,78 à 23,92% de la faune présente au zone d’ondulation.

Promoresia elegans et O. fastiditus ont paru d’avoir les métamorphoses semivoltines. Stenelmis nr. bicarnata a paru d’être d’une métamorphose univoltine, mais ayant des générations chevauchantes et un recrutement lent à partir de tard en été jusqu’à l’automne; la croissance a été lente en hiver, mais rapide au printemps et à l’été.

Seion l’index d’importance relative (Pinkas et al. 1971), le détritus a été identifié comme la source la plus importante d’alimentation dans le cas des insectes de toutes grandeurs et de toutes espèces, l’année durant. Les micro-inorganiques ont été en deuxième place, pendant que les diatomées, les hyphes fongueux, et du matériel vasculaire des plantes ont été parmi les sources les moins importantes d’alimentation. Aucune indication de modification d’alimentation ontogénique n’a été observée de la part de n’importe quelle espèce.

L’index de chevauchement des niches de Schoener (1970) a démontré un chevauchement presque complet d’alimentation (Cxy = 0,78–0,97) parmi les trois espèces pendant l’année et l’index de chevauchement des niches de Hurlbert (1978) a aussi démontré une convergence d’alimentation (L = 1,31–3,54).

Les valeurs pour la largeur des niches ont été élevées en ce qui concerne toutes espèces aux surfaces du rocher (alimentation généraliste), mais plus bases au zone hyporhéique, indiquant un degré de spécialisation plus haut aux surfaces du rocher.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 122 , Issue 3 , June 1990 , pp. 563 - 577
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1990

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