Movement patterns and ecology of <i>Pteronarcys</i> nymphs (Plecoptera)

Freilich, Jerome E.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1991.tb00500.x

Cited by 29 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…dislodgement or predation. Indeed, in a rare mark-recapture study of salmonfly nymphs, individuals moved an average of only 1.8 m in 3 months (Freilich, 1991). In our system, movements at this scale would allow individuals to modify local temperatures and oxygen saturations by ∼0.31°C and 0.11% of saturation (0.02 kPa), respectively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Going with the flow – how a stream insect, Pteronarcys californica, exploits local flows to increase oxygen availability

Birrell

Woods

2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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For insects, life in water is challenging because oxygen supply is typically low compared to in air. Oxygen limitation may occur when oxygen levels or water flows are low or when warm temperatures stimulate metabolic demand for oxygen. A potential mechanism for mitigating oxygen shortages is behavior – moving to cooler, more oxygenated, or faster flowing microhabitats. Whether stream insects can make meaningful choices, however, depends on: i) how temperature, oxygen, and flow vary at microspatial scales and ii) the ability of insects to sense and exploit that variation. To assess the extent of microspatial variation in conditions, we measured temperature, oxygen saturation, and flow velocity within riffles of two streams in Montana, USA. In the lab, we then examined preferences of nymphs of the stonefly Pteronarcys californica to experimental gradients based on field-measured values. Temperature and oxygen level varied only slightly within stream riffles. By contrast, flow velocity was highly heterogeneous, often varying by more than 125 cm s−1 within riffles and 44 cm s−1 around individual cobbles. Exploiting micro-variation in flow may thus be the most reliable option for altering rates of oxygen transport. In support of this prediction, P. californica showed little ability to exploit gradients in temperature and oxygen but readily exploited micro-variation in flow – consistently choosing higher flows when conditions were warm or hypoxic. These behaviors may help stream insects mitigate low-oxygen stress from climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Going with the flow – how a stream insect, Pteronarcys californica, exploits local flows to increase oxygen availability

Birrell

Woods

2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Hughes Creek, which did not exist prior to the 1920s (Erskine, 2016). The sand has buried the original stream bed, and the active channel is now much wider and the water shallower.…”

Section: Study Site and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rivers may vary in the frequency or existence of such barriers, and this variation could result in systematic differences between rivers in dispersal success. Hughes Creek is a predominantly sandy bed stream with some pools and bedrock outcrops throughout the sections we studied (Erskine, 2016). We do not know how geomorphology influenced the outcomes of our experiment, but it would be fascinating to know how channel morphology interacts with dispersal abilities to influence the colonisation success of fauna.…”

Section: Bus Commonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Itinerant, nomad or invader? A field experiment sheds light on the characteristics of successful dispersers and colonists

Downes

Lancaster

2018

Freshwater Biology

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Many hypotheses in ecology depend upon identifying species that can disperse across landscapes and colonise new habitat patches. Species differ in dispersal ability, yet some good dispersers reach new locations but fail to colonise them (“itinerants”). Additionally, successful colonists may comprise species that routinely disperse and maintain connectivity among locations (“nomads”) as well as species that can also take advantage of new situations (“invaders”). In a previously reported landscape‐scale, field experiment that boosted detrital resources in Hughes Ck (south‐eastern Australia), species diversity increased at manipulation sites due to successful dispersal and colonisation. The species composition at manipulation sites gradually converged on that seen at upstream sites, implying the latter locations supplied dispersers. Here, we ask (a) Did dispersers arise from within the same creek, and were drift and adult flight both implicated? (b) Were successful colonists (“responders”) clearly better dispersers (e.g., nomads or invaders) than those that did not colonise manipulation sites (“non‐responders”)? (c) Did traits commonly assumed to denote successful dispersal provide a reliable guide to species that were actually successful colonists? Simultaneous with benthic samples, we collected animals in the drift immediately upstream of control and manipulation sites, and trapped winged adults along the banks. We used PERMANOVA to contrast (a) the assemblages of species in the drift with those in the benthos and (b) the assemblages of adults, at different sites and times. For 54 common taxa (26 responders; 28 non‐responders), we used linear regression to test whether benthic densities were significantly related to drift numbers and, if so, whether the relationship was the same at manipulation and control sites (“nomads”) or delivered higher densities at manipulation sites (“invaders”). We compiled information on dispersal traits (presence in drift, voltinism, flight‐capable adults) to assess whether dispersal traits predicted species that successfully colonised manipulation sites. Drift assemblages were more similar to benthic assemblages at manipulation sites than to those at control sites. Adult assemblages did not differ between manipulation sites and controls, but adult assemblages at downstream sites converged on those seen upstream. Many dispersers arose from within Hughes Creek, with ˜60% of common taxa arriving via the drift. Among the common taxa, 4% were poor dispersers (rarely in the drift) and 33% were itinerants (drift and benthos were unrelated), with these categories equally represented among responders and non‐responders. In the remaining taxa, benthic densities were related to drift numbers. Most responders were invaders, whereas most non‐responders were nomads. Responders and non‐responders did not differ in traits that are commonly assumed to reflect a high potential for dispersal and colonisation. Responders were not demonstrably better dispersers than non‐responders but instead we...

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“…Salmonflies are associated with fast-moving mountain streams and medium to large rivers with clean water and high stream flows (Elder & Gaufin, 1973). Larvae favor fast riffle habitat with medium to large unconsolidated rocky substrates, and rarely inhabit pools or areas with silty substrate (Elder & Gaufin, 1973;Freilich, 1991). While found in high abundance at some sites, the salmonfly has relatively specific environmental requirements and is classified a sensitive species in bioassessment protocols (Barbour, Gerritsen, Snyder, & Stribling, 1999;Bryce, Lomnicky, & Kaufmann, 2010;Fore, Karr, & Wisseman, 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the habitat preferences of the stoneflyPteronarcys californicain Colorado

Kowalski

Richer

2020

River Research & Apps

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The salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) is a large stonefly species that is ecologically important and recreationally significant to anglers in coldwater river systems throughout the western United States. Salmonflies are sensitive to disturbance and pollution and are considered an indicator of quality coldwater stream habitat. They are declining in range and abundance in some river systems and their extirpation from several western rivers has led to restoration attempts including habitat improvement projects and direct reintroductions. These efforts could be improved with a clear understanding of the causes of these declines, a quantitative description of the species' preferred habitat, and practical management recommendations for the restoration of habitat where it has been lost. The objective of this study was to measure variables that describe the physical habitat of sites supporting varying densities of salmonflies in Colorado. Width to depth ratio, bed slope, D50 sediment size, percent fine sediment, and embeddedness were measured at 18 riffle sites and compared to an index of salmonfly density estimated over 3 years. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression with model selection were used to identify important variables. Salmonfly density was highest at sites with low amounts of fine sediment, low cobble embeddedness, and large cobble size. Fine sediment (particles < 2 mm) was the single best predictor of salmonfly density and ranged from 0-6% at sites with high salmonfly densities. As habitat characteristics influence the range and density of salmonflies in Colorado and elsewhere, results from this study can inform land use practices, flow management, and river restoration activities to benefit this important indicator species.

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Movement patterns and ecology of Pteronarcys nymphs (Plecoptera)

Cited by 29 publications

References 43 publications

Going with the flow – how a stream insect, Pteronarcys californica, exploits local flows to increase oxygen availability

Going with the flow – how a stream insect, Pteronarcys californica, exploits local flows to increase oxygen availability

Itinerant, nomad or invader? A field experiment sheds light on the characteristics of successful dispersers and colonists

Quantifying the habitat preferences of the stoneflyPteronarcys californicain Colorado

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