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Life history and osmoregulatory ability of Telmatogeton amphibius (Diptera, Chironomidae) at Marion Island

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Abstract

Although the non-crustacean arthropod fauna of the intertidal zone in the sub-Antarctic is both diverse and abundant, little is known about the biology of the species that occur in this habitat. Here, we provide information on the biology and osmoregulatory ability of the marine intertidal midge Telmatogeton amphibius (Eaton) (Diptera, Chironomidae) at Marion Island. Larval densities of this species in the lower shore zones can be as high as 16,000 individuals m−2 in their preferred habitat during peak abundance in summer. Winter abundances are substantially lower, and adults are much less abundant than larvae. Like other chironomids, this species has four larval instars and the flightless adult females have obligatory parthenogenesis. It is a strong osmoregulator. Larvae show little variation in body mass irrespective of whether they find themselves in freshwater or seawater, or are switched between the media. Haemolymph osmolality [ca. 400 milliosmol (mOsm)] varies by only 61 mOsm over a 1,520 mOsm range of the external medium. T. amphibius is similar in many respects to intertidal telmatogetonine midges found in other geographic regions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Richard Mercer for provision of data and for assistance with logistics, Sue Nicolson for the loan of the osmometer, Peter Cranston for providing several helpful references, and three anonymous referees for their useful comments on a previous version of the manuscript. This work was funded by the USAID/DEAT Capacity Building Programme for Climate Change Research. B.J.S. was supported by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Logistic support at Marion Island was provided by the Directorate Antarctica and Islands, S.A. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as part of the South African National Antarctic Programme. This is a contribution to the SCAR RiSCC programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa

    N. Nondula & R. Baxter

  2. Department of Biology, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, 1410, Brunei Darussalam

    D. J. Marshall

  3. Spatial, Physiological and Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    B. J. Sinclair & S. L. Chown

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  1. N. Nondula
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  2. D. J. Marshall
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  4. B. J. Sinclair
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  5. S. L. Chown
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Correspondence to S. L. Chown.

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Nondula, N., Marshall, D.J., Baxter, R. et al. Life history and osmoregulatory ability of Telmatogeton amphibius (Diptera, Chironomidae) at Marion Island. Polar Biol 27, 629–635 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0619-z

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