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Life-cycles of some invertebrate taxa in a small pond together with changes in their numbers over a period of three years

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Abstract

  1. 1.

    Monthly quantitative samples of the invertebrate fauna (except Protozoa) in a small pond were taken over a period of three years. During one year, insect emergence traps were in operation. Water temperatures were recorded during the investigation.

  2. 2.

    The most abundant organisms in the pond were Phaenocora typhlops, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Chaoborus crystallinus. Certain species of Micro-Crustacea and Chironomidae were also abundant but these groups have been dealt with elsewhere (see p. 66). Dendrocoelum lacteum, Polycelis nigra, Helobdella stagnalis, Lumbriculus aariegatus, Tubifex tubifex, Planorbis complanatus, and Asellus meridianus also occurred in considerable though lower numbers; other species occurred in low numbers.

  3. 3.

    The life-cycles and changes in numbers of the more numerous species are considered. The life-histories of D. lacteum, P. nigra, H. stagnalis, P. complanatus, A. meridianus are in agreement with published information. P. typhlops is seasonal in occurrence, being active from May to Sept. inclusive. Times of emergence of adults of various insect species agree with information available in the literature.

  4. 4.

    The life-cycle of L. hoffmeisteri in the pond is as follows: young worms hatch in spring/summer and form the bulk of the population from April to July/Aug; they mature from Aug. onwards and breeding starts in earnest from Feb./March. The life-cycle of T. tubifex is as follows: breeding starts in Feb., recruitment of young takes place from April till June, and these start to mature in Nov./Dec. It is not certain if some animals which breed in the spring/early summer survive to breed the following year.

  5. 5.

    The life-cycle of C. crystallinus appears to be as follows: first instars present from May to Oct., second instars from May to Dec., third instars from June till following Jan., fourth instars all the year round, pupae from May till Aug., and eggs from May to Sept. Adult emergence takes place from late April till mid-Sept.

  6. 6.

    A six-week drought in Oct/beginning Nov. in the second year of the investigation caused considerable mortality in most species, but most survived with only a few exceptions.

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  1. Johnstone O. Young
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Department of Zoology, University of Liverpool

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Young, J.O. Life-cycles of some invertebrate taxa in a small pond together with changes in their numbers over a period of three years. Hydrobiologia 45, 63–90 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006447

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