Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Feeding habits and food resources of filter-feeding Trichoptera in a regulated mountain stream

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A year-round study was conducted to examine feeding habits and food resources of the filter-feeding Trichoptera Arctopsyche grandis and Brachycentrus occidentalis along a regulated mountain stream gradient. There was a well defined longitudinal species replacement with A. grandis reaching maximum densities 2.3 kilometers below the impoundment, and concomitant with its decline downstream was an increase in B. occidentalis. At all sampling sites the < 75 µm organic seston fraction usually consisted primarily of diatoms (>70%, by areal estimate on microscope slides), whereas the 75–250 µm and > 250 µm seston fractions were predominantly composed of detritus (> 80 %). B. occidentalis larvae consumed primarily detritus and diatoms (> 70 % of the diet), while A. grandis ingested a variety of materials with animals, detritus and/or filamentous algae often constituting > 80% of the diet. Animal material was over-represented in the diets of both species when compared with amounts in the seston. Feeding habits provided partial explanations for the distinct longitudinal distribution patterns of filter-feeding Trichoptera observed in the regulated river.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alstad, D. N., 1978. Distributional and community ecology of filtering caddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 87 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alstad, D. N., 1982. Current speed and filtration rate link caddisfly phylogeny and distributional patterns on a stream gradient. Science 216: 533–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alstad, D. N., 1987. Particle size, resource concentration, and the distribution of net-spinning caddisflies. Oecologia 71: 525–531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, P. D., 1977. Invertebrate drift in the regulated Tees, and an unregulated tributary Maize Beck, below Cow Green dam. Freshwat. Biol. 7: 167–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, H. L., 1989. Seasonal and diel invertebrate drift patterns in regulated streams. M.S. Thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 96 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuffney, T. F., 1980. The ecology of Arctopsyche grandis (Banks) (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). M.S. Thesis, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA, 210 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuffney, T. F. & G. W. Minshall, 1981. Life history and bionomics of Arctopsyche grandis (Trichoptera) in a central Idaho stream. Holarct. Ecol. 4: 252–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing, C. E., 1963. Filter-feeding insect distribution and planktonic food in the Montreal River. Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 92: 216–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, R. T., 1987. Sestonic bacteria as a food source for filtering invertebrates in two southeastern blackwater rivers. Limnol. Oceanogr. 32: 221–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, R. L. & R. J. Mackay, 1980. Field and laboratory studies of net-spinning activity by Hydropsyche larvae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). Can. J. Zool. 58: 2006–2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furnish, J. K., 1979. The life history and feeding habits of Arctopsyche grandis in a coastal mountain stream. M.A. Thesis, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA, 39 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallepp, G. W., 1974. Diel periodicity in the behavior of the caddisfly, Brachycentrus americanus (Banks). Freshwat. Biol. 4: 193–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, L. J. & J. V. Ward, 1979. Food habits of stream benthos at sites of differing food availability. Am. Midl. Nat. 102: 157–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauer, F. R. & J. A. Stanford, 1981. Larval specialization and phenotypic variation in Arctopsyche grandis (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). Ecology 62: 645–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauer, F. R. & J. A. Stanford, 1982. Ecological responses of hydropsychid caddisflies to stream regulation. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 39: 1235–1242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauer, F. R. & J. A. Stanford, 1986. Ecology and coexistence of two species of Brachycentrus (Trichoptera) in a Rocky Mountain river. Can. J. Zool. 64: 1469–1474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, H. B. N., 1970. The ecology of running waters. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada, 555 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Illies, J., 1956. Seeausfluss-Biozönosen lapplandischer Waldbache. Ent. Tidsk. 77: 138–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, W. M., J. F. Saunders, D. W. Crumpacker & C. Brendecke, 1984. Eutrophication and land use, Lake Dillon, Colorado. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, USA, 202 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, I. D. & R. J. Mackay, 1982. Interpreting the diet of Rhyacophila larvae (Trichoptera) from gut analyses: an evaluation of techniques. Can. J. Zool. 60: 783–789.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCullough, D. A., G. W. Minshall & C. E. Cushing, 1979. Bioenergetics of lotic filter-feeding insects Simulium spp. (Diptera) and Hydropsyche occidentalis (Trichoptera) and their function in controlling organic transport in streams. Ecology 60: 585–596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mecom, J. O., 1972. Feeding habits of Trichoptera in a mountain stream. Oikos 23: 401–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oswood, M. W., 1979. Abundance patterns of filter-feeding caddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) and seston in a Montana (USA) lake outlet. Hydrobiologia 63: 177–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, S. A., W. B. Perry & J. A. Stanford, 1986. Effects of stream regulation on density, growth, and emergence of two mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae) and a caddisfly (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in two Rocky Mountain rivers (USA). Can. J. Zool. 64: 656–666.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, L. B.-M., 1985. Food preferences in three species of Hydropsyche (Trichoptera). Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 22: 3270–3274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, L. B.-M., 1987. Field and laboratory studies of the biology of three species of Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Lund, Sweden, 142 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, R. C., Jr., 1987. Seston quality as a factor influencing trichopteran populations. In M. Bournad & H. Tachet (eds), Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Trichoptera. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 287–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poff, N. L. & J. V. Ward, 1989. Implications of streamflow variability and predictability for lotic community structure: a regional analysis of streamflow patterns. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 46: 1805–1818.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, D. H. & J. B. Wallace, 1982. Factors influencing the longitudinal distribution of larval Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera) in a southern Appalachian stream system (USA). Hydrobiologia 96: 185–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, D. H. & J. B. Wallace, 1983. Longitudinal patterns of production, food consumption, and seston utilization by net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera) in a southern Appalachian stream (USA). Holarct. Ecol. 6: 270–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapas, T. J. & W. L. Hilsenhoff, 1976. Feeding habits of Wisconsin's predominant lotic Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera. Great Lakes Entomol. 9: 175–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith-Cuffney, F. L. & J. B. Wallace, 1987. The influence of microhabitat on availability of drifting invertebrate prey to a net-spinning caddisfly. Freshwat. Biol. 17: 91–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanford, J. A. & J. V. Ward, 1981. Preliminary interpretations of the distribution of Hydropsychidae in a regulated river. Series Entomologica 20: 323–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorp, J. H., 1983. An evaluation of hypotheses on the evolutionary differentiation of catchnets in net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae). Oikos 40: 308–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorp, J. H., J. B. Wallace & T. J. Georgian, 1986. Untangling the web of caddisfly evolution and distribution. Oikos 47: 253–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voelz, N. J., 1990. Macroinvertebrate distributions along two regulated Rocky Mountain stream resource gradients. Ph.D. Dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 221 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voelz, N. J. & J. V. Ward, 1989. Biotic and abiotic gradients in a regulated high elevation Rocky Mountain river. Regulated Rivers 3: 143–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voelz, N. J. & J. V. Ward, 1990. Macroinvertebrate responses along a complex regulated stream environmental gradient. Regulated Rivers 5: 365–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. B., 1975a. Food partitioning in net-spinning Trichoptera larvae: Hydropsyche venularis, Cheumatopsyche etrona, and Macronema zebratum (Hydropsychidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 68: 463–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, J. B., 1975b. The larval retreat and food of Arctopsyche; with phylogenetic notes of feeding adaptations in Hydropsychidae larvae (Trichoptera). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 68: 167–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, J. V., 1975. Downstream fate of zooplankton from a hypolimnial release mountain reservoir. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 1798–1804.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Neal J. Voelz

    Present address: Department of Ecology and Limnology, University of Lund, Box 65, 221 00, Lund, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    Neal J. Voelz & J. V. Ward

Authors
  1. Neal J. Voelz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. V. Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Voelz, N.J., Ward, J.V. Feeding habits and food resources of filter-feeding Trichoptera in a regulated mountain stream. Hydrobiologia 231, 187–196 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018202

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018202

Key words

Search

Navigation