Abstract
Temperature data are presented from the littoral zones of two lakes in North Wales, Llyn Coron and Llyn Dinas. Recording, mainly on a continuous basis, was over a two year period. Despite their different situations, the lakes had similar temperature regimes. Regional weather factors were of greater importance than local variations. However, some differences were present, especially during the summer months. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the temperature relationships of Nemoura avicularis Morton (Plecoptera) and Leptophlebia vespertina (L.) (Ephemeroptera), common species in Llyn Dinas but absent from Llyn Coron. Aspects considered included nymphal temperature tolerance and the effect of temperature on egg development and emergence. From the background of the results, it was concluded that the differences in temperature regime between the two lakes were insufficient to explain the absence of the two species from Llyn Coron.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benech, V. 1972. Etude expérimentale de l'incubation des oeufs de Baetis rhodani Pictet. Freshwat. Biol. 2: 243–253.
Bohle, H. W. 1972. Die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Embryogenese und der embryonalen Diapause von Ephemerella ignita (Poda) (Insecta, Ephemeroptera). Oecologia 10 (3): 253–268.
Brittain, J. E. 1971. The biology and distribution of Leptophlebia vespertina L. (Ephemeroptera) and Nemoura avicularis Morton (Plecoptera) in some North Wales lakes. Ph.D. thesis, University of Wales.
Brittain, J. E. 1972. The life cycles of Leptophlebia vespertina (L.) and L. marginata (L.) (Ephemeroptera) in Llyn Dinas, North Wales. Freshwat. Biol. 2: 271–277.
Brittain, J. E. 1973. The biology and life cycle of Nemoura avicularis Morton (Plecoptera). Freshwat. Biol. 3: 199–210.
Brittain, J. E. 1974. Studies on the lentic Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera of southern Norway. Norsk ent. Tidsskr. 21: 135–154.
Brown, D. S. 1961. The Life-Cycle of Cloën dipterum L. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae). Entomologist 94: 114–120.
Clifford, H. F. 1969. Limnological features of a Northern Brown-water Stream, with Special Reference to the Life Histories of the Aquatic Insects. Am. Midl. Nat. 82 (2): 346–358.
Crisp, D. T. & Le Cren, E. D. 1970. The Temperature of Three Different Small Streams in Northwest England. Hydrobiologia 35: 305–323.
Elliott, J. M. 1972. Effect of Temperature on the Time of Hatching in Baetis rhodani (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae). Oecologia 9: 47–51.
Ferrar, A. M. 1961. The Depth of some Lakes in Snowdonia. Geogr. J. 127: 205–208.
Fry, F. E. J. 1947. Effects of the environment on animal activity. Publ. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab. 68: 1–62.
Gorham, E. 1958. The Physical Limnology of Northern Britain: an Epitome of the Bathymetrical Survey of the Scottish Freshwater Lochs, 1897–1909. Limnol. Oceanogr. 3: 40–50.
Greenly, E. 1919. The Geology of Anglesey. Med. Geol. Surv. U.K. H.M.S.O. 2 vols. 980 pp.
Harker, J. E. 1952. A study of the life cycles and growth-rates of four species of mayflies. Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. A. 27: 77–85.
Heiman, D. R. & Knight, A. W. 1972. Upper-Lethal-Temperature Relations of the Nymphs of the Stonefly, Paragnetina media. Hydrobiologia 39 (4): 479–493.
Ide, F. P. 1935. The effect of temperature on the distribution of the mayfly fauna of a stream. Publ. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab. 50: 1–76.
Illies, J. 1959. Retardierte Schlupfzeit von Baetis-gelegen (Ins. Ephem.) Naturwissenschaften 46: 119–120.
Jenkin, P. M. 1942. Seasonal changes in the temperature of Windermere (English Lake District). J. Anim. Ecol. 11: 248–269.
Kamler, E. 1965. Thermal conditions in mountain waters and their influence on distribution of Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera larvae. Ekol. Polska Ser. A. 13: 377–414.
Kjellberg, G. 1972. Autekologiska studier över Leptophlebia vespertina (Ephemeroptera) i en mindre skogstjärn 1966–1968. Entomol. Ts. 93: 1–29.
Knight, A. W. & Gaufin, A. R. 1966. Altitudinal distribution of stoneflies (Plecoptera) in a Rocky Mountain drainage system. J. Kansas ent. Soc. 39: 668–675.
Langford, T. E. 1970. The temperature of a British River Upstream and Downstream of a heated discharge from a power station. Hydrobiologia 35: 353–375.
Langford, T. E. 1971. The Distribution, Abundance and Life-Histories of Stoneflies (Plecoptera) and Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in a British River, Warmed by Cooling-Water from a Power Station. Hydrobiologia 38: 339–377.
Lillehammer, A. 1975. Norwegian Stoneflies. III. Field studies on ecological factors influencing distribution Norsw. J. Ent. 22: 71–80.
Macan, T. T. 1957. The Ephemeroptera of a stony stream. J. Anim. Ecol. 26: 129–156.
Macan, T. T. 1958. The temperature of a small stony stream. Hydrobiologia 12: 89–106.
Macan, T. T. 1960. The effect of temperature on Rhithrogena semicolorata (Ephem.). Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr. 45: 197–201.
Macan, T. T. 1961. A Key to the nymphs of the British species of Ephemeroptera. Scient. Publs Freshwat. biol. Ass. no. 20.
Macan, T. T. 1970. Biological Studies of the English Lakes. London: Longmans xvi+260 p.
Macan, T. T. & Maudsley, R. 1966. The temperature of a moorland fishpond. Hydrobiologia 27: 1–22.
Macan, T. T. & Maudsley, R. 1968. The Insects of the Stony Substratum of Windermere. Trans. Soc. Br. Ent. 18: 1–18.
Martin, N. A. 1972. Temperature Fluctuations Within English Lowland Ponds. Hydrobiologia 40: 455–469.
Morgan, N. C. 1964. Discussion note in Hartland-Rowe; Factors influencing the life-histories of some stream insects in Alberta. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 15: 917–925.
Morgan, N. C. & Waddell, A. 1961. Diurnal variation in the emergence of some aquatic insects. Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 113: 123–137.
Moss, B. 1969. Vertical heterogeneity in the water column of Abbot's Pond I. The distribution of temperature and dissolved oxygen. J. Ecol. 57: 381–396.
Nebeker, A. V. 1971. Effect of water temperature on nymphal feeding rate, emergence, and adult longevity of the stonefly Pteronarcys dorsata. J. Kansas ent. Soc. 44: 21–26.
Nebeker, A. V. & Lemke, A. E. 1968. Preliminary studies on the tolerance of aquatic insects to heated water. J. Kansas ent. Soc. 41: 413–418.
Pleskot, G. 1951. Wassertemperatur und Leben im Bach. Wett. u. Leben 3: 129–143.
Pleskot, G. 1961. Die Periodizität einiger Ephemeropteren der Schwechat. Wasser u. Abwasser 1958: 1–32.
Pleskot, G. 1961. Die Periodizität der Ephemeropteren-Fauna einiger österreichischer Fliessgewässer. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 14: 410–416.
Smith, K. 1968. Some thermal characteristics of two rivers in the Pennine area of Northern England. J. Hydrol. 6: 405–416.
Sprules, W. M. 1947. An ecological investigation of stream insects in Algonquin Park. Ontario. Publ. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab. no. 69. 81 p.
Ulfstrand, S. 1969. Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera from the River Vindelälven in Swedish Lapland. Entomol. Ts. 90: 145–165.
Whitney, R. J. 1939. The thermal resistance of mayfly nymphs from ponds and streams. J. exp. Biol. 16: 374–385.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brittain, J.E. The temperature of two welsh lakes and its effect on the distribution of two freshwater insects. Hydrobiologia 48, 37–49 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033489
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033489