Summary
The Firehole River flows through the major hot spring basins of Yellowstone National Park. The runoff water from the hot springs changes the physical and chemical characteristics of the river as evidenced by the progressive downstream increase in temperature and pH.
Nine sampling stations were located in riffles above and below all the major influxes of hot spring water into the river. One hundred thirty-five samples of bottom organisms were collected from all the stations from July through October 1952 and in May 1953. The organisms were identified, counted and weighed.
Four other streams in Yellowstone National Park were surveyed to gather more information about the factors influencing the ecological distribution of the stream insects.
Arctopsyche, Rhyacophila, Micrasema, Ephemerella glacialis, E. grandis, E. doddsi, Rhithrogena, Libellula, Baetis tricaudatus, E. flavilinea, E. heterocaudata, Ironopsis, Iron, Chimarra, Acroneuria and the Tendepedidae were considered to be forms that preferred colder water. Leptocella, Ophiogomphus, Argia, Paraleptophlebia, Tricorythodes, Helicopsyche, Oecetis, Hydropsyche, Brachycentrus, Atherix, Antocha and E. euterpe were considered to be forms that preferred warmer water. Glossosoma, Agraylea, Narpus, Pteronarcys and the Simuliidae were widely distributed and did not evidence any temperature preference.
The nature of the substrate and rate of water flow were discussed in addition to temperature as factors influencing the ecological distribution of stream insects.
The seasonal fluctuations in average numbers of twenty-three species or genera were described.
Although the data do not permit a direct contribution to the study of the community concept, they do indicate that the species occur along a continuously fluctuating environment and that discrete communities cannot be described.
Zusammenfassung
Der Firehole Fluss ergiesst sich durch das Hauptbecken der heissen Quellen im Yellowstone National Park. Die Abflusswasser der heissen Quellen ändern die physikalischen und chemikalischen Eigenschaften des Flusses. Dies ist erwiesen durch die flussabwärts sich steigernden Temperaturen und pH.
Neun Untersuchungsstationen warden oberhalb und unterhalb der wichtigsten Mündungen von heissem Quellwasser in dem Fluss in Stromschnellen angebracht. Hundert und fünfunddreissig Proben von Unterwasser-Lebewesen warden von all diesen Stationen von Juli bis Ende Oktober 1952 and im Mai 1953 gesammelt. Diese Lebewesen wurden identifiziert, gezählt and gewogen.
Vier andere Ströme im Yellowstone National Park warder ausserdem untersucht, um mehr Erkenntnisse über Faktoren, welche die ökologische Verbreitung der Flussinsekten bestimmen, zu sammeln.
Arctopsyche, Rhyacophila, Micrasema, Ephemerella glacialis, E. grandis, E. doddsi, Rhithrogena, Libellula, Baetis tricaudatus, E. flavilinea, E. heterocaudata, Ironopsis, Iron, Chimarra, Acroneuria und die Tendepedidae wurden als Arten, die kaltes Wasser vorziehen, erkannt. Leptocella, Ophiogomphus, Argia, Paraleptophlebia, Tricorythodes, Helicopsyche, Oetis, Hydropsyche, Brachycentrus, Atherix, Antocha und E. euterpe wurden als Arten, die warmes Wasser vorziehen, erkannt. Glossosoma, Agraylea, Narpus, Pteronarcys und die Simuliidae waren weit verbreitet und zeigten keinerlei Vorliebe für diese oder jene Temperatur.
Die Eigenart des Substrat und die Geschwindigkeit des Abflusses wurden neben Temperaturen als beeinflussende Faktoren in der ökologischen Verteilung der Flussinsekten erörtert.
Die jahreszeitlichen Schwankungen in der Anzahl der Insekten wurden von dreiundzwanzig Arten oder Gattungen beschrieben.
Obwohl die Ergebnisse keinen direkten Beitrag zur Aufklärung des Gruppenkonzepts bedeuten, so weisen she doch darauf hin, dass diese Arten in einer sich ständig ändernden Umgebung vorkommen und dass isolierte Gruppen nicht beschrieben wurden können.
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Armitage, K.B. Distribution of riffle insects of the Firehole River, Wyoming. Hydrobiologia 17, 152–174 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040418
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040418