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Selective oviposition of the mayfly Baetis bicaudatus

  • Behavioural Ecology
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Abstract

Selective oviposition can have important consequences for recruitment limitation and population dynamics of organisms with complex life cycles. Temporal and spatial variation in oviposition may be driven by environmental or behavioral constraints. The goals of this study were to: (1) develop an empirical model of the substrate characteristics that best explain observed patterns of oviposition by Baetis bicaudatus (Ephemeroptera), whose females lay eggs under rocks protruding from high-elevation streams in western Colorado; and (2) test experimentally selective oviposition of mayfly females. We surveyed the number and physical characteristics of potential oviposition sites, and counted the number and density of egg masses in different streams of one watershed throughout two consecutive flight seasons. Results of surveys showed that variability in the proportion of protruding rocks with egg masses and the density of egg masses per rock were explained primarily by seasonal and annual variation in hydrology, and variation in geomorphology among streams. Moreover, surveys and experiments showed that females preferred to oviposit under relatively large rocks located in places with high splash associated with fast current, which may provide visual, mechanical or both cues to females. Experiments also showed that high densities of egg masses under certain rocks were caused by rock characteristics rather than behavioral aggregation of ovipositing females. While aggregations of egg masses provided no survival advantage, rocks selected by females had lower probabilities of desiccating during egg incubation. Our data suggest that even when protruding rocks are abundant, not all rocks are used as oviposition sites by females, due to female selectivity and to differences in rock availability within seasons, years, or streams depending on variation in climate and hydrogeomorphology. Therefore, specialized oviposition behavior combined with variation in availability of quality oviposition substrata has the potential to limit recruitment of this species.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks for help in the field from Brad Taylor, Paul Reich, Maruxa Alvarez, Angus McIntosh, Ben Kock, Jonas Dahl, Tracy Smith, Chester Anderson, Esteban Suàrez, Juan Esteban Suàrez-Encalada, Matt Harper, Wendy Brown, Marge Penton, Bryan and Alison Horn and Avery Miller. This paper was improved by discussions with Kate Macneale, Emily Bernhardt, Chris Caudill, David Lytle, Jonas Dahl, and Esteban Suàrez. Charles McCullock and Francoise Vermeylen provided statistical advice. The final version of this paper was greatly improved with comments by Alex Flecker, Cole Gilbert, Nelson Hairston, Steve Kohler and two anonymous reviewers. This research was supported by funds from Sigma Xi, RMBL Snyder Award, Cornell University Mellon Grant, NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant DEB-0206095, partial funds from NSF grant DEB-0089863 to B. L.Peckarsky and HATCH funds to B. L. Peckarsky. A. C. Encalada was also supported by the Ecuadorian Foundation for Science and Technology (FUNDACYT).

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  1. Andrea C. Encalada

    Present address: Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Andrea C. Encalada & Barbara L. Peckarsky

  2. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, P. O. Box 519, Crested Butte, CO, 81224, USA

    Andrea C. Encalada & Barbara L. Peckarsky

  3. IMAR, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Andrea C. Encalada

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  1. Andrea C. Encalada
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Correspondence to Andrea C. Encalada.

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Communicated by Steven Kohler

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Encalada, A.C., Peckarsky, B.L. Selective oviposition of the mayfly Baetis bicaudatus . Oecologia 148, 526–537 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0376-5

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