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Secondary production of caddisflies reflects environmental heterogeneity among tropical Andean streams

Hydrobiologia volume 797, pages 231–246 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Macroinvertebrate life history and secondary production have rarely been measured in tropical highland streams even though these streams are highly heterogeneous and display unique ecological settings compared to both those in the tropical lowlands or in the temperate zone. We evaluated secondary production and life history attributes of the periphyton grazer caddisfly (Helicopsyche spp.) using the size-frequency method in three Ecuadorian highland stream reaches (2990–3727 meters above sea level) with contrasting riparian vegetative characteristics and differing flow and temperature regimes and periphyton biomass (as chlorophyll-a). Helicopsyche displayed strong differences among streams in life history attributes and secondary production. We estimated the least productive reach (89 mg m−2 year−1) to be an order of magnitude less than that of the two more productive reaches (1556–2164 mg m−2 year−1). Secondary production positively correlated with annual mean periphyton biomass and negatively correlated with annual mean water temperature. Compared to previous studies, mean secondary production of Helicopsyche was relatively high. We conclude that Helicopsyche secondary production in tropical highland streams is highly heterogeneous among stream types. This strong variation among streams might ultimately depend on environmental factors influencing food availability (biomass of periphyton) and larval development rates (temperature regime).

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Ecuadorian Secretariat for Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENESCYT) and the “Universidad de Cuenca” (UC) for funding this study through the project “Interpretación de Los Procesos Hidroecológicos como Base para la Valoración del Caudal Ecológico en las Cuencas del Paute y del Jubones” (PIC-11-726), which was carried out in the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory (LEA) of the UC and Directed by the second and fourth co-authors. Additionally, Debra Finn and Henrietta Hampel were funded by the PROMETEO Project of the SENESCYT. Special thanks go to the Environmental Ministry of Ecuador (MAE) for granting access to the study area, to the NGO “Cordillera Tropical” for giving access to the sampling spots in the Pallcayacu microcatchment and providing logistical support, and to the Hydrology and Climate Center of the UC for facilitating some of the meteorological and stream data used in this study. Special thanks are due to the assistants (Diego Vimos, Jenny Cocha, Veronica Ordoñez, and Ivan Cardenas) that worked in the LEA and contributed to the field sampling campaign and hydrological measurements and to the four anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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  1. Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Departamento de Recursos Hídricos y Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Cuenca, Av. 12 de Abril S/N y Av. Loja, Cuenca, Ecuador

    Ashley M. Studholme, Henrietta Hampel, Debra S. Finn & Raúl F. Vázquez

  2. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador

    Henrietta Hampel

  3. Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador

    Raúl F. Vázquez

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  1. Ashley M. Studholme
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Correspondence to Ashley M. Studholme.

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Studholme, A.M., Hampel, H., Finn, D.S. et al. Secondary production of caddisflies reflects environmental heterogeneity among tropical Andean streams. Hydrobiologia 797, 231–246 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3183-6

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Keywords

  • Helicopsychidae
  • Tropical highland streams
  • Secondary production
  • Life history