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The impact of phenology on the interaction between a predaceous aquatic insect and larval amphibians in seasonal ponds

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Abstract

Phenology has an important effect on the life strategies of species that live in temporary waters. Predaceous aquatic insects are key components of communities associated with seasonal ponds. Since the life cycles of these predators and their prey are unusual in that they occur at different moments of the pond hydroperiod, differences in temporal overlap could change the strength of their interactions. This study analyzed the phenology of the giant water bug Belostoma bifoveolatum and its prey. Breeding phenology, nymph population, and prey phenology were studied extensively in three wetlands during the spring season. Experimental trials were carried out to evaluate prey consumption and prey preference. The results showed a strong overlap in phenology between the water bug and the Pleurodema thaul frog. The timing of tadpole and water bug nymph hatching could ensure high survival levels of the early immature stages of this insect. As giant water bugs develop, their prey selectivity experiences a shift—older nymphs and adults having a higher impact on tadpoles. The fluctuating climate of the Patagonian region probably influences the phenology of predator–prey assemblages in seasonal communities, and may have the potential to drive feeding performance and the strength of interspecific interactions.

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Acknowledgements

This investigation was performed under the institutional animal care guidelines established by the Administración de Parques Nacionales of Argentina (APN). Animals were collected under Permit no. 52-AP-16 (Subsecretaria de Medio Ambiente y Manejo de Áreas Protegidas de San Carlos de Bariloche) and Permit no. 1532 (Secretaria de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Provincia de Rio Negro). A. Shaw reviewed the English text and M.E. Cuello helped with sampling frog eggs. I thank the two reviewers who made valuable comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. This work was funded partially by research grant PICT 2011 (Agencia, FONCyT) to F. Jara and by the UNComa B166 project.

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  1. Grupo de Ecología de Macroinvertebrados Acuáticos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (INIBIOMA, UNComahue-CONICET), Quintral 1250, 8400, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

    Fabián Gastón Jara

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10750_2019_3928_MOESM1_ESM.docx

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 1127 kb). Online Resource 1. Belostoma bifoveolatum, male carrying eggs (A) and studied wetlands, Las Cartas (B), Llao Llao (C) and Camping Musical (E)

10750_2019_3928_MOESM2_ESM.docx

Supplementary material 2 (DOCX 241 kb). Online Resource 2. Belostoma bifoveolatum life stages (A) and average total length (± SE) of each stage used in the experiments (B). Different numbers at the top of the bar indicate significant differences (Dunn’s test pairwise comparison, P < 0.01)

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Jara, F.G. The impact of phenology on the interaction between a predaceous aquatic insect and larval amphibians in seasonal ponds. Hydrobiologia 835, 49–61 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-3928-5

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