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Species diversity and emergence patterns of nematocerous flies (Insecta: Diptera) from three coastal salt marshes in prince Edward Island, Canada

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Abstract

Emerging insects were monitored every 10 days between early May and late August 1993, from tidal pools in three coastal salt marshes on Prince Edward Island, Canada. The salt marsh pools ranged from about 1 m2 to > 1,000 m2 in surface area, and had salinities ranging from 11–27‰ Water temperatures through the study period ranged from 4–46°C. Most of the emerging insects were flies (Diptera; 85%), and two-thirds of these were in the sub-Order Nematocera, mainly Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, and Culicidae. Forty-three species of Nematocera were identified, although most of these were rare occurrences, and twelve of the species are undescribed. No consistent relationships were found between abundance or diversity and pool size or marsh for Nematocera species overall, although some species showed a statistical preference for a particular marsh or pool size. Emergence patterns were consistent between marshes for species found in different marshes, but overall patterns were highly variable, depending upon species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, C1A 4P3, Charlottetown, PE, Canada

    Donna J. Giberson

  2. BIOTAX, 12 Westroyal Road, M9P 2C3, Etobicoke, ON, Canada

    Bohdan Bilyj

  3. Canadian Wildlife Service-Atlantic Region, Environment Canada, 6 Bruce Street, A1N 4T3, Mt. Pearl, NF, Canada

    Neil Burgess

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  1. Donna J. Giberson
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  2. Bohdan Bilyj
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  3. Neil Burgess
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Correspondence to Donna J. Giberson.

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Giberson, D.J., Bilyj, B. & Burgess, N. Species diversity and emergence patterns of nematocerous flies (Insecta: Diptera) from three coastal salt marshes in prince Edward Island, Canada. Estuaries 24, 862–874 (2001). https://doi.org/10.2307/1353177

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