Abstract
The population dynamics of Ephydra hians Say final instar larvae and pupae were compared over a two year period in rocky littoral habitats of two alkaline saline lakes in the western Great Basin. Relative abundance increased from 1983 to 1984 at Mono Lake (California), during dilution from ca. 90 to 80 g 1-1 TDS (total dissolved solids). In contrast, relative abundance decreased over the same period at Abert Lake (Oregon), accompanied by a dilution of salinity from ca. 30 to 20 g l-1 and a marked increase in the number and abundance of other benthic macroinvertebrate species. These observations are consistent with a hypothesis that proposes biotic interactions limit E. hians abundance at low salinity, and physiological stress limits abundance at high salinity.
Oviposition extends from early spring to early fall. Mixed instars present throughout this period indicates multivoltine population dynamics with overlapping generations. The standing stock biomass of final instars increases exponentially in late spring and peaks in late summer or early fall. Pupae increase in proportional representation and abundance from a spring minimum to a fall maximum. The body size of adults and pupae cycle seasonally from a spring maximum to a fall minimum, and may be related to either or both food limitation, or water temperature.
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Herbst, D.B. Comparative population ecology of Ephydra hians Say (Diptera: Ephydridae) at Mono Lake (California) and Abert Lake (Oregon). Hydrobiologia 158, 145–166 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026273
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026273