Summary
The development of Lancetes claussi (Müller) is very strongly dependant upon temperature. The Q10 is 3.2–8.1, depending on the larval stage and the temperature. At 10°C the development from the egg to the adult takes an average of 180 days, at 15°C it is 80 days. Due to high mortality, development cannot be successfully completed at 15°C. Larval stage IV has a null point for development of 7.3°C and therefore at 5°C development cannot be completed successfully. The thermal constant for the total development is 380. At the end of the larval development and for pupation L. claussi needs higher temperatures than at the beginning of the larval development. For pupation a fresh weight of 45 mg is necessary. The proportion of dry weight in the fresh weight is clearly age dependant and ranges from about 9 to 28%. Fresh weight increase has an exponential course. The development of L. claussi is discussed with laboratory and field data as an adaptation to the climatic conditions of South Georgia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brinck P (1945) Coleoptera. Scientific Results of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition 1927/28. No 24. Det Norske Videnskap-Akademi i Oslo
Burmeister F (1939) Biologie, Ökologie und Verbreitung der europäischen Käfer auf systematischer Grundlage. Adephaga. Goecke, Krefeld (Bd 1, S 1–275)
Enderlein G (1909) Die biologische Bedeutung der Antarktis und ihrer Faunengebiete mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Insektenwelt. Deutsche Südpolar-Expedition 1901–1903. Berlin, S 323-360
Gressitt JL (1970) Subantarctic entomology, particularly of South Georgia and Heard Island. Pac Insects Monogr 23:374 pp
Mjöberg (1906) Anisomera claussi Müll. Ark Zool 3:4
Precht H, Christophersen J, Hensel H, Larcher W (1973) Temperature and life. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 779 pp
Remmert H, Wünderling K (1970) Temperature differences between Arctic and Alpine meadows and their ecological significance. Oecologia (Berlin) 4:208–210
Remmert H (1980) Ecology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 289 pp
Remmert H (1982) Spitzbergen und Südgeorgien: ein ökologischer Vergleich. Drosera 1:63–74
Riha P (1961) Die Gattung Lancetes (Col., Dytiscidae). Acta Entomol Mus Nat Pragae 34:121
Vogel M, Remmert H, Lewis Smith RI (1984) Introduced reindeer and their effects on the vegetation and epigeic invertebrate fauna of South Georgia (Subantarctic). Oecologia (Berlin) (in press)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
After the manuscript was completed, it turned out, that Lancetes claussi (Müller) is a synonym of Lancetes angusticollis (Curtis)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nicolai, V., Droste, M. The ecology of Lancetes claussi (Müller) (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae), the Subantarctic water beetle of South Georgia. Polar Biol 3, 39–44 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265566
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265566