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Life history strategies and production of caddisflies in a perennial headwater stream in Patagonia

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Abstract

Synchrony, one of the main traits of population life histories, refers to the degree to which individuals complete a certain stage of the life cycle at the same time. It can be governed by temperature, variations in temperature, photoperiodic cues, detritus inputs, or discharge regimes. We investigated life cycles and secondary production of five caddisfly species in a second order stream in the Patagonian Mountains. In addition, we analyzed what environmental variables were implied in the caddisfly assemblage variation. Mastigoptila sp. (Glossosomatidae) and Eosericostoma aequispina (Helicophidae), Myotrichia murina (Sericostomatidae), Brachysetodes quadrifidus (Leptoceridae), and Neoatopsyche brevispina (Hydrobiosidae) showed univoltine life cycles, with an extended recruitment with no overlapping cohorts and a relatively well-synchronized imaginal emergence taking place during spring summer seasons. However, Myotrichia murina (Sericostomatidae) displayed a complex life cycle with mixed populations taking 10–12 months to develop, and pupae being collected almost continuously. The annual secondary production per species varied from 11.06 (E. aequispina) to 310.5 mg m−2 year−1 (M. murina), being overall caddisfly production (0.5 g m−2 year−1) similar to that reported for cold springs in other regions. The highest growth rates (K) were observed during late winter and spring (mostly September) and ranged from 0.70 to 3.70% day−1 in M. longicornuta and N. brevispina, respectively. Redundancy analysis indicated that seasonally dynamic variables, water temperature, discharge, and detritus biomass were the main predictors of caddisfly assemblage variation; consequently at this cold stream (mean annual 5.9°C), with a regular availability of food supply, these parameters ruled Trichoptera life histories and secondary production. As documented for other mountainous temperate areas, synchrony would be a dominant trait on life histories of Trichoptera species inhabiting Patagonian streams.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Sebastian Ferrer, Diego Brand, Santiago Brand, Dr. Cecilia Y. Di Prinzio, and Lic. Luis Epele for fieldtrip and laboratory assistance. Technician Rodolfo Kusch manufactured and programmed the thermograph. Dr. Miguel Archangelsky and Prof. Cristina M. Zuppa revised and commented on the English style. Thanks to the two anonymous reviewers and Dr. Núria Bonada for the critical comments and suggestions that allow us to review several theoretical aspects that greatly improved this manuscript. This work was partially funded by CONICET. This is Scientific Contribution No. 65 from LIESA.

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  1. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Ecología y Sistemática Animal (LIESA), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Sede Esquel. Sarmiento 849, 9200, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina

    Cecilia Brand & María Laura Miserendino

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  1. Cecilia Brand
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  2. María Laura Miserendino
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Correspondence to Cecilia Brand.

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Handling editor: Nuria Bonada

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Brand, C., Miserendino, M.L. Life history strategies and production of caddisflies in a perennial headwater stream in Patagonia. Hydrobiologia 673, 137–151 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0768-3

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