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Natura Croatica : Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici, Vol. 19 No. 1, 2010.

Original scientific paper

Size-structure of aquatic insect larvae during colonization

Renata Matoničkin Kepčija ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mirela Sertić Perić ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Miliša ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Maria Špoljar ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zlatko Mihaljević ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ines Radanović ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Habdija ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Biserka Primc-Habdija ; Department of Zoology, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

Colonization of aquatic insect larvae was investigated in a second order woodland stream using trays filled with natural substrate. Patterns of colonization differed significantly between seasons in terms of number of taxa, density and biomass of aquatic insect assemblages. Larvae in the first (out of five) size class made up 35.5% of all colonizers during the spring, highest share of 54.1 % during the summer, 40.8% and 17.5% during the autumn and winter, respectively. Many peak values in density during spring and summer matched with single-species mass colonization of first or second size classes, explained by »distributional drift« of newly-hatched insects, or direct oviposition on substrate. Size structure of the community did not change with time of exposition, although it reflected life histories of the aquatic insects, which led to seasonal changes in colonization patterns.

Keywords

woodland stream; seasons; life cycles; dispersal

Hrčak ID:

54353

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/54353

Publication date:

30.6.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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