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Life history plasticity of Nemoura trispinosa (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) along a permanent‐temporary water habitat gradient
Author(s) -
WILLIAMS D. DUDLEY,
WILLIAMS NANCY E.,
HOGG IAN D.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1995.tb00432.x
Subject(s) - voltinism , habitat , ecology , biology , phenotypic plasticity , spring (device) , life history theory , range (aeronautics) , population , life history , larva , demography , mechanical engineering , materials science , engineering , composite material , sociology
SUMMARY 1. The life history of the small herbivorous stonefly Nemoura trispinosa Claassen was studied in a variety of small springs in southern Ontario, Canada. Nymphs generally were able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions and were found in 78% of habitats sampled, although population densities differed markedly. 2. Life‐cycle patterns varied from a univoltine, slow seasonal type to a univoltine, fast seasonal type with extended egg development. In one, highly stable, spring the life cycle was semivoltine. Inter‐year variation was studied for 5 years in one spring and was found to be low relative to among‐spring variation. 3. Differences in the life history traits of N. trispinosa populations from our spring series were most probably an expression of phenotypic plasticity rather than of genetic differentiation. 4. Maximum annual water temperature was the factor most influential on nymphal growth rate (non‐linear relationship), whereas range in generation time was related to the degree of habitat permanence.