Open AccessChironomid wing length, dispersal ability and habitat predictability
Author(s) -
Delettre Y. R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1988.tb00796.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , wing , ecology , habitat , larva , biology , wing loading , predictability , population , demography , physics , quantum mechanics , sociology , angle of attack , engineering , aerodynamics , aerospace engineering
Variability of Chironomid wing length was studied for males and females of four terrestrial species inhabiting heathlands in Brittany (France). The larvae of two species live permanently in the soil. The populations of the two other species are strengthened or re‐established by immigrants each year. Significant differences in average wing length were found within and between species depending on sex, year, emergence period and trapping method. The two migrant species did not have the longest wings. In contrast, within species, migrant individuals had longer wings. Relations between wingth length, wing area and wing loading are discussed with regard to life‐history tactics (larval resistance to drought, flight ability, passive dispersal). The use of wing length to predict habitat characteristics was tested but the conclusions lead to promote a restrictive use of the wing length criterion.