An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly
We studied the life history, diet, and trophic ecology of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> in four rocky sites located along the south-central coast of Lake Superior. The <i>H. alternans</i> life history and broad trophic niche space were similar to those of its riverine relative...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/7/659 |
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| author | Sam Miess Alissa Chrisekos Mac Strand |
| author_facet | Sam Miess Alissa Chrisekos Mac Strand |
| author_sort | Sam Miess |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We studied the life history, diet, and trophic ecology of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> in four rocky sites located along the south-central coast of Lake Superior. The <i>H. alternans</i> life history and broad trophic niche space were similar to those of its riverine relatives. Quantitative sampling over the course of one ice-free season revealed that most individuals lived univoltine life histories that featured early to mid-summer mating, and oviposition and rapid growth and development through summer into fall. Most individuals overwintered as ultimate or penultimate larval instars. Pupation followed ice-out in the spring. Gut content sampling and δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N stable isotope analyses indicated that the typical larval diet is a mix of benthic, pelagic, and terrestrial food resources, including diatoms, small arthropods, sloughed periphyton, and in one site, fugal hyphae apparently of foredune origin. As a suspension-feeding omnivore that relies on waves and currents to deliver food to its nets, <i>H. alternans</i> larvae form energetic links between coastal, nearshore, and offshore food webs. These connections have been lost throughout the lower Laurentian Great Lakes as a consequence of the invasion and spread of <i>Dreissena</i> mussels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:17:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-254ccc3d7a3649fa8ad945deeb5717b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:17:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-254ccc3d7a3649fa8ad945deeb5717b32023-12-01T22:17:31ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-07-0113765910.3390/insects13070659An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone CaddisflySam Miess0Alissa Chrisekos1Mac Strand2Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI 49855, USADepartment of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI 49855, USADepartment of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI 49855, USAWe studied the life history, diet, and trophic ecology of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> in four rocky sites located along the south-central coast of Lake Superior. The <i>H. alternans</i> life history and broad trophic niche space were similar to those of its riverine relatives. Quantitative sampling over the course of one ice-free season revealed that most individuals lived univoltine life histories that featured early to mid-summer mating, and oviposition and rapid growth and development through summer into fall. Most individuals overwintered as ultimate or penultimate larval instars. Pupation followed ice-out in the spring. Gut content sampling and δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N stable isotope analyses indicated that the typical larval diet is a mix of benthic, pelagic, and terrestrial food resources, including diatoms, small arthropods, sloughed periphyton, and in one site, fugal hyphae apparently of foredune origin. As a suspension-feeding omnivore that relies on waves and currents to deliver food to its nets, <i>H. alternans</i> larvae form energetic links between coastal, nearshore, and offshore food webs. These connections have been lost throughout the lower Laurentian Great Lakes as a consequence of the invasion and spread of <i>Dreissena</i> mussels.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/7/659HydropsychidaeLake Superiorsurf zonetrophic ecologyautecology |
| spellingShingle | Sam Miess Alissa Chrisekos Mac Strand An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly Insects Hydropsychidae Lake Superior surf zone trophic ecology autecology |
| title | An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly |
| title_full | An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly |
| title_fullStr | An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly |
| title_short | An Ecological Profile of <i>Hydropsyche alternans</i> (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Lake Superior, the Last Stronghold of a Once-Dominant Great Lakes Surf Zone Caddisfly |
| title_sort | ecological profile of i hydropsyche alternans i trichoptera hydropsychidae in lake superior the last stronghold of a once dominant great lakes surf zone caddisfly |
| topic | Hydropsychidae Lake Superior surf zone trophic ecology autecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/7/659 |
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