Use of Macroinvertebrate Life History Information in Toxicity Tests

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur L. Buikema Jr. ◽  
Ernest F. Benfield

Life history information of macroinvertebrates is an important variable to consider when interpreting the results of toxicity tests. The importance of life history information has been recognized in the culturing of macroinvertebrates, but only in the last 5 yr has emphasis been placed on using this information in the design of acute and chronic toxicity tests. Sensitivity of organisms to toxicants is affected by nutrition, physiological requirements, behavior, predator–prey interactions, substrate, current, and light. There is need to integrate these, and other variables, to produce more defensible tests. Some features of life history may be used as end points in tests. Key words: macroinvertebrates, life history, toxicity, tests, design, sensitivity

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Oliver

Life history studies may contribute to taxonomy by providing corroborative or clarifying data about existing taxonomic systems or may suggest reevaluation. Specifically, life history studies may provide information on the presence or absence of reproductive isolation, associated life stages, monospecific specimens, specimens for character evaluation, and a forum where ecologists and taxonomists may interact. Key words: taxonomy, life histories, benthos, reproductive isolation, life stages, character evaluation


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson A. Thomas

A biomonitoring program has been developed in support of the National Policy for the Development of Water Quality-Based Permit Limitations for Toxic Pollutants. The program focuses on the use of laboratory toxicity tests on aquatic plants and animals to predict ecosystem impact caused by toxic pollutants. Both acute and chronic toxicity tests were developed to test effluents and ambient waters. Laboratory and biological field studies were conducted at nine sites. Single species laboratory toxicity tests were found to be good predictors of impacts on the ecosystem when two or more species were used. Biomonitoring can be undertaken either on effluents and/or on the receiving waters. In that toxicity related to seeps, leachates and storm sewers has often been found upstream from dischargers, it is beneficial to conduct both effluent and ambient biomonitoring.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 2904-2911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander L. McIlraith ◽  
Gordon G. C. Robinson ◽  
Jennifer M. Shay

Field experiments and survey methods were used to assess competition and interaction between Lemna minor L. and Lemna trisulca L. at Delta Marsh, Manitoba. Sites were dominated by one or the other species or codominated by both. Replacement series experiments predicted codominance of L. minor and L. trisulca in an unshaded eutrophic site but predicted L. minor dominance when run for a longer time. Similar experiments conducted in a shaded eutrophic site predicted L. minor dominance. Addition series experiments showed that intraspecific and interspecific competition occurred in the unshaded site. In a eutrophic unshaded ditch, high densities of L. minor suppressed L. trisulca. In a eutrophic shaded site, high densities of L. minor and green algae inhibited L. trisulca, and in a sunny, less eutrophic site high density of each species inhibited the other. In a transplant experiment, L. minor biomass in shaded enclosures approached that found naturally in two shaded sites. Lemna trisulca persisted when shaded. Vegetative biomass trends in an unshaded eutrophic marsh ditch indicated spring and fall L. trisulca dominance and summer L. minor dominance. Shaded eutrophic sites were dominated by L. minor, whereas a less eutrophic site was dominated by L. trisulca. A model is developed to explain dominance patterns, and seasonal life-history responses are considered. Key words: Lemna, duckweed, competition, interaction, resources, light, nutrients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1928) ◽  
pp. 20200652
Author(s):  
Johannes Cairns ◽  
Felix Moerman ◽  
Emanuel A. Fronhofer ◽  
Florian Altermatt ◽  
Teppo Hiltunen

Predator–prey interactions heavily influence the dynamics of many ecosystems. An increasing body of evidence suggests that rapid evolution and coevolution can alter these interactions, with important ecological implications, by acting on traits determining fitness, including reproduction, anti-predatory defence and foraging efficiency. However, most studies to date have focused only on evolution in the prey species, and the predator traits in (co)evolving systems remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated changes in predator traits after approximately 600 generations in a predator–prey (ciliate–bacteria) evolutionary experiment. Predators independently evolved on seven different prey species, allowing generalization of the predator's evolutionary response. We used highly resolved automated image analysis to quantify changes in predator life history, morphology and behaviour. Consistent with previous studies, we found that prey evolution impaired growth of the predator, although the effect depended on the prey species. By contrast, predator evolution did not cause a clear increase in predator growth when feeding on ancestral prey. However, predator evolution affected morphology and behaviour, increasing size, speed and directionality of movement, which have all been linked to higher prey search efficiency. These results show that in (co)evolving systems, predator adaptation can occur in traits relevant to foraging efficiency without translating into an increased ability of the predator to grow on the ancestral prey type.


2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 931 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Liebherr

Life history information and first instar egg bursters are compared for larvae of 25 species across the monophyletic radiation of Hawaiian Platynini (Coleoptera : Carabidae). The plesiotypic larval duration is approximately five weeks, with derived extension of the larval period having evolved during phylogenetic diversification of the radiation. This extension in larval duration is associated with vestigialisation of the metathoracic flight wings. Egg size is larger in those brachypterous species with slower developing larvae, reflecting pervasive ecological specialisation of these taxa in the isolated, favourable, and temporally stable habitats of Hawaiian montane forests. First instar egg bursters are also compared across these taxa, with evolution of a keel-like egg burster congruently defining a clade also characterised by longer larval duration and larger egg size. A functional linkage between egg burster configuration and egg size is rejected by lack of any association between egg size and egg burster type in the related genus Calathus. Such rejection does not reduce the value of the egg burster for phylogenetic inference. The ability to assess taxa for both life history traits and egg burster configuration argues for similar treatment of all such characters, both ecological and morphological, when estimating phylogeny.


1931 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 216-222
Author(s):  
E. D. Ball

The writer has been working on the food plants of the leaf-hoppers for many years and has found in the main the different species of the genus Platymetopius, as commonly recognized, are very closely confined to a single species of plant or to a closely related group. Before it was possible to prepare a list of the food plants in the group it was found necessary to describe a number of new species of which food plant and life history information was available. In working out the relationship of these species, two startling discoveries were made.


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