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Production of Larval Tanypodinae (Insecta: Chironomidae) in the Mud at Loch Leven, Kinross*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

W. Nigel Charles ,
Kenneth East  and
Thomas D. Murray
W. Nigel Charles
Affiliation:
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology†, Edinburgh
Kenneth East
Affiliation:
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology†, Edinburgh
Thomas D. Murray
Affiliation:
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology†, Edinburgh
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Synopsis

Life histories and production of the five common species of Tanypodinae (Pentaneura monilis, Procladius simplicistilus, P. crassinervis, P. choreus and Psilotanypus rufovittatus) in the mud at Loch Leven were measured from March 1971 to March 1972. The methods used to identify each species of larva are described. All were univoltine except Pentaneura monilis which had two generations per year, but the seasonal patterns of the life cycles were different. The average density of third and fourth instar Tanypodinae was 3100/m2 and densities of individual species exceeded 2500/m2 for short periods in Procladius crassinervis and P. choreus. Net annual dry weight production by this subfamily was 2·6 g/m2(57 kJ/m2), with individual species ranging from 1·1 g/m2 (P. crassinervis) to 0·16 g/m2 (Pentaneura monilis). These results are discussed briefly and compared with production estimates for other zoobenthos.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 75 , Issue 3 , 1976 , pp. 157 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1976

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