Respiration rate of stream insects measured in situ along a large altitude range
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Respiration rate of stream insects measured in situ along a large altitude range. / Rostgaard, S.; Jacobsen, D.
In: Hydrobiologia, Vol. 549, No. 1, 2005, p. 79-98.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Respiration rate of stream insects measured in situ along a large altitude range
AU - Rostgaard, S.
AU - Jacobsen, D.
N1 - Keywords respiration rate - aquatic insect larvae - Q10-value - oxygen supply - temperature gradient - Ecuador
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Field studies of respiration in stream insects are few in comparison with laboratory studies. To evaluate the influence of temperature and oxygen along altitudinal gradients we measured the respiration rate of fully acclimatized larval Trichoptera, Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera under similar field conditions in streams from 400 to 3800 m above sea level in tropical Ecuador. Mean active respiration rates of the animals at 3800 m were approximately half of those at 400 m. Trichoptera showed a slightly larger difference in respiration with altitude than Ephemeroptera. Comparative respiration measurements at 100 and 50% oxygen saturation indicated that highland animals reduced their oxygen uptake more than their counterparts in the lowland when oxygen availability decreased. The temperature response of respiration calculated between the insect assemblages at different altitudes showed a mean assemblage Q10-value of 1.50. Trichopteran larvae had a slightly stronger temperature response (Q10 of 1.68) than ephemeropterans (Q10 of 1.30). These community Q10-values are considerably lower than the mean value of 2.36 found in single species in the laboratory. The weak community-wide response of respiration to temperature in tropical streams is probably due to full acclimatization of the component species to stable and narrow temperature ranges. Adaptations to the low oxygen availability at high altitude probably consist of a suite of genetic physiological and behavioural features.
AB - Field studies of respiration in stream insects are few in comparison with laboratory studies. To evaluate the influence of temperature and oxygen along altitudinal gradients we measured the respiration rate of fully acclimatized larval Trichoptera, Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera under similar field conditions in streams from 400 to 3800 m above sea level in tropical Ecuador. Mean active respiration rates of the animals at 3800 m were approximately half of those at 400 m. Trichoptera showed a slightly larger difference in respiration with altitude than Ephemeroptera. Comparative respiration measurements at 100 and 50% oxygen saturation indicated that highland animals reduced their oxygen uptake more than their counterparts in the lowland when oxygen availability decreased. The temperature response of respiration calculated between the insect assemblages at different altitudes showed a mean assemblage Q10-value of 1.50. Trichopteran larvae had a slightly stronger temperature response (Q10 of 1.68) than ephemeropterans (Q10 of 1.30). These community Q10-values are considerably lower than the mean value of 2.36 found in single species in the laboratory. The weak community-wide response of respiration to temperature in tropical streams is probably due to full acclimatization of the component species to stable and narrow temperature ranges. Adaptations to the low oxygen availability at high altitude probably consist of a suite of genetic physiological and behavioural features.
U2 - 10.1007/s10750-005-4165-7
DO - 10.1007/s10750-005-4165-7
M3 - Journal article
VL - 549
SP - 79
EP - 98
JO - Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health
JF - Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health
SN - 0018-8158
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 89342