Life history patterns and trophic ecology of Trichoptera in two Alaskan (U.S.A.) subarctic streams

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Irons III, John G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1988
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Subarctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-184; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-184

Monument Creek and West Fork, two interior Alaskan streams that are tributaries of the Chena River, are characterized by low water temperatures, low allochthonous input and periphyton biomass, and lengthy ice cover. Nine species of Trichoptera were found: Rhyacophila vofixa (Rhyacophilidae), Glossosoma verdona, Glossosoma alascense (Glossosomatidae), Brachycentrus americanus (Brachycentridae), Hydatophylax variabilis, Ecclisomyia conspersa, Onocosmoecus unicolor, Chyranda centralis, and Apatania crymophila (Limnephilidae). There were four shredders, three scrapers, one omnivore, and one predator. Within the shredder and scraper guilds, species had partially overlapping univoltine life histories, perhaps allowing functionally similar species to use the same food resources. The trichopteran fauna of interior Alaska seems to be composed of species typical of boreal forest, with arctic, western montane, and Siberian influences.