Effects of temperature and food quality on life‐history parameters in Parameletus chelifer and P. minor (Ephemeroptera): a laboratory study

• Published in: Freshwater Biology
• Main Author: SÖDERSTRÖM, OLLE
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1988
• Subjects: Parameletus minor
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.1988.tb00455.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2427.1988.tb00455.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2427.1988.tb00455.x

SUMMARY. 1. Growth rate of Parameletus minor was greatest between 10.8 and 19.8°C, survival rate peaked at 5.9°C, developmental time was shortest at 14.6°C, and adult size and fecundity reached maximum values between 5.9 and 10.8°C. Growth rate of P. chelifer was greatest between 14.6 and 19.8°C, survival rate peaked at 5.9°C, and developmental time was shortest at 14.6°C. A large adult size was found at 10.8°C, and highest fecundity between 10.8 and 14.6°C. 2. Food quality significantly affected growth rate, developmental time, adult size and fecundity of both species. Both P. chelifer and P minor attained highest growth rate, largest adult size and highest fecundity when the C/N ratio of food was 5.95. Developmental time was shortest at a C/N ratio between 5.95 and 12.8. 3. Nymphs of P. chelifer had a higher temperature ‘optimum’ for growth than nymphs of P. minor . Growth rate of nymphs of P. chelifer reared on detritus from a seasonal stream (C/N ratio 12.8) was about 3 times that of nymphs reared on detritus from a river margin (C/N ratio 20.9). The corresponding growth rate difference for nymphs of P. minor was only about 1.5. 4. When all life‐history parameters are taken into consideration, P. chelifer had a higher temperature ‘optimum’ than P. minor .