Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic
The biology of a population of the subantarctic chironomid midge Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer, introduced to Signy Island in the maritime Antarctic more than 20 years ago, is described. Investment in reproduction by the parthenogenetic adult females is high, with individuals producing single egg ba...
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1992
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518380/ https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:518380 2023-05-15T14:02:21+02:00 Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic Convey, Peter 1992-11 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518380/ https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 unknown Springer Convey, Peter orcid:0000-0001-8497-9903 . 1992 Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic. Polar Biology, 12 (6-7). 653-657. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 <https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988> (Unpublished) Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1992 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 2023-03-03T00:02:17Z The biology of a population of the subantarctic chironomid midge Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer, introduced to Signy Island in the maritime Antarctic more than 20 years ago, is described. Investment in reproduction by the parthenogenetic adult females is high, with individuals producing single egg batches containing ca. 85 eggs and having a dry weight of more than twice that of the spent female. In culture, egg development rates to hatching are increased significantly by increasing temperature from 2° to 12°C (a range covering mean summer temperatures found in the species' maritime Antarctic habitat, and natural habitat in the subantarctic). The gelatinous matrix of the egg batch forms a skin on drying, which may reduce further water loss, and allow the eggs or pre-emergence larvae to survive the short periods of desiccating conditions likely to occur in their natural habitat. The biology of E. murphyi is compared with that of the endemic maritime Antarctic species Belgica antarctica, showing much similarity. E. murphyi possesses several preadaptations which allow it to survive the harsher conditions of the maritime Antarctic. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Belgica antarctica Polar Biology Signy Island Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Signy Island ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) Polar Biology 12 6-7 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
The biology of a population of the subantarctic chironomid midge Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer, introduced to Signy Island in the maritime Antarctic more than 20 years ago, is described. Investment in reproduction by the parthenogenetic adult females is high, with individuals producing single egg batches containing ca. 85 eggs and having a dry weight of more than twice that of the spent female. In culture, egg development rates to hatching are increased significantly by increasing temperature from 2° to 12°C (a range covering mean summer temperatures found in the species' maritime Antarctic habitat, and natural habitat in the subantarctic). The gelatinous matrix of the egg batch forms a skin on drying, which may reduce further water loss, and allow the eggs or pre-emergence larvae to survive the short periods of desiccating conditions likely to occur in their natural habitat. The biology of E. murphyi is compared with that of the endemic maritime Antarctic species Belgica antarctica, showing much similarity. E. murphyi possesses several preadaptations which allow it to survive the harsher conditions of the maritime Antarctic. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Convey, Peter |
spellingShingle |
Convey, Peter Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic |
author_facet |
Convey, Peter |
author_sort |
Convey, Peter |
title |
Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic |
title_short |
Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic |
title_full |
Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic |
title_fullStr |
Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic |
title_sort |
aspects of the biology of the midge, eretmoptera murphyi schaeffer (diptera: chironomidae), introduced to signy island, maritime antarctic |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
1992 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518380/ https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) |
geographic |
Antarctic Signy Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Signy Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Belgica antarctica Polar Biology Signy Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Belgica antarctica Polar Biology Signy Island |
op_relation |
Convey, Peter orcid:0000-0001-8497-9903 . 1992 Aspects of the biology of the midge, Eretmoptera murphyi Schaeffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), introduced to Signy Island, maritime Antarctic. Polar Biology, 12 (6-7). 653-657. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 <https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988> (Unpublished) |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236988 |
container_title |
Polar Biology |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
6-7 |
_version_ |
1766272584667627520 |