HR: 09:15h
AN: NB21C-04 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Revealing the Biodiversity in Chironomidae (Diptera): Results From an Emergence Trap Study of a Ravine Spring-run in Northern Florida
AU: * Caldwell, B A
EM: bacaldwell@mindspring.com
AF: Florida State Collection of Arthropods (Research Associate), P.O. Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32611 United States
AU: Rasmussen, A K
EM: rasandy@freenet.tlh.fl.us
AF: Entomology, Center for Water Quality, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32327 United States
AU: Pescador, M L
EM: manuel.pescador@famu.edu
AF: Entomology, Center for Water Quality, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32327 United States
AB: Research for this project was conducted as part of a larger scale investigation of the aquatic insect fauna of a Florida spring-run ravine system that focused especially on stonefly and caddisfly taxa. The present research focused largely on documenting chironomid midge species diversity, emergence phenology, and overall composition by utilizing repeated emergence trap sampling at a single site within a first order, forested ravine stream in the Florida panhandle area. The approximate two year survey revealed a rich and distinctive chironomid fauna, with a variety of feeding types and microhabitat specific taxa. Many of the study species were considered to be common and widespread; however, several species and two genera were new records for the state. Several undescribed species were also noted. Emergence occurred in all months but with greatest densities generally recorded from December through March of the second year. The single location examined to date on this ravine stream ranks near the upper range of chironomid species richness reported on a world-wide basis for first order lotic systems. Other aspects of composition and apparent community patterns, was well as the importance and significance of first order stream biodiversity, are examined and discussed.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly