Data di Pubblicazione:
2006
Citazione:
Adaptations of pupae of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) to oxygen-poor habitats [Recensione] / L. Marziali, V. Lencioni, B. Rossaro. - In: POLISH JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY. - ISSN 1505-2249. - 54:4(2006), pp. 687-693.
Abstract:
Morphological, behavioural
and physiological adaptations of chironomid
pupae to oxygen-poor habitats, such as the profundal
zone of lakes, are discussed. Lentic and
oxy-regulator species possess developed respiratory
organs (thoracic horns) and an extensive
anal fringe to perform respiratory movements,
whereas in rheophilic and oxy-conformer species
these structures are reduced or absent.
This led to the hypothesis that the number of
thoracic horn branches, the number of anal
macrosetae and the body size could consititute
a measure of a species’ oxygen requirements.
These characters were analyzed in 12 species
groups collected in 39 Italian lakes. Numbers
were correlated to the optimum value of oxygen
level, total phosphorus concentration and
transparency calculated for each taxon. Taxa
with plumose thoracic horns, extensive anal
fringe and large body size (Chironomus) inhabited
habitats poorer in oxygen than those
inhabited by taxa with less extensive respiratory
surface and fringe and small body size
(Paratendipes, Polypedilum, Microtendipes). Stictochironomus
was less tolerant than expected.
Further studies are needed into the physiological
adaptations of chironomid pupae.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Autoecology; Biomonitoring; Lakes; Morphology; Oxygen depletion; Thoracic horn
Elenco autori:
L. Marziali, V. Lencioni, B. Rossaro
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