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Caddisfly diapause aggregations facilitate benthic invertebrate colonization
Article first published online: 10 NOV 2003
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00779.x
1365-2656/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=e1c445961d632cd41e33852af907c4900097559b "Journal of Animal Ecology")
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How to Cite
McCabe, D. J. and Gotelli, N. J. (2003), Caddisfly diapause aggregations facilitate benthic invertebrate colonization. Journal of Animal Ecology, 72: 1015–1026. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00779.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 10 NOV 2003
- Article first published online: 10 NOV 2003
- Received 5 August 2002; revision received 27 June 2003
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Keywords:
- biogenic structures;
- community;
- ecosystem engineering;
- positive interactions;
- rarefaction
Summary
- 1We used natural and manipulative field experiments to examine the effects of caddisfly (Trichoptera) diapause aggregations on benthic macroinvertebrates communities in a Vermont river.
- 2Natural substrates with aggregations of Neophylax and Brachycentrus (Trichoptera: Uenoidae and Brachycentridae) had higher species richness than did substrates lacking aggregations. Aggregations of caddisfly cases added to artificial substrates (bricks) also accumulated greater abundance, species density (number of species per unit area), and species richness (number of species per standard number of individuals) than did control bricks.
- 3Low-density, uniformly spaced, Brachycentrus cases accumulated higher species density and species richness than did an equivalent density of clumped cases. Similarly, empty Neophylax cases accumulated higher diversity than did cases still occupied by Neophylax pupae.
- 4Although natural substrates had higher species richness than artificial substrates, substrate type did not change qualitatively the effect of caddisfly aggregations on species richness.
- 5We subsampled individuals randomly from aggregations and control surfaces to provide an estimate of species richness unbiased by abundance. Expected species richness was higher in aggregations than on control surfaces. These results suggest that caddisfly aggregations increase species density by altering the shape of the species–abundance distribution as well as by accumulating individuals and species passively.
- 6We conclude that caddisfly diapause aggregations increase habitat complexity and facilitate colonization of other benthic species.