Geographic Analysis of Thermal Equilibria: A Bioenergetic Model for Predicting Thermal Response of Aquatic Insect Communities. Technical Progress Report, January 1, 1983-December 31, 1983. Proposed Research Program, January 1, 198

摘要

The objective is to test and refine a proposed conceptual model describing the effects of natural and altered temperature regimes on larval growth and adult size and fecundity of hemimetabolous aquatic insects. The model predicts that geographic range extension away from a location with an optimum thermal regime would be associated with temperature induced changes in the rate and efficiency of energy use, developmental processes, and generation time. To test and refine the model, we proposed to study the growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction of a large number of aquatic species in both the natural riverine environment and under controlled laboratory conditions. Field studies were designed to focus on several populations of each species at various locations along a natural thermal gradient throughout their geographic range. Laboratory studies would emphasize the relative importance of temperature and nutrition on larval growth and adult reproduction of a number of aquatic species commonly represented at our field sites. This progress report summarizes results of field and laboratory experiments during the first four sampling years (October 1979-September 1983) describes work still in progress, and outlines proposed research and analysis for the fifth sampling year (October 1983-September 1984). This report also discusses any modifications of the original work plan that had to be made to improve both the quality and quantity of our field data. (ERA citation 08:057654)