Thermal-nutritional regulation of functional groups in running water ecosystems. Informal technical progress report, June 1, 1983-April 30, 1984

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6731210

Cummins, K W

Three general areas were studied: validation of the macroinvertebrate functional feeding group method of stream ecosystem analysis; review of the functional feeding group method of analysis; and interaction between food quality and temperature in controlling growth within the shredder functional group. Demonstration that stream macroinvertebrate species belonging to different taxonomic groups share morphological - behavioral features relative to their modes of food acquisition is the basis of the functional feeding group separation. The macroinvertebrates in each functional group belong to functional units coupling nutritional resources with modes of feeding: resource + microorganisms + functional group. These units are: (1) Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) + aquatic hyphomycete fungi (and bacteria) + shredders; (2) fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) + bacteria + collectors (either filtering or gathering); (3) periphyton (attached algae and associated FPOM system) + scrapers and; (4) prey + predators. (Gougers, special wood-eating shredders, and piercers, forms that pierce individual filamentious algal cells have also been recognized.) The categorization of macroinvertebrate in functional groups finds its basis in both morpho-behavioral and physiological-biochemical similarities. Lipid (especially dietarily acquired polyunsaturated fatty acids) differences have been added to previously demonstrated differences in morphology (e.g. mandibular structure) and behavior (e.g. selection for leaf litter over FPOM by shredders). The quality of food in a given resource category and the ability (or lack of it) of the macroinvertebrates of a given functional group to select for it strongly influences growth, survival and fecundity. Shredders in particular show a high degree of selection for quality within the CPOM food resource category. 22 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA). Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife
• DOE Contract Number: AT06-79EV10004
• OSTI ID: 6731210
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/10004-4; ON: DE84013844
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BEHAVIOR
BENTHOS
BIOLOGY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CLASSIFICATION
DIPTERA
ECOSYSTEMS
FEEDING
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LIPIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TAXONOMY