Abstract
Methods and growth chambers are described which permit in situ estimates of the growth rates of chironomid larvae inhabiting litter accumulations in lotic habitats. Instantaneous growth rates (IGRs) for larvae of different sizes ranged from 0.01 to 0.24 mg mg−1 ash‐free dry mass (AFDM) d−1 at stream temperatures of 2.9°– 15.1°C. IGRs were significantly and linearly related to temperature. Regression equations relating IGRs and temperature, combined with field‐derived data for chironomid standing stock and stream temperature, enabled calculation of the production of chironomids inhabiting litter accumulations (15‐g DM litter bags) in a temperate mountain stream. The annual production per litter bag was about 224 mg AFDM yr−1 and the annual P:B was 42, indicating rapid turnover of chironomid biomass. The annual production of chironomids exceeded the mean standing crop biomass of all macroinvertebrates by 4.6 ×.
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