Abstract
Weekly sampling of chironomids from a hyporhithral site (4th order) in the Aude River (Eastern Pyrenees, France) was carried out over a one year period (January 1990 to February 1991). 20,700 pupal exuviae were sorted and identified to the specific level. The aim of this study was to find a minimal sampling strategy that provides a representative picture of a lotic chironomid community. Phenology (emergence periods) and voltinism (number of generations per annum) of the 24 dominant species form the basis of this research. Over 90 % of emergences occurred during seven months (15 March-8 October) with four peaks : late-April, mid-July, mid-September and early October. A total of 71 species were collected with a maximum specific richness in April (41) and October (39) and a minimum in September (13) and January (4). About 7-8 samples, taken every 4-5 weeks from April to October, provide a good picture of the chironomid community structure (biodiversity and population frequency) which best accords with that obtained by weekly sampling.
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