Relationships between size of stream insects and current velocity

Abstract

Size frequency distributions and dry weight – head width relationships for six insect species from two habitats with differing current velocities in the Pigeon River, Michigan, were compared. Early in their growth cycles, Ephemerella subvaria, Ephemerella lata, Rhithrogena jejuna, and Glossosoma nigrior generally were larger at the slow station, but near the end of the growth cycles they generally were larger at the fast station. For Paraleptophlebia mollis, early in the growth cycle size differences between stations were small but near the end of the growth cycles nymphs were larger at the fast station, whereas nymphs of Ephemerella deficiens were slightly larger at the slow station throughout the growth cycle. Larger size at the slow station probably was due to differential growth whereas larger size at the fast station probably was due to differential habitat selection controlled by oxygen requirements.There were no significant differences in dry weight – head width relationships between habitats or between sexes. Sex ratios generally were similar at the two stations and did not deviate appreciably from 50:50.The life history of each species is briefly described.