Empirical Analysis for Identification and Laboratory Validation of Temperature Tolerance for Macroinvertebrates, 2013

Publication Date

2014-03-05

Start Date

1992-12-31

End Date

2009-12-30

Temperature provides first order control of most fundamental processes in aquatic insects (Ward and Stanford, 1982). Metabolism, growth, reproduction, timing of emergence, and distributions of aquatic insect species are all directly controlled by temperature (Vannote and Sweeney 1978, 1980). Temperature governs the composition of insect communities both spatially as well as temporally. Vannote and Sweeney (1978, 1980) found species have thermal optima where growth and fecundity are maximized. One way to try and determine these optimal temperatures as well as temperature tolerances is through empirical approaches using existing data. Empirical methods can be used to try and determine a taxa'™s temperature niche or 'œthermal window' of occurrence. Vannote, R.L. and B.W. Sweeney. 1980. Geographical analysis of thermal equilibeia: A conceptual model for evaluating the effect of natural and modified thermal regimes on aquatic insect communities. Am. Nat. 115:667-695. Ward, J.V., and J.A. Stanford. 1982. Thermal responses in the evolutionary ecology of aquatic insects. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 27:97-117.

• National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers
• Northwest CASC

Data source

Input directly