Ebook: The Chironomidae: Biology and ecology of non-biting midges
- Tags: Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography, Freshwater & Marine Ecology, Ecotoxicology
- Year: 1995
- Publisher: Springer Netherlands
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
The dipteran family Chironomidae is the most widely distributed and frequently the most abundant group of insects in freshwater, with rep resentatives in both terrestrial and marine environments. A very wide range of gradients of temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, salinity, current velocity, depth, productivity, altitude and latitude have been exploited, by at least some chironomid species, and in grossly polluted environments chironomids may be the only insects present. The ability to exist in such a wide range of conditions has been achieved largely by behavioural and physiological adaptations with relatively slight morphological changes. It has been estimated that the number of species world-wide may be as high as 15000. This high species diversity has been attributed to the antiquity of the family, relatively low vagility leading to isolation, and evolutionary plasticity. In many aquatic ecosystems the number of chironomid species present may account for at least 50% of the total macroinvertebrate species recorded. This species richness, wide distribution and tolerance to adverse conditions has meant that the group is frequently recorded in ecological studies but taxonomic difficulties have in the past prevented non-specialist identification beyond family or subfamily level. Recent works, including genetic studies, have meant that the family is receiving much more attention globally.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Introduction....Pages 1-7
Front Matter....Pages 9-9
Morphology....Pages 11-30
Systematics....Pages 31-61
Biogeography....Pages 62-84
Front Matter....Pages 85-85
Biology of the eggs and first-instar larvae....Pages 87-106
The habitats of chironomid larvae....Pages 107-135
Larval food and feeding behaviour....Pages 136-168
The pupa and events leading to eclosion....Pages 169-193
Behaviour and ecology of adults....Pages 194-224
Life cycles and population dynamics....Pages 225-268
Production ecology....Pages 269-296
Species interactions and community structure....Pages 297-335
Front Matter....Pages 337-337
Nuisance, economic impact and possibilities for control....Pages 339-364
Medical significance....Pages 365-384
Classification of water-bodies and pollution....Pages 385-404
Chironomids as indicators of past environmental change....Pages 405-422
Chironomidae as food....Pages 423-435
Conclusions....Pages 436-447
Back Matter....Pages 448-572
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Introduction....Pages 1-7
Front Matter....Pages 9-9
Morphology....Pages 11-30
Systematics....Pages 31-61
Biogeography....Pages 62-84
Front Matter....Pages 85-85
Biology of the eggs and first-instar larvae....Pages 87-106
The habitats of chironomid larvae....Pages 107-135
Larval food and feeding behaviour....Pages 136-168
The pupa and events leading to eclosion....Pages 169-193
Behaviour and ecology of adults....Pages 194-224
Life cycles and population dynamics....Pages 225-268
Production ecology....Pages 269-296
Species interactions and community structure....Pages 297-335
Front Matter....Pages 337-337
Nuisance, economic impact and possibilities for control....Pages 339-364
Medical significance....Pages 365-384
Classification of water-bodies and pollution....Pages 385-404
Chironomids as indicators of past environmental change....Pages 405-422
Chironomidae as food....Pages 423-435
Conclusions....Pages 436-447
Back Matter....Pages 448-572
....