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Impacts of nutrient enrichment on insect emergence from vernal pools
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Curry, Ryan. Impacts of nutrient enrichment on insect emergence from vernal pools. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-sgh8-eb48

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TitleImpacts of nutrient enrichment on insect emergence from vernal pools
NameCurry, Ryan (author); González, Angélica (chair); Savage, Amy (member); Oberle, Jennifer (member); Rutgers University; Graduate School - Camden
Date Created2022
Other Date2022-10 (degree)
SubjectBiology, Aquatic insects -- Larvae -- New Jersey -- Pine Barrens, Vernal pools -- New Jersey -- Pine Barrens
Extent49 pages : illustrations
DescriptionIntermittent wetlands provide ecosystem functions to surrounding landscapes and serve as breeding loci for various species of vertebrates and invertebrates. Many species of invertebrates develop in intermittent wetlands, emerging from the water to complete their life cycle while acting as prey resources for terrestrial predators. In this study, we investigated the effects of nutrient enrichment on insect larvae and subsequent effects on emerging adult insect populations across eight ponds in the New Jersey Pinelands, which varied in total nitrogen concentration and abundance of resources (chlorophyll-a, periphyton, FPOM, CPOM). We predicted that nutrient enrichment would affect the abundance and biomass of insects through its effects on pond primary production (chlorophyll-a and periphyton). We also expected that insect responses would differ among feeding groups due to their distinct reliance on algae, detritus, or insect prey. As hypothesized, the biomass of aquatic larval insects was indirectly affected by nutrient enrichment through changes in primary production quantified as chlorophyll-a concentration, but not via periphyton biomass. Further, nitrogen concentrations in the pond water influenced adult insect abundance, but not biomass; these responses were mediated by changes in periphyton biomass. Regression models of individual insect feeding groups showed unimodal relationships between omnivore biomass, predator biomass, and shredder/scraper abundance and FPOM, and between predator abundance and periphyton biomass. We also found a decrease in predator biomass with chlorophyll-a concentration. These results suggest that variations in N concentrations and resource availability in ponds can ultimately affect insect larvae and adult insect emergence. Further, insects belonging to different feeding functional groups responded in distinct manner to pond resources related to primary production or detritus availability. We suggest further research into communities in intermittent wetlands undergoing nutrient enrichment to determine if there are additional community-level responses of emerging insects to this stressor, specifically under a wider range of nutrient concentrations that reflect nutrient inputs to temperate aquatic ecosystems.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-sgh8-eb48
LanguageEnglish
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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