Effects of Environmental Pond Drying Cues on <i> Asynarchus nigriculus </i> Cannibalism Rates

Abstract

Mexican Cut Preserve in the Elk Mountains is home to a unique system of ponds with a high diversity of aquatic life. Many species of caddisflies inhabit the various temporary, semi- permanent, and permanent ponds, including Asynarchus nigriculus. A. nigriculus is an aggressive caddisfly species that occasionally engages in cannibalism. The factors that cause A. nigriculus to go from a detritivore diet to cannibalism are not fully known. However, there is evidence that pond drying events may prompt a shift to cannibalistic behaviors to provide A. nigriculus individuals with the nutrients necessary to develop quickly. My research tested whether some of the environmental factors associated with pond drying events induce cannibalism. Specifically, I evaluated increased presence of other caddisfly species, increased conductivity, and greater temperature fluctuations as potential cues for cannibalistic behavior. First, species density tests were used to determine how the presence of another species, Agrypnia deflata, affects cannibalism rates in A. nigriculus. Here, one treatment contained both A. nigriculus and A. deflata, while the other two treatments contained a population of only A. nigriculus and a population of A. deflata. Second, I used a 2x2 factorial design experiment to evaluate temperature and conductivity as cues for cannibalism. Thus, I used these two experiments to gather data on several abiotic and biotic environmental factors that could alter cannibalism rates in the species A. nigriculus.

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