SA025
Aquatic and terrestrial insect activity phenology with trap collections at the Andrews Experimental Forest, 2009-2014

CREATOR(S): Sherri L. Johnson, Judith L. Li

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): Sherri L. Johnson

ORIGINATOR(S): Judith L. Li

OTHER RESEARCHER(S): William J. Gerth

METADATA CREATION DATE:

9 Apr 2009

MOST RECENT METADATA REVIEW DATE:

21 Jun 2017

KEYWORDS:

Populations, habitats, communities, populations, Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), entomology, biodiversity, spatial variability, temporal variability, aquatic ecosystems, streams, invertebrates, aquatic invertebrates, arthropods, insects, birds

PURPOSE:

We will assess the activity level of flying insects and emergence rates of adults of aquatic insects across the range of microclimates provided by the complex terrain at the HJ Andrews experimental forest. Our goal is to look at spatial and temporal variation within the Spring season, and to assess the variability among years. Invertebrate data will be combined with plant and bird phenology data to look for interactions among trophic levels. Data collected will provide a baseline which will be used to assess possible effects of climate and/or land-use change.

METHODS:

Experimental Design - SA025:

Description: To examine spatial and temporal variation in insect phenology in complex terrain we collect continuous samples of flying insects and emerging adults of aquatic insects each spring (April through June) from 2009 until the study ends. Flying insects are collected with single malaise traps at each of the 16 core phenology sites. Emerging insects are collected with 4 emergence traps at each of the 6 study streams. We are looking for patterns for all insects combined, and for selected species that are widespread throughout the HJ Andrews. Year round temperature data are also collected at each sampling location so that insect phenologies can be related to short-term and annual thermal patterns. Concurrent plant and bird phenology data collected at core phenology sites will be compared with insect data to look for interactions among trophic levels.

Field Methods - SA025:

Description: Malaise and emergence traps: Trap samples are collected continuously at intervals from April (or when sites become accessible after snow has melted) through June each year. Malaise traps samples are collected approximately weekly; emergence samples are collected approximately twice a week. Malaise samples are collected from single traps hung from trees at each of the 16 core phenology sites. Emerging insects are collected with 4 emergence traps (sampling area 0.3 square meters of stream bottom for each trap) at each of the 6 study streams; samples from individual traps are combined by site in the field. Samples collected are preserved with 95% ethanol.

Laboratory Methods - SA025:

Description: All insect samples are examined using a binocular dissecting microscope in the lab. To get detailed information on a subset of samples and general information on most all of the samples, samples are fully or partially processed. For malaise trap samples, flying adult insects in fully processed samples are enumerated and identified to varying taxonomic levels from order to genus depending on the availability of keys and the ease of their use (McAlpine et al. 1981, Covell 1984, Arnett 2000, Arnett and Thomas 2001, Arnett et al. 2002, Triplehorn and Johnson 2005, Merritt and Cummins 2008). For partially processed samples, total counts of flying insects and counts of 3 widespread insect genera (Diptera:Dolichopodidae:Scellus, Diptera:Rhagionidae:Bolbomyia, and Coleoptera:Scraptiidae:Anaspis) are made. For emergence samples, adults of aquatic insects in fully processed samples are enumerated and identified to varying taxonomic levels from family to species depending on the availability of keys and the ease of their use (Usinger 1956, Jewett 1959, Lehmkuhl and Anderson 1971, McAlpine et al. 1981, Harper and Harper 1986, Armitage 1996, Stewart and Oswood 2006, Merritt and Cummins 2008). Individuals of the family Chironomidae are identified to sub-family or tribe. For partially processed emergence samples individuals in 4 widespread species (Plecoptera:Chloroplerlidae:Alloperla fraterna, Plecoptera:Leuctridae:Moselia infuscata, Ephemeroptera:Leptophlebiidae:Paraleptophlebia temporalis, and Trichoptera:Philopotamidae:Dolophilodes dorcus) were enumerated.

Statistics - SA025:

Description: For specific time periods, sites with fully processed samples are compared in terms of total and genus-specific flying insect activity (malaise trap samples) and total and species-specific adult aquatic insect emergence rates (emergence trap samples). Correlations with site elevations and short- and longer-term thermal patterns are examined. Using fully and partially processed samples, sites are compared in terms of cumulative springtime captures of 3 widespread flying insect genera (malaise traps) and cumulative captures per square meter of 4 widespread emerging adults of aquatic insects. Again correlations with site elevations and short- and longer-term thermal patterns are examined.

Models/Algorithms - SA025:

Description: Flying insect activity level (number/day) is calculated by the number of winged individuals in a malaise trap sample / number of days trap was set. Emergence rate (number per square meter per day) is calculated by the number of individuals emerging from the collected traps during sampling interval / area of streambottom sampled / number of days traps were set.

Taxonomic Procedures - SA025:

Description: The following publications were consulted for identifications. Taxonomic name changes were followed in the literature and on ITIS (http://www.itis.gov/). Additional assistance with caddisfly identification was provided by R.W. Wisseman.

Citation: Armitage, B.J. 1996. Diagnostic Atlas of the North American Caddisfly Adults: 1. Philopotamidae (3rd edition). The Caddis Press. Columbus, OH. Arnett, R.H. 2000. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico (2nd Edition). CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida. 1003 pp. Arnett, R.H., and M.C. Thomas 2001. American Beetles, Vol. 1. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida. 443 pp. Arnett, R.H., M.C. Thomas, P.E. Skelley, and J.H. Frank. 2002. American Beetles, Vol. 2. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida. 861 pp. Covell, C.V. 1984. A Field Guide to the Moths. Houghton Mifflin. Boston, Massachusetts. 496 pp. Harper, F., and P.P. Harper. 1986. An annotated key to the adult males of northwestern Nearctic species of Paraleptophlebia Lestage (Ephemeroptera:Leptophlebiidae) with the description of a new species. Canadian Journal of Zoology 64:1460-1468. Jewett, S.G. 1959. The Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State College Press. 95 pp. Lehmkuhl, D.M., and N.H. Anderson. 1971. Contributions to the biology and taxonomy of the Paraleptophlebia of Oregon. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 47:85-93. McAlpine, J.F., B.V. Peterson, G.E. Shewell, H.J. Teskey, J.R. Vockeroth, and D.M. Wood. 1981. Manual of Nearctic Diptera, Vol. 1-2. Ottawa, Ontario: Biosystematics Research Institute. Merritt, R.W., K.W. Cummins, and M.B. Berg. 2008. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (4th Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa. 862 pp. Stewart, K.W., and M.W. Oswood. 2006. The Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Alaska and Western Canada. The Caddis Press, Columbus, Ohio. 325 pp. Triplehorn, C.A., and N.F. Johnson. 2005. Borror and DeLong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects (7th Edition). Thomson Brooks/Cole. Belmont, California. 864 pp. Usinger, R.L. 1956. Aquatic Insects of California with Keys to North American Genera and California Species. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. 508 pp.

TAXONOMIC SYSTEM:

ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System

GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT:

H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon, USA

ELEVATION_MINIMUM (meters):

456

ELEVATION_MAXIMUM (meters):

1314

MEASUREMENT FREQUENCY:

continuous April through June each year

PROGRESS DESCRIPTION:

Complete

UPDATE FREQUENCY DESCRIPTION:

annually

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE:

Observed