Poster Details
CHIRONOMID EMERGENCE AS AN INDICATION OF TROPHIC STATE IN MINNESOTA SENTINEL LAKES
We assessed emergence of Chironomidae in a subset of Sentinel lakes with differing trophic states (e.g., total phosphorus = 5.6-132 micro g/l) in Minnesota. Emergence composition at genus level was determined in 2014 using two or more collections of Chironomidae surface-floating pupal exuviae per lake. In total, we documented 59 genera. Genus composition by lake varied from 16 to 35, but did not strongly coincide with lake trophic state, except for slight decreases in eutrophic-to-hypereutrophic lakes. Jaccard’s Similarity Coefficient, which quantifies community associations, ranged from 28.1% to 66.7% (Avg= 45.8%; sd = +/- 8.7%) between lakes, and average similarities declined with increasing differences in trophic state. Orthocladiinae and Tanytarsini were proportionally more abundant in lower nutrient lakes and Chironomini proportionally more abundant in eutrophic and hypereutrophic lakes, a pattern that has been observed in lakes based on dredge samples for larvae or emergence samples for adults. Our results demonstrate that collections of Chironomidae surface-floating pupal exuviae can be used to monitor community patterns across a wide range of lakes with differing trophic states.
Corrie Nyquist (Primary Presenter/Author), Lund University, Sweden, nyqui095@alumni.umn.edu;
Dr. Corrie Nyquist (They/Them) received their PhD from the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota in 2022. Corrie was a graduate student under the late Dr. Leonard Ferrington, Jr. and investigated effects of environmental temperature on the biology, longevity, and emergence patterns of winter adapted Chironomidae in Minnesota and Iceland. Corrie completed postdoctoral research with the Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing at the University of Minnesota, co-leading the development of a community science program for winter stream monitoring and helped develop public education and science communication materials as well as investigated barriers to public participation in freshwater science. Corrie is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Lund University, Sweden, investigating environmental drivers of toxin production in cyanobacteria and effects of temperature on pollinator behavior and toxic cyanobacteria exposure from freshwater sources. Corrie’s research interests continue to lie in the areas of aquatic-terrestrial interactions, water quality, chironomid taxonomy, and invertebrate adaptation to climate change.
Leonard C. Ferrington, Jr. ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Minnesota, ferri016@umn.edu;
Alexander Egan ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), National Park Service - Great Lakes I&M Network, Alex_Egan@nps.gov;
Petra Kranzfelder ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of California, Santa Barbara, pkranzfelder@ucsb.edu;