Author : Dachin Norbu Frances
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (133 download)
Book Synopsis The Effects of Warming on Aquatic Insects - Individual to Community Responses by : Dachin Norbu Frances
Download or read book The Effects of Warming on Aquatic Insects - Individual to Community Responses written by Dachin Norbu Frances and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change is increasing temperatures globally as well as the frequency and severity of extreme events such as heat waves. Given that the majority of animals on Earth are ectothermic, and therefore physiologically linked to environmental temperatures, it is imperative to predict the impacts of future warming on species. The physiological effects of warming on ectotherms have been studied extensively, yet, species interactions can also be affected by temperature. My thesis assessed how differences in species' responses to warming affect their interactions and ultimately the structure and dynamics of communities. I first asked if phenological and early developmental responses to warming differed among and within dragonfly species. Warming accelerated growth and developmental rates, however, differences were greater within as opposed to between species in these responses. I also examined whether differences in behavioural responses to warming among species could determine which species became the superior IG predator. Foraging and IGP rates increased with warming but activity level changes were not predictive of the outcome of these interactions. Next, I asked how the interactive effects of warming and predator presence affected prey foraging decisions. Warmer conditions appeared to have a greater impact on prey behaviour that the predator presence, even though the prey's risk of being eaten increased with temperature. Lastly, I manipulated developmental conditions in pond mesocosms to understand how warming and heat waves affect community structure. Heat waves similarly increased species' evenness in communities as warming. However, heat waves further boosted survival compared to ambient and warmed conditions, strengthening consumption on primary consumers within these food webs. Together, my thesis demonstrates the importance of understanding complex interactions between species to make more accurate predictions of the effects of future warming on communities.