Strategies for coexistence in three species of net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera) in second order southern Appalachian streams. Malas, undefined & J. B. Wallace, D. M. 1977.
Strategies for coexistence in three species of net-spinning caddisflies (Trichoptera) in second order southern Appalachian streams. [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
Three species of net-spinning caddisflies, Parapsyche cardis, Diplectrona modesta, and Dolophilodes distinctus were studied. Larvae of Dolophilodes are found at the lowest current velocities followed by Diplectrona, then Parapsyche, which prefer the higher velocities. Parapsyche larvae are most abundant on upper surfaces of stones while Diplectrona and Dolophilodes are found primarily on undersides of stones. These distribution patterns are probably related to capture net mesh dimensions which differ greatly for the three species, Parapsyche having the largest and Dolophilodes the smallest meshes. There are large differences between mesh opening sizes of last-instar Dolophilodes and first- and second-instar Diplectrona larvae. However, based on mean particle size measurements of foregut contents, there is no corresponding gap in the spectrum of particle sizes used for food. Dietary composition also varied between species. Parapsyche consumed primarily animal material. Fine particulate detritus composed over 95 percent of Dolophilodes gut contents and Diplectrona consumed mostly vascular plant and detritus fragments in late instars and fine particulate detritus in early instars.

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