Element Concentrations in Chironomids and Their Abundance in the Littoral Zone of Acidified Lakes in Northwestern Ontario. Vincent, L., S., L. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 50:953-963, 1993.
Element Concentrations in Chironomids and Their Abundance in the Littoral Zone of Acidified Lakes in Northwestern Ontario [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
I studied species diversity of the chironomid community, abundance of emerging adults, and accumulation of metals and elements in chirsnomids in the shallow littoral none of experimentally acidified and unmanipulated reference lakes at the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario. Orthocladi i nae were significantly more abundant in acid lakes than in reference lakes, while the Chironorninae were less numerous. The lower abundance of Chironsminae resulted from fewer chironomids in the Tribe Tanytarsini. Chironornini were more com- mon in acid lakes than in the reference lakes. Biomass of emerging chironomids either increased significantly following acidification or was not different from that of reference lakes. Concentrations of AI, Ca, Mn, and Zn were on average higher in chironomids from a number of the acid lakes than in chironomids from reference lakes. Calcium concentrations in chirsnomids from the most acid lake were significantly lower, however, suggesting that at low pH levels, Ca may be difficult to sequester. Increased accumulation of certain metals in chironomids, coupled with increased biomass of emerging chironomids as well as low levels sf Ca, makes chironomids a potentially abundant but poor-quality food source for organisms that rely on them as prey.

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