Larval midge (Chironomidae: Diptera) populations were studied for two years in three lakes of the Central Valley lake region of Florida in relation to selected water and sediments physico-chemical parameters. Species of Cladotanytarsus were numerically the dominant larval midge in Lakes Dora and Yale, while Glyptotendipes paripes was the dominant midge in Lake Wauburg. In Lake Yale, G. paripes was also a numerically important species that exhibited unusual spatial and seasonal distribution patterns previously not reported for Florida lakes. Very high levels of productivity (156 g dry weight/mē/year) of G. paripes were estimated in Lake Wauburg. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that sediment physico-chemical characteristics were the primary influence on chironomid community distribution in these lakes. Two basic habitat clusters were identified in Lakes Dora and Wauburg (shallow water with sand substrates and deep water with organic substrates), and three in Lake Yale (shallow water with sand substrates, shallow water with sand and rooted vegetation, and deep water with organic substrates).
Species 1: Diptera Chironomidae Glyptotendipes paripes
Keywords: Distribution
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA