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RESOURCE PARTITIONING IN A GUILD OF MARSH-DWELLING AGONUM (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) IN CENTRAL ALBERTA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Jean-François Landry
Jean-François Landry
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
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Abstract

The spatial and temporal distribution of microsympatric species of marsh-inhabiting Agonum were investigated in central Alberta. Agonum nigriceps LeC., A. ferruginosum Dej., A. thoreyi Dej., and A. lutulentum (LeC.) were the most abundant carabid species in the emergent vegetation of the flooded zone. Agonum nigriceps was segregated from the other species through habitat use, being most abundant in emergent sedge tussocks. Agonum ferruginosum was most abundant in floating cattail mats, whereas A. thoreyi was rather evenly distributed across macrohabitats. Within flooded macrohabitats both A. ferruginosum and A. thoreyi predominantly occupied microsites with emergent substrate or clumps of dead vegetation. In one marsh where A. ferruginosum co-occurred with A. lutulentum, their macrohabitat distributions were mutually exclusive. Reproduction began earlier and teneral adults emerged earlier for both A. nigriceps and A. ferruginosum than for A. thoreyi. Agonum nigriceps, A. ferruginosum, and A. thoreyi were all nocturnal and showed no differences in daily activity pattern. In laboratory experiments, adults of A. nigriceps displayed the highest propensity to climb on narrow vertical structures, a behavior correlated with their main habitat association with structurally simple emergent sedge habitat. Adults of A. nigriceps are cryptically colored to blend into their habitat background.

Résumé

L’auteur a étudié la répartition spatiale et temporelle d’espèces microsympatriques d’Agonum peuplant des marais du centre de l’Alberta. Agonum nigriceps LeC, A. ferruginosum Dej., A. thoreyi Dej. et A. lutulentum (LeC.) étaient les espèces de Carabidae les plus abondantes dans la végétation émergente de la zone inondée. Agonum nigriceps se trouvait isolé des autres espèces par des caractéristiques différentes d’habitats, étant plus abondant parmi les touffes émergentes de carex. Agonum ferruginosum était plus abondant dans les quenouilles dans un des marais, et plus abondant dans les carex inondés dans un autre marais. Là où A. ferruginosum se trouvait dans le même marais qu’A. lutulentum, leurs occupations des macrohabitats s’excluaient mutuellement. Agonum thoreyi était distribué assez également dans tous les macrohabitats. Dans les macrohabitats inondés, les deux espèces A. ferruginosum et A. thoreyi étaient dominantes dans les microsites à substrat émergent ou à monceaux de végétation morte. La période de reproduction et l’éclosion des ténéraux sont plus hâtives chez A. nigriceps et A. ferruginosum que chez A. thoreyi. Agonum nigriceps, A. ferruginosum et A. thoreyi étaient tous nocturnes et aucune différence n’était perceptible dans les cycles d’activité quotidienne. Au cours d’expériences de laboratoire, les adultes d’A. nigriceps manifestaient la plus forte propension à grimper sur des objets verticaux étroits, un trait de comportement relié à leur occupation d’un habitat à structure simple et constitué de carex émergents. Les adultes d’A. nigriceps ont une coloration cryptique qui se marie avec le milieu ambiant.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 126 , Issue 3 , June 1994 , pp. 709 - 728
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1994

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