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Life history of the northern mayfly Baetis bundyae in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada, with updates to the list of mayflies of Nunavut

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Donna J. Giberson*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4P3
Steven K. Burian
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06515, United States of America
Michael Shouldice
Affiliation:
Nunavut Arctic College, Kivalliq Campus, P.O. Box 002, Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada X0C 0G0
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: giberson@upei.ca).

Abstract

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) were collected from 35 sites (streams and tundra ponds) across southern Nunavut in 2002–2005. Nine mayfly species were previously reported for Nunavut: Acentrella feropagus Alba-Tercedor and McCafferty, Acerpenna pygmaea (Hagen), Baetis bundyae Lehmkuhl, B. flavistriga McDunnough, B. foemina McDunnough, Diphetor hageni (Eaton) (Baetidae), Ephemerella aurivillii (Bengtsson) (Ephemerellidae), Leptophlebia nebulosa (Walker) (Leptophlebiidae), and Metretopus borealis (Eaton) (Metrotopidae). We add 7 species to this list, bringing the total to 16: Ameletus inopinatus Eaton (Ameletidae), Acentrella lapponica Bengtsson, Baetis hudsonicus Ide, B. tricaudatus Dodds, Heptagenia solitaria McDunnough (Heptageniidae), Rhithrogena jejuna Eaton (Heptageniidae), and Parameletus chelifer Bengtsson (Siphlonuridae). Based on numbers collected, the dominant mayfly family was Baetidae. Baetis bundyae was the most common mayfly collected, particularly in coastal areas, where larvae were found in permanent and temporary streams and in small or shallow tundra ponds. Larvae hatched 2–3 weeks after ice-out and developed rapidly in 2.5–4 weeks, emerging as adults by early August. All populations containing larvae that were large enough to sex showed female-biased sex ratios, suggesting parthenogenesis. A combination of freeze-tolerant eggs, good dispersal ability, and probable parthenogenesis is probably responsible for the success of Baetidae across the Arctic.

Résumé

Nous avons récolté des éphémères (Ephemeroptera) à 35 sites (étangs et cours d'eau de la toundra) dans tout le sud du Nunavut en 2002–2005. Neuf espèces d'éphémères étaient déjà connues du Nunavut : Acentrella feropagus Alba-Tercedor et McCafferty, Acerpenna pygmaea (Hagen), Baetis bundyae Lehmkuhl, B. flavistriga McDunnough, B. foemina McDunnough, Diphetor hageni (Eaton) (Baetidae), Ephemerella aurivillii (Bengtsson) (Ephemerellidae), Leptophlebia nebulosa (Walker) (Leptophlebiidae) et Metretopus borealis (Eaton) (Metrotopidae). Nous en ajoutons 7 autres pour un total de 16 : Ameletus inopinatus Eaton (Ameletidae), Acentrella lapponica Bengtsson, Baetis hudsonicus Ide, B. tricaudatus Dodds, Heptagenia solitaria McDunnough (Heptageniidae), Rhithrogena jejuna Eaton (Heptageniidae) et Parameletus chelifer Bengtsson (Siphlonuridae). D'après le nombre de spécimens récoltés, la famille dominante est celle des Baetidae. Baetis bundyae est l'éphémère le plus couramment récolté, particulièrement dans les régions côtières où les larves vivent dans les cours d'eau permanents et temporaires et dans les étangs petits ou peu profonds de la toundra. Les larves éclosent 2–3 semaines après la fonte des glaces et se développent rapidement en 2,5–4 semaines, alors que les adultes émergent au début d'août. Dans toutes les populations où les larves étaient assez grandes pour permettre la détermination du sexe, il y a un surplus de femelles, ce qui laisse croire à la parthénogenèse. Le succès des Baetidae dans toute la région arctique s'explique sans doute par la combinaison de la possession d'oeufs résistants au gel, d'un bon pouvoir de dispersion et de la présence probable de la parthénogenèse.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2007

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