Life history traits of marine Diptera in the Nearctic Pacific
In: Canadian Journal of Zoology = Revue canadienne de zoologie. National Research Council: Ottawa. ISSN 0008-4301; e-ISSN 1480-3283, more
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| Keywords |
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| Author keywords |
algal wrack, beta biodiversity, shoreline, surface-substrate cover, community analysis, British Columbi |
| Authors | | Top |
- Gibson, J.F.
- Choong, H.H.C.
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| Abstract |
The generally accepted paradigm maintains that insects are either freshwater or terrestrial, but never marine. Recent research, however, has shown that there are insects adapted to a life within the marine intertidal zone. This study provides evidence of adaptations to specific morphodynamic marine shoreline habitats, including stranded marine algal wrack, surface-substrate cover, and geographical location, among 33 species of British Columbia Diptera reported from marine habitats. A total of 2123 specimens were collected and identified from 96 survey events that also included surveys of algal wrack. Of the 33 marine species examined, 15 demonstrated a statistically significant association with a specific shoreline habitat element. In marine Diptera, variation in algal wrack type may play an important role in maintaining diversity by supporting species differences within and between wrack communities, thereby preventing competitive exclusion, even though overall insect diversity in marine environments remains lower than freshwater or strictly terrestrial habitats. In addition, nine species represent new range records for British Columbia or Canada: Fucellia apicalis Kertesz, 1908, Fucellia thinobia (Thomson, 1869), Tethina horripilans (Melander, 1952), Melanderia mandibulata Aldrich, 1922, Paraphrosylus wirthi (Harmston, 1951), Helcomyza mirabilis Melander, 1920, Heterocheila hannai (Cole, 1921), Chersodromia parallela (Melander, 1927), and Scathophaga litorea (Fallén, 1819). |
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