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Ecology of Two Populations of an Aquatic Isopod, Lirceus Fontinalis Raf

1968; Wiley; Volume: 49; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1935528

1939-9170

C.E. Styron,

Species Distribution and Climate Change

Two populations of Lirceus fontinalis Rafinesque in DeKalb County, Georgia are isolated in separate river drainages and evolving in response to different environmental stresses. Drought and high temperatures seem the main ecological factors limiting the population on Mount Arabia. These factors are of little moment to the population in Lullwater Creek where biotic factors are of primary ecological significance. Behavioral patterns associated with moisture, flowing water, and temperature fluctuations contribute to the ability of Mount Arabia Lirceus to survive climatic stresses and repopulate solution pits. Behavioral patterns associated with flowing water and light add to the ability of Lullwater Creek Lirceus to maintain their position in the continuously flowing stream and to avoid predators. Although they belong to the same specie morphologically, members of these two populations are not the same species physiologically and ecologically. They differ significantly in their respiratory rates, tolerance to anaerobic conditions, and to a combination of gamma radiation, high temperature, and drought stresses. Members of the two populations are considered to be ecotypes or races of L. fontinalis.