Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:29:24.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The distribution of littoral chironomids along an altitudinal gradient in High Tatra Mountain lakes: Could they be used as indicators of climate change?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2009

Ladislav Hamerlík  and
Peter Bitušík
Ladislav Hamerlík*
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia
Peter Bitušík
Affiliation:
Research Institute & Faculty of Science, Matthias Belius University, 97401 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
*
ladislav.hamerlik@savba.sk
Get access

Abstract

We studied assemblages of littoral chironomids from three alpine lakes in the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia) along an altitude range of 1725–2157 m. The study sites were selected in order to emphasize differences in their thermal regimes. Littoral samples were taken quantitatively in the ice-free seasons of 2000 and 2001. In total, 3468 chironomid larvae and pupae were collected and 32 taxa were identified. Some parameters of the littoral chironomid assemblages showed clear patterns along the altitude gradient. The number of taxa and Shannon diversity increased markedly with decreasing altitude. Density, however, did not show any correlation with altitude. Even though gatherers highly dominated in all sites, their relative abundance decreased with decreasing altitude. The ratio of scrapers and predators correlated negatively with altitude. According to the results of a Detrended Correspondence Analysis, Pseudodiamesa arctica and Micropsectra radialis were chosen as indicator species for alpine lakes >2000 m a.s.l. Typical subalpine lake inhabitants are Zavrelimyia sp., Prodiamesa olivacea, Corynoneura scutellata group, Cricotopus polaris, Micropsectra bavarica and Paratanytarsus austriacus. A single species, Micropsectra junci, seemed to be characteristic of alpine lakes <2000 m a.s.l. This “gradient lake concept” could be used to predict changes in mountain lake fauna under expected climate change scenarios. Generally, an upward shift of subalpine species would be expected. The thermal regime of lakes, however, also depends on several local factors. Consequently, the schemes outlined here would not be valid for the entire Tatra lake district.

Keywords

Chironomidaealpine lakesclimate changebioindicatorsSlovakia
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 45 , Issue 3 , 2009 , pp. 145 - 156
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allan J.D., 1995. Stream ecology – Structure and function of running waters, Chapman & Hall London, 388 p.
Beniston, M., 2003. Climatic change in mountain regions: a review of possible impacts. Clim. Change , 59, 5–31. CrossRef
Beniston, M., Diaz, H.F. and Bradley, R.S., 1997. Climatic change at high elevation sites: An overview. Clim. Change , 36, 233–251. CrossRef
Berg M.B., 1995. Larval food and feeding behavior. In: Armitge P.D., Cranston P.S. and Pinder L.C.V. (eds.), The Chironomidae – The biology and ecology of non-biting midges, Chapman & Hall, London, 136–167.
Bitušík P., 2004. Chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the mountain lakes in the Tatra Mts. (Slovakia). A review. Dipterol. Bohemoslov., 12, Acta Fac. Ecol., Zvolen, 12, Suppl. 1, 25–33.
Bitušík P. and Hamerlík L., 2003. Chironomidae. In: Šporka F. (ed.), Vodné bezstavovce (makroevertebráta) Slovenska, súpis druhov a autekologické charakteristiky (in Slovak), Slovenský hydrometeorologický ústav, Bratislava, 590 p.
Bitušík P., Kopáček J., Stuchlík E. and Šporka F. (eds.), 2006a. Limnology of lakes in the Tatra Mountains. Biologia, Bratislava, 61, Suppl. 18, 222 p.
Bitušík P., Svitok M., Kološta P. and Hubková M., 2006b. Classification of the Tatra Mountain lakes (Slovakia) using chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae). Biologia, Bratislava, 61, Suppl. 18, S191–S201.
Bitušík, P., Kubovčík, V., Štefková, E., Appleby, P.G. and Svitok, M., 2009. Subfossil diatoms and chironomids along an altitudinal gradient in the High Tatra Mountain lakes: a multi-proxy record of past environmental trends. Hydrobiologia , 631, 65–85. CrossRef
Blenckner, T., 2005. A conceptual model of climate-related effects on lake ecosystems. Hydrobiologia , 533, 1–14. CrossRef
Boggero A. and Nobili M., 1998. Macrobenthic community and chemical characteristics of four Alpine lakes in Canton Ticino. Boll. Soc. Tic. Sci. Natur., 86, 17–23.
Boggero, A., Füreder, L., Lencioni, V., Simcic, T., Thaler, B., Ferrarese, U., Lotter, A.F. and Ettinger, R., 2006. Littoral chironomid communities of alpine lakes in relation to environmental factors In: Lami I. and Boggero A. (eds.), Ecology of High Altitude Aquatic Systems in the Alps. Hydrobiologia , 562, 145–165. CrossRef
Brittain J.E. and Milner A.M., 2001. Ecology of glacier-fed rivers: current status and concepts. Freshwat. Biol., 46, 1571–1578.
Brodersen K.P. and Anderson J.N., 2000. Subfossil insect remains (Chironomidae) and lake-water temperature inference in the Sisimiut-Kangerlussuaq region, southern West Greenland. Geol. Greenland Surv. Bull., 186, 78–82.
Brodersen, K.P. and Quinlan, R., 2006. Midges as palaeoindicators of lake productivity, eutrophication and hypolimnetic oxygen. Quat. Sci. Rev. , 25, 1995–2012. CrossRef
Camarero, L., Catalan, J., Pla, S., Rieradevall, M., Jiménez, M., Prat, N., Rodríguez, A., Encina, L., Cruz-Pizarro, L., Sánchez Castillo, P., Carrillo, P., Toro, M., Grimalt, J., Berdié, L., Fernández, P. and Vilanova, R., 1995. Remote mountain lakes as indicators of diffuse acidic and organic pollution in the Iberian Peninsula (AL:PE 2 studies). Water Air Soil Poll. , 85, 487–492. CrossRef
Čiamporová-Zaťovičová Z., Hamerlík L., Šporka F. and Bitušík P. (in press). Littoral benthic macroinvertebrates of alpine lakes (Tatra Mts) along an altitudinal gradient: a basis for climatic change assessment. Hydrobiologia.
Cranston P.S., 1995. Introduction. In: Armitge P.D., Cranston P.S. and Pinder L.C.V. (eds.), The Chironomide – The biology and ecology of non-biting midges, Chapman & Hall, London, 2–7.
Ekrem T., 2004. Immature stages of European Tanytarsus species I. The eminulus-, gregarius-, lgens- and mendax groups (Diptera, Chironomidae). Mitt. Mus. Nat. kd. Berl., Dtsch. Entomol. Z., 51, 97–146.
Ertlová E., 1987. Chironomids (Chironomidae, Diptera) of the littoral of the selected lakes in the High Tatras. Acta F. R. N. Univ. Comen., Zoologia, 29, 53–66.
Fjellheim A., Rieradevall M., Raddum G. and Schnell Ø.A., 1997,AL:PE2 report for the period January 1993-June 1995. 3. Contemporary biology – invertebrates. Unpublished report, 56 p.
Fjellheim A., Raddum G.G., Vandvik V., Cogălniceanu D., Boggero A., Brancelj A., Galas J., Šporka F., Vidinova Y., Bitušík P., Dumnicka E., Gâldean N., Kownacki A., Krno I., Preda E., Rîşnoveanu G. and Stuchlík E., 2009. Diversity and distribution patterns of benthic invertebrates along alpine gradients. A study of remote European freshwater lakes. Adv. Limnol. (in press).
Füreder L., Ettinger R., Boggero A., Thaler B. and Thies H., 2006. Macroinvertebrate diversity in Alpine lakes: effect of altitude and catchment properties. In: Lami I. and Boggero A. (eds.), Ecology of High Altitude Aquatic Systems in the Alps, Hydrobiologia, 562, 123–144.
Galas J., 1993. Particulate organic matter in the high mountain stream Sucha Woda (the High Tatra Mts, Poland). Acta Hydrobiol., 35, 203–212.
Galas J. and Dumnicka E., 1998. Seasonal changes of benthos and organic matter in a high mountain stream passing through a cave. In: Bretschko G. and Helešic J. (eds.), Advances in River Bottom Ecology, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 163–170.
Gregor V. and Pacl J., 2005. Hydrológia tatranských jazier. Acta Hydrol. Slov., 6, 161–187.
Hamerlík L., 2004. Chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the littoral zone of some lakes in the Tatra Mts (Slovakia). Dipterol. Bohemoslov., 12, Acta Fac. Ecol., Zvolen, 12, Suppl. 1, 49–56.
Helan J., Kubíček F., Losos B., Sedlák E. and Zelinka M., 1973. Production conditions in the trout brooks of the Beskydy Mountains. Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Purkynianae Brunensis, Biologia, 38, 1–105.
Hill M.O., 1979. DECORANA – A Fortran program for detrended correspondence analysis and reciprocal averaging Ecology and Systematics Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Hirvenoja M., 1973. Revision der Gattung Cricotopus van der Wulp und ihrer Verwandten (Diptera, Chironomidae). Ann. Zool. Fennici., 10, 1–363.
Houghton J.J., Meiro Filho L.G., Callender B.A, Harris N., Kattenberg A. and Maskell K. (eds.), 1996. Climate Change 1995 – the science of climate change. Contribution of Working Group I to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 572 p.
Janetschek H., DeZoro E., Meyer E., Troger H. and Schatz H., 1977. Altitude- and time-related changes in arthropod faunation (Central High Alps: Obergurgl-area, Tyrol) Proceedings of XV International Congress of Entomology, Washington DC, 19–27 August 1976,185–207.
Johnson, R.K. and Goedkoop, W., 2002. Littoral macroinvertebrate communities: spatial scale and ecological relationships. Freshwat. Biol. , 47, 1840–1857. CrossRef
Kopáček, J. and Stuchlík, E., 1994. Chemical characteristics of lakes in the High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. Hydrobiologia , 274, 49–56. CrossRef
Kopáček J., Hardekopf D., Majer V., Pšenáková P., Stuchlík E. and Veselý J., 2004. Response of alpine lakes and soils to changes in acid deposition: the MAGIC model applied to the Tatra Mountain region, Slovakia-Poland. J. Limnol., 63, 143–156.
Kopáček J., Stuchlík E. and Hardekopf D., 2006. Chemical composition of the Tatra Mountain lakes: Recovery from acidification. Biologia Bratislava, 61, Suppl. 18, S21–S33.
Kownacki A., Galas J., Dumnicka E. and Mielewczyk S., 2000. Invertebrate communities in permanent and temporary high mountain lakes (Tatra Mts). Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim., 36, 181–188.
Krno, I., 1988. Makrozoobentos litorálu Tatranských jazzier. Zborník prác o TANAP , 28, 235–250.
Krno I., Ertlová E., Tomajka J. and Šporka F., 1986. Nové poznatky o typológii tatranských jazzier. Správy Slov. Zool. Spol., 12, 130–135.
Krno I., Šporka F., Galas J., Hamerlík L., Zaťovičová Z. and Bitušík P., 2006. Littoral benthic macroinvertebrates of mountain lakes in the Tatra Mountains (Slovakia, Poland). Biologia, Bratislava, 61, Suppl. 18, S147–S166.
Łajczak, A., 1982. Wahania temperatury przypowierzchniowej warstwy wody w jeziorach tatrzańskich o różnej ekspozycji. Czas. Geogr. , 53, 29–44.
Langton P.H., 1991. A key to pupal exuviae of West Palaearctic Chironomidae, Private publication, 386 p.
Larocque, I., Hall, R.I. and Grahn, E., 2001. Chironomids as indicators of climate change: a 100-lake training set from a subarctic region of a northern Sweden (Lapland). J. Paleolim. , 26, 307–322. CrossRef
Laville H., 1971. Recherches sur les Chironomides lacustres du Massif de Néouvielle (Haute-Pyrénées), Première partie Systématique, écologie, phénologie. Ann. Limnol., 7, 173–332.
Lindegaard C., 1980. Bathymetric distribution of Chironomidae (Diptera) in the oligotrophic lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland. In: Murray D.A. (ed.), Chironomidae: Ecology, Systematics, Cytology and Physiology, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 225–232.
Lindegaard C. and Brodersen K.P., 1995. Distribution of Chironomidae (Diptera) in the river continuum. In: Cranston P. (ed.), Chironomids: From genes to ecosystems, CSIRO Publications, Melbourne, 257–271.
Lods-Crozet B., Castella E, Cambin D., Ilg C., Knispel S. and Mayor-Siméant H., 2001a. Macroinvertebrate community structure in relation to environmental variables in Swiss glacial stream. Freshwat. Biol., 46, 1641–1661.
Lods-Crozet B., Lencioni V., Ólafsson J.S., Snook D.L., Velle G., Brittain J.E., Castella E. and Rossaro B., 2001b. Chironomid (Diptera: Chironomidae) communities in six European glacier-fed streams. Freshwat. Biol., 46, 1791–1809.
Lotter A.F., Birks H.J.B., Hofmann W. and Marchetto A., 1997. Modern diatom, cladocera, chironomid, and chrysophyte cyst assemblages as quantitative indicators for the reconstruction of past environmental condition in the Alps I Climate. J. Paleolim., 18, 395–420.
Mani M.S., 1968. Ecology and biogeography of high altitude insects, W. Junk, The Hague, 528 p.
Mani M.S., 1990. Fundamentals of high altitude biology, Oxford and IBH Publications Co, New Delhi, 138 p.
Moog O. (ed.), 1995. Fauna Aquatica Austriaca, Wasserwirtschaftskataster Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Wien.
Patrick S. (ed.), 2003. Emerge Contract EVK1-CT-1999-00032, Final report February 2000–January 2003,University College, London, 123 p.
Pechlaner R., 1984. Historical evidence for the introduction of Arctic Charr into high-mountain lakes of the Alps by man. In: Johnson L., Clarke R.McV. and Marshall K.E. (eds.), Biology of Arctic Charr, Proceedings International Symposium Arctic Charr, Winnipeg, May 1981,University Manitoba Press, Winnipeg, 549–557.
Psenner R. and Catalan J., 1994. Chemical composition of lakes in crystalline basins: a combination of atmospheric deposition geologic background biological activity and human action. In: Margalef R. (ed.), Limnology now: a paradigm of planetary problems, Elsevier, 255–314.
Psenner, R. and Schmidt, R., 1992. Climate-driven pH control of remote alpine lakes and effects of acid deposition. Nature , 356, 781–783. CrossRef
Rossaro, B., Lencioni, V., Boggero, A. and Marziali, L., 2006. Chironomids from Southern Alpine running waters: ecology, biogeography. Hydrobiologia , 562, 231–246. CrossRef
Sæther, O.A., 1975. Nearctic chironomids as indicators of lake typology. Verb. Internat. Verein. Limnol. , 19, 3127–3133.
Sæther O.A. and Spies M., 2004. Fauna Europaea: Chironomidae. In: de Jong H. (ed.), Fauna Europaea: Diptera Nematocera Fauna Europaea version 11, http://wwwfaunaeur.org.
Schlee D., 1968. Vergleichende Mermalanalyse zur Morphologie und Phylogenie der Corynoneura-Gruppe (Diptera Chironomidae) Zugleich eine Allgemeine Morphologie der Chironomiden – Imago. Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk., 180, 1–150.
Schmid P.E., 1993. A key to the larval Chironomidae and their instars from Austrian Danube Region streams and rivers with particular reference to a numerical taxonomic approach. Part I Diamesinae Prodiamesinae and Orthocladiinae. Wasser und Abwasser., Suppl. 3, 1–514.
Schnell Ø.A., 1998. Guidelines for the identification of chironomid larvae in the MOLAR Project. NIVA Report SNO 3710-97 Project Manual Annex, 23 p.
Seaby R.M.H. and Henderson P.A., 2004. Community Analysis Package 30, Pisces Conservation Ltd., Lymington.
Serra-Tosio B., 1972. Écologie etbiogéographie des Diamesini d'Europe (Diptera Chironomidae). Trav. Lab. Hydrobiol., 63, 5–175.
Serra-Tosio, B., 1976. Chironomidaes des Alpes : Le genre Pseudodiamesa (Diptera Chironomidae). Trav. Sci. Parc Nat. Vanoise , 7, 117–138.
Shannon C.E. and Weaver V., 1949. The mathematical theory of communication, Univ. llinois, Press Urbana, 117 p.
Simpson K.W., Bode R.W. and Albu P., 1983. Keys for the genus Cricotopus adapted from “Revision der Gattung Cricotopus van der Wulp und ihrer Verwandten (Diptera Chironomidae” by M Hirvenoja. Bull. N. Y. State Mus., 450, 1–133.
Smoleň F. and Ostrožlík M., 1991. Biometeorological cooling at high mountain positions under various meteorological conditions, Mountainous Meteorology, Climatology and Aerology of the Lower Layers of Troposphere, Bratislava, SHMI, 159–165.
Šporka F., Livingstone D.M., Stuchlík E., Turek H. and Galas J., 2006. Water temperatures and ice cover in lakes of the Tatra Mountains. Biologia, Bratislava, 61, Suppl. 18, S77–S90.
Stur E. and Ekrem T., 2006. A revision of west Palaeartic species of the Micropsectra atrofasciata species group (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zool. J. Linn. Soc., 146, 165–225.
ter Braak C.J.F. and Šmilauer P., 2002. CANOCO reference manual and users guide to Canoco for Windows software for canonical community ordination (version 4), Centre of Biometry, Wageningen, 353 p.
Thienemann A., 1932. Zur Orhocladiinaenfauna Niederländisch-Indiens. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl. 11, 553–562.
Thompson R., Kamenik C. and Schmidt R., 2005. Ultra-sensitive Alpine lakes and climate change. J. Limnol., 64, 139–152.
Walker I.R. and Mathewes R.W., 1987. Chironomidae (Diptera) and postglacial climate at Marion Lake, British Columbia, Canada. Quat. Res., 28, 431–437.
Walker I.R. and Mathewes R.W., 1989. Chironomidae (Diptera) remains in surficial lake sediments from the Canadian Cordillera: analysis of the fauna across an altitudinal gradient. J. Paleolim., 2, 61–80.
Warwick, W.F., 1989. Chironomids lake development and climate: a commentary. J. Paleolim. , 2, 15–17. CrossRef
Wiederholm T. (ed.), 1983. Chironomidae of the Holarctic region Keys and diagnoses. Part I Larvae. Ent. Scand., Suppl. 19, 1–457.
Wiederholm T. (ed.), 1986. Chironomidae of the Holarctic region Keys and Diagnoses. Part II Pupae. Ent. Scand., Suppl. 28, 1–482.
Zah R., Burgherr P., Bernasconi S.M. and Uehlinger U., 2001. Stable isotope analysis of macroinvertebrates and their food sources in a glacier stream. Freshwat. Biol., 46, 871–882.