INVESTIGADORES
PEROTTI Maria gabriela
artículos
Título:
Distribution of backswimmers in shallow ponds of Patagonia and their predatory role on a common tadpole-copepod assemblage
Autor/es:
JARA, F. G.; PEROTTI MG; DIÉGUEZ, M.C.
Revista:
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Editorial:
RSNZ PUBLISHING
Referencias:
Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2012 vol. 46 p. 459 - 473
ISSN:
0028-8330
Resumen:
In this study, the distribution and occurrence of backswimmers in 21 fishless ponds was analyzed in the Nahuel Huapi National Park (Patagonia, Argentina). We performed laboratory experiments to study the impact of different developmental stages of the endemic backswimmer Notonecta vereertbruggheni on typical co-occurring prey. We recorded three species of backswimmers Notonecta vereertbruggheni, N. virescens and N. fazi. A seasonal study in Fantasma pond, showed that adults of N. vereertbrugheni colonize and reproduce in the pond in spring and summer, co-occurring with other macroinvertebrates and endemic tadpoles. Predation experiments explored the impact of N. vereertbrugheni on two large cooccurring prey, the calanoid copepod Parabroteas sarsi and the tadpoles of Pleurodema thaul. The backswimmer consumed more copepods than tadpoles when prey was offered separately. Selectivity experiments demonstrated that the copepods were preferred over the tadpoles. Backswimmers may impact the typical assemblages of organisms found in fishless ponds of Patagonia during spring and summer