INVESTIGADORES
DIEGUEZ Maria Del Carmen
artículos
Título:
Distribution of the endemic backswimmer Notonecta vereertbrugheni (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) and impact on tadpole-crustacean assemblage in shallow ponds of Patagonia.
Autor/es:
JARA, F., PEROTTI, MG AND DIEGUEZ CC
Revista:
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Editorial:
RSNZ PUBLISHING
Referencias:
Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2012
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 co-occurring 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.