Id. Hogg et Dd. Williams, RESPONSE OF STREAM INVERTEBRATES TO A GLOBAL-WARMING THERMAL REGIME -AN ECOSYSTEM-LEVEL MANIPULATION, Ecology, 77(2), 1996, pp. 395-407
We manipulated, in accord with global-warming predictions, the thermal
regime of a permanent first-order stream near Toronto, Ontario, Canad
a. We examined the effects of a 2-3.5 degrees C water-temperature incr
ease on densities, biomass, species composition, and life histories of
resident stream invertebrates. The stream was divided longitudinally
at the source into two channels, one control and one experimental, and
a before and after (BACI) design was employed such that one pre-manip
ulation year was followed by 2 yr of the temperature manipulation. Cha
nges in the experimental channel following commencement of the manipul
ation included: (1) decreased total animal densities, particularly Chi
ronomidae (Diptera); (2) earlier onset of adult insect emergence; (3)
increased growth rates and precocious breeding in Hyalella azteca (Amp
hipoda); (4) smaller size at maturity for Nemoura trispinosa (Plecopte
ra) and H. azteca; and (5) altered sex ratios for Lepidostoma vernale
(Trichoptera). These results partially corroborate previous laboratory
and field studies. However, variation in the responses of individual
target species to the manipulation was unexpected and may have been in
fluenced by the genetic structure of local populations. We conclude th
at levels of gene flow among habitats may be critical to the degree of
impact seen as a result of large-scale thermal perturbation (e.g., gl
obal warming).