Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia

We examined the abundance, life history, and production of the stoneflies Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) in four forested headwater streams at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia. Peltoperla arcuata was most abundant in the smallest water...

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Main Authors: Kevin A. Yokum, Ted R. Angradi, Donald C. Tarter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1995-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1995/61675
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author Kevin A. Yokum
Ted R. Angradi
Donald C. Tarter
author_facet Kevin A. Yokum
Ted R. Angradi
Donald C. Tarter
author_sort Kevin A. Yokum
collection DOAJ
description We examined the abundance, life history, and production of the stoneflies Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) in four forested headwater streams at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia. Peltoperla arcuata was most abundant in the smallest watersheds (<100 ha), and was present at all sites. Tallaperla maria was most abundant in watersheds >200 hectares (ha), was restricted to sites with a base-flow alkalinity of >2 mg L-1 CaCO3, and was the dominant peltoperlid only at sites with an alkalinity >15 mg L-1. We conclude that water chemistry overrides stream size as a determinant of species-specific distribution of Fernow peltoperlids. Both taxa had semi-voltine life cycles with an 18-month naiadal period following a 6-month egg diapause. Emergence was during May-July for both species. Peltoperla arcuata had about 15 instars; T. maria had about 14 instars. Peltoperlid production was highest (509 mg m-2 y-1) in a 128 ha watershed where only P. arcuata was collected; P. arcuata production was lowest (17 mg m-2 y-1) in a 4th order stream (1536 ha). Taltaperla maria production was highest (271 m-2 y-1) in a 257 ha watershed partially underlain by limestone. Production across streams was higher for P. arcuata (205 mg m-2y-1) than for T. maria (91 mg m-2 y-1).
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spelling doaj-art-ff22bf2d3ff24e428ac353196951615f2025-08-20T03:25:42ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74381995-01-011023-415116810.1155/1995/61675Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West VirginiaKevin A. Yokum0Ted R. Angradi1Donald C. Tarter2Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25755, USAUSDA Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Parsons, West Virginia 26287, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25755, USAWe examined the abundance, life history, and production of the stoneflies Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) in four forested headwater streams at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia. Peltoperla arcuata was most abundant in the smallest watersheds (<100 ha), and was present at all sites. Tallaperla maria was most abundant in watersheds >200 hectares (ha), was restricted to sites with a base-flow alkalinity of >2 mg L-1 CaCO3, and was the dominant peltoperlid only at sites with an alkalinity >15 mg L-1. We conclude that water chemistry overrides stream size as a determinant of species-specific distribution of Fernow peltoperlids. Both taxa had semi-voltine life cycles with an 18-month naiadal period following a 6-month egg diapause. Emergence was during May-July for both species. Peltoperla arcuata had about 15 instars; T. maria had about 14 instars. Peltoperlid production was highest (509 mg m-2 y-1) in a 128 ha watershed where only P. arcuata was collected; P. arcuata production was lowest (17 mg m-2 y-1) in a 4th order stream (1536 ha). Taltaperla maria production was highest (271 m-2 y-1) in a 257 ha watershed partially underlain by limestone. Production across streams was higher for P. arcuata (205 mg m-2y-1) than for T. maria (91 mg m-2 y-1).http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1995/61675
spellingShingle Kevin A. Yokum
Ted R. Angradi
Donald C. Tarter
Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
title Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
title_full Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
title_fullStr Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
title_full_unstemmed Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
title_short Ecology of Peltoperla arcuata and Tallaperla maria (Plecoptera: Peltoperlidae) at the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia
title_sort ecology of peltoperla arcuata and tallaperla maria plecoptera peltoperlidae at the fernow experimental forest tucker county west virginia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1995/61675
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