Translating bumblebee dialect…
Previous research has shown that mayflies (Order: Ephemeroptera) exhibit high life-history plasticity (Peckarsky, 2001). In order to better understand the effects of increasing global temperatures, it is important to seek a better understanding of the variations in plasticity, and the effects of that variance within aquatic ecosystems. However, the potential adverse effects of developmental plasticity, such as smaller average size, shorter lifecycles, and altering of niche partitioning, is understudied. This project aims to provide a better understanding of developmental differences between mayfly species in streams of varying temperatures. Harper and Peckarsky (2006) examined the development and emergence of Baetis bicaudatus in relation to stream flow and temperature. Other studies show that Baetidae growth remains unaffected by stream temperature (Sweeney et al., 2018), but that average size lessens due to less time spent as a nymph. However, the study only examined one species of mayfly (Baetis bicaudatus), and concentrated only on the relationships between temperature, emergence, and development. This study seeks to further the understanding of mayfly growth and development in relation to stream temperature, across a variety of mayfly species. By sampling six streams across a 4°C temperature gradient, in two river systems, this study widens the understanding of mayfly growth and development, and examines the potential effects of climate change on the species.
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