Summary
A miniature crystal-controlled radio transmitter, 7x17x2 mm3 and 185 mg in water, was attached to the back of prothorax of individual dobsonfly larvae, Protohermes grandis. Positions of these larvae in the stream bed were determined using a loop antenna, and they were tracked for 19 days. Actograms were also taken by recording the frequency variation of transmitting signals which were changed according to the larval posture. Larvae changed their positions in the stream bed in some nights, but never in the daytime. However, in most nights (92.7%), they continued to stay at the same position. Actograms revealed that larvae were quite motionless in most time (90.8% of daytime and 89.7% of night). Thus, larvae use the ambush mode of foraging in the central part of riffles where prey are continuously redistributed and sufficient oxygen is supplied with a water current.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amlaner CJ, MacDonald DW (eds) (1980) A handbook on biotelemetry and radio tracking. Pergamon Press, Oxford, p 804
Hayashi F (1985) Factors affecting the handling time of the dobsonfly larva, Protohermes grandis (Megaloptera, Corydalidae). Jpn J Ecol 35:1–11
Hayashi F (1988a) Life history variation in a dobsonfly, Protohermes grandis (Megaloptera: Corydalidae): effects of prey availability and temperature. Freshwater Biol 19:205–216
Hayashi F (1988b) Prey selection by the dobsonfly larva, Protohermes grandis (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Freshwater Biol 20:19–29
Hayashi F, Nakane M (1988) A radio-tracking study on the foraging movements of the dobsonfly larva, Protohermes grandis (Megaloptera, Corydalidae). Kontyû (Tokyo) 56:417–429
Hayashi F, Yoshida T (1987) Seasonal change in the respiration of the dobsonfly larva, Protohermes grandis (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Freshwater Biol 18:117–124
Kenward R (1987) Wildlife radio tagging: equipment, field techniques and data analysis. Academic Press, London, p 222
Kinnamon SC, Kammer AE, Kiorpes AL (1984) Control of ventilatory movements in the aquatic insect Corydalus cornutus: central effect of hypoxia. Physiol Entomol 9:19–28
Mech LD (1983) Handbook of animal radio-tracking, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, p 107
Müller K (1974) Stream drift as a chronobiological phenomenon in running water ecosystems. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 5:309–323
Stasko AB, Pincock DG (1977) Review of underwater biotelemetry, with emphasis on ultrasonic techniques. J Fish Res Board Can 34:1261–1285
Townsend CR, Hildrew AG (1976) Field experiments on the drifting, colonization and continuous redistribution of stream benthos. J Anim Ecol 45:759–772
Waters TF (1972) The drift of stream insects. Annu Rev Entomol 17:253–272
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayashi, F., Nakane, M. Radio tracking and activity monitoring of the dobsonfly larva, Protohermes grandis (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Oecologia 78, 468–472 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378735
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378735