Document Type
Article
Abstract
During the winter months in the northern hemisphere, above 40 degrees latitude, a freezing event occurs that can last several months. Some lakes may have large portions of the shallow littoral zone frozen completely solid down into the sediments. Invertebrates affected by these events have developed survival strategies to cope with the harsh environment. The two main strategies for invertebrates in these areas are to either migrate to a different area and recolonize the original area when it becomes available again, or to burrow into the sediments and withstand the freezing. A 1- month study took place on Lake Bemidji (Bemidji, MN) in the spring of 2013 to identify the survival strategies of these organisms. Core samples were taken in shallow littoral areas to estimate invertebrate densities and determine where in the sediment column the invertebrates were located. When analyzing the samples, it did appear that different survival strategies were being utilized in the different study areas. The deeper sampling locations had the majority (90%) of invertebrates in the top 3 cm of substrate, which favors a recolonization strategy. In contrast the shallow sampling depths showed invertebrates in larger numbers burrowed deeper into the substrate (50% at or below 3 cm). While both strategies were identified while analyzing the data set, migration was ruled out as most Chironomidae were found inside of a cocoon. This lead to the conclusion that burrowing into the sediments was the preferred form of survival in these shallow littoral areas.
Publication Date
2014
Recommended Citation
Oldenburg, Cal, "Winter Survival Strategies of Benthic Invertebrates in Temporary Habitats in a Northern Minnesota Lake" (2014). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 57.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/57
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Entomology Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program