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Wetlands, Invertebrates and Waterfowl What’s the Connection? Phylum Annelida Leech Segmented Worms Fireworm Christmas tree worm Bloodworms Annelid Characteristics Segmentation both internal and external Allows for specialization Phylum Annelida Segmented Worms Two classes are important in freshwater: Oligochaeta (worms) Hirudinea (leaches) One class important in marine environment Polychaeta (polychaets) Important for waterfowl feeding in estuaries and marine waters Class Oligochaeta (few hairs) Probably descended from marine polychaet Either terrestrial, freshwater, or wetlands Oligochaet Diversity Ecology and Distribution Many species are cosmopolitan or very widespread However, some species have very limited distribution Biogeography of species has not been well studied Some may have naturally wide ranges Others may be introductions similar to the zebra mussel or asiatic clam or water hyacinth Ecology of worm communities is not well understood Class Hirudinea (Greek for leech) no setae Freshwater, terrestrial, or wetlands Have suckers (anterior and/or posterior) some are predators some are facultative parasites some eat organic material Class Hirudinea 69 species are known from North America Most are not parasitic Majority are predators feeding on invertebrates Most are freshwater a few are marine a few live in very moist terrestrial habitats Most abundant in northern regions, i.e., MN, WS, etc. Class Hirudinea Parasitic species Are sanguivorous (feeding on blood); are temporary parasites (i.e., take a blood meal then leave host) Feed on the blood of: fish turtles amphibians birds humans and other mammals Three or more blood meals are required before reaching maturity Non-parasitic species Function is similar to earthworms, i.e. feed on detritus Phylum Arthropoda Introduction Arthropoda General Characteristics Age of Arthropods Largest phylum of animals Over 900,000 species described Includes: spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks } mostly terrestrial insects, millipedes, centipedes } mostly terrestrial crabs, shrimp, lobsters, crayfishes } mostly marine Very adaptive - found in virtually every habitat WHY ARTHROPODS ARE SO SUCCESSFUL? Versatile exoskeleton Specialization of appendages Air piped to cells directly Insects Highly developed sensory organs Complex behavior patterns Reduced competition through metamorphosis Insects and marine crustaceans Phylum Arthropoda Higher Classification Living Subphyla: Chelicerata- arachnids and their relatives Crustacea- crayfish, shrimp, crabs, etc. Uniramia- millipedes, centipedes, insects Subphylum Crustacea Approximately 35,000 species worldwide 13 orders found in U.S. Only 5 are strictly freshwater Includes 1200 freshwater species Subphylum Crustacea Class Branchiopoda very primitive crustaceans No specialized respiratory structures- use legs Most are filter feeders Most are microscopic Many live in temporary aquatic habitats, i.e., wetlands Class Branchiopoda Divided into 4 orders: Anostraca; fairy shrimp Notostraca; tadpole shrimp Conchostraca; clam shrimp Cladocera; water fleas; Order Anostraca fairy shrimp Elongated, somewhat cylindrical, separated from other branchiopods by not having a carapace Have a pair of compound stalked eyes and single eyespot Fairy shrimp range from 5-100 mm in length Order Anostraca fairy shrimp Each segment with a pair of appendages which function for Locomotion Food gathering Respiration Order Anostraca Life History Are dioecious with internal fertilization Males usually less abundant than females Are distributed locally and sporadically Inhabit temporary ponds or pools (wetlands) Presence of adults is very seasonal Generation time is very short usually about 3 weeks or as long as 24 weeks Order Notostraca tadpole shrimp Have a large rounded carapace that covers the head and thorax separates it from other orders in class Segments or “body rings” have more than one pair of appendages, unique to this group May have from 35 to 70 pairs of appendages depending on species Order Notostraca tadpole shrimp Inhabit temporary pools in western U.S. Not good swimmers so creep and burrow into substrate Eggs maintained by females in ovisacs attached to 11th segment Feed on microorganisms and detritus Order Conchostraca clam shrimp Order Conchostraca Characterized by a clam shrimp bivalve shell- actually the carapace that is folded Has growth lines, each indicating a single ecdysis or molt Body divided into 2 regions: head and trunk Order Conchostraca clam shrimp Are free swimming, living near bottom of lakes, ponds and temporary ponds or pools Have very spotty distribution and are extremely seasonal, but are widespread Are filter feeders feeding on microorganisms and detritus Females deposits eggs into brood chamber When she molts eggs remain in exuvium and fall to bottom where they hatch Order Cladocera water fleas More than half of the 800 living species of branchiopods are cladocerans Most closely related to conchostracans; share a bivalve carapace Size ranges from 0.2 to 3.0 mm Order Cladocera water fleas All have a distinct head and a bivalve carapace Have a single sessile compound eye and a smaller ocellus Order Cladocera water fleas Body divided into head, thorax and abdomen Order Cladocera water fleas Most cladocerans also exhibit daily vertical migration Live in deep waters during the day Migrate to shallow waters at night It is usually related to food gathering Subphylum Crustacea Class Maxillopoda Important component of the zooplankton of freshwaters and marine waters of the world have no abdominal appendages Includes organisms like: copepods and fish lice CLASS OSTRACODA (seed shrimp) CLASS OSTRACODA (seed shrimp) Bivalved carapace; range from 0.35-7.0 mm Easily distinguished from Conchostraca by absence of growth lines on carapace few appendages About 2000 species about 1/3 are freshwater Inhabit wide variety of habitats: lakes, swamps, streams, caves, oceans, on crayfishes CLASS OSTRACODA (seed shrimp) Ecology Very tolerant organisms to thermal and organic pollution Many can live in oxygen depleted waters for a period of time Eggs and last few larval stage may aestivate to survive drying and freezing Larvae may bury themselves in mud Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Largest and most successful crustacean class Most are marine with complicated life cycles that include several larval stages Freshwater forms usually have direct development Isopods Malacostracans Amphipods Decapods Mysid Shrimp Order Amphipoda (Side Swimmers, Scuds) Are about 100 freshwater species in North America Unlike isopods there are not terrestrial species Live in lakes, ponds, streams, springs and subterranean waters Usually found in clean and unpolluted waters Order Amphipoda (Side Swimmers, Scuds) Range from 5-20 mm; are laterally compressed Like isopods the cephalothorax is a combination of head and first thoracic segment Compound eyes usually well developed and sessile in subterranean forms are reduced or absent Order Amphipoda (Side Swimmers, Scuds) Most commonly found in streams and lakes where there is a lot of decaying vegetation Skeletal decaying leaves Can be found in very large numbers ORDER ISOPODA (Pill bugs or sow bugs) Are mainly terrestrial (only crustacean group with significant number of terrestrial species) or marine Are about 80 freshwater species in North America Live primarily in springs, streams subterranean waters ORDER ISOPODA (Pill bugs or sow bugs) Flattened dorsoventrally Lack a carapace ORDER ISOPODA (Pill bugs or sow bugs) Ecology Species usually reside in clean waters, feed on decaying vegetation on the bottom Some have been used as water quality indicators; especially for organic pollution Live in the same habitats as amphipods, also can be found in large numbers Order Decapoda Freshwater species include crayfishes and shrimp Most are in more permanent waters but wetlands adjoining permanent water will have these species More common species in wetland areas are burrowing crayfishes ECOLOGICAL CATEGORIES OF CRAYFISHES Epigean- surface water species Lotic Lentic Hypogean- subsurface water species Burrowers Cave Dwellers Orconectes juvenilis Orconectes inermis Cambarus deweesae Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Uniramia Subphylum Uniramia Includes Millipedes and Centipedes Completely terrestrial Not important to waterfowl Insects Aquatic insects of greatest importance to waterfowl Aquatic Insects What’s an Aquatic Insect? Any insect that spends at least part of its life in water In most aquatic insects that stage is the immature or larval stage Some aquatics live in water as adults, which is generally the dispersal stage Aquatic stages most important to waterfowl Order Ephemeroptera Mayflies Ephemeroptera 2000 Species worldwide 568 North American species Primarily collectorgatherers Extremely abundant in lotic habitats, not so much in lentic habitats Order Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies Unique Feature Larvae of this order can be separated from all other insect orders by the form of the labium It is developed into a protractile organ which is used for grasping living prey; They are strictly predators as adults and larvae Odonate Habitats Most larvae develop in freshwater; a few are semiaquatic and live in bogs; few live in brackish water; Are found in all types of aquatic habitats- ranging from ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, canals, roadside ditches Adults however are excellent fliers; some of the best in the insect world (except for some Diptera and Hymenoptera), and are often found miles from water Larvae in lentic and wetland habitats probably most important to waterfowl Order Hemiptera Bugs Suborder Heteroptera Are known as "true bugs" They can be separated from all other insects on the basis of their mouthparts they form a segmented beak that is used for piercing All aquatic species are predators, except waterboatmen are ooze feeders Both adults and immatures found in water Potentially very important to waterfowl, i.e., common in lentic habitats and wetlands Suborder Heteroptera In Kentucky 6 families are totally aquatic; leaving the water only to migrate: waterboatmen giant water bugs water scorpions creeping water bugs pygmy backswimmers Backswimmers Probably an important food source for some diving ducks Suborder Heteroptera Remaining families considered semiaquatic Five families live on the surface film Two families live at the margins of streams and lakes Order Trichoptera Caddisflies Trichoptera Truly aquatic order Adult terrestrial Larvae aquatic Trichoptera Larvae of caddisflies are common in almost any type of aquatic habitat; Many families within the order are restricted to lotic habitats, But a large number have adapted to the lentic environment; Some species live in temporary streams or ponds Trichoptera The most interesting aspects of caddisflies is construction of the shelters by the larvae; this is done with the use of silk- caddisflies are among 6 orders of insects that are able to produce silk this also is the reason they have received the attention they have gotten; some of the cases are of extraordinary construction!! Larvae are part of all trophic levels in aquatic systems Order Coleoptera Aquatic Beetles Coleoptera Single largest order of insects It includes about 400,000 described species Of these only about 5000 are aquatic in at least part of their life cycle About 1000 species are known from North America Coleoptera Adults are aquatic Larvae are aquatic Pupae are terrestrial Coleoptera Larvae Resemble caddisflies or hellgrammites Differ in anal prolegs, and other features Coleoptera Biology and Ecology Live in a wide spectrum of habitats including: springs, streams, ponds, lakes, brackish water, rocky seashores Most aquatic beetles are substrate dwellers, but some are good swimmers Many species live in cracks and crevices or burrows and seldom get into open water Many species like to live among aquatic plants Most species need to come to the surface for air May be most vulnerable to waterfowl at this time DIPTERA TRUE FLIES Diptera Contains the true flies: Gnats Mosquitoes Midges Horseflies Blackflies Craneflies, etc. Diptera In North America about 3500 species have been described The group includes many economically important pests such as mosquitoes, blackflies, horseflies, sandflies, etc. Are vectors of diseases such as malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, and encephalitis Diptera Besides the pest species Dipterans constitute an important ecological role Many function as Decomposers, Filter feeders Detritus feeders And generally act as agents in the recycling of nutrients Often found in huge numbers (1000s/m2) Therefore may be an important food source for waterfowl Adults The hindwings are extremely reduced to form club shaped balancing structures called halteres The mouthparts are modified for sucking or lapping liquid; food In many families the mouthparts in at least the females form a piercing structure Diptera Diptera Larvae Never possess true, segmented legs; They may have several pairs of prolegs GENERAL LIFE HISTORY Female Male Characteristically egg stage is very brief (few days to 2 weeks) 3-4 (some have more) larval instars; first 3 usually short in relation to last Pupa Life Cycle Pupal stage lasts 5-12 days Adult stage lasts few days to several months; females generally live longer than males Eggs Larva Phylum Mollusca Two important freshwater groups Class Gastropoda – snails Class Bivalvia – clams and mussels Class Gastropoda snails and slugs Common Freshwater Gastropod Families Pleuroceridae Viviparidae Physidae Lymnaeidae Planorbidae Freshwater Bivalve Families Unionidae – Freshwater mussels The most important family Contains about 300 North American species Sphaeriidae - fingernail clams Corbiculidae - asiatic clam Dreissenidae- zebra mussel Why as a wildlife biologist is it important to understand these organisms? Are they just food items? Or do they give insight to waterfowl species? They can help answer questions important questions How do these birds feed? Filter feeders? Special modifications of bills? Hunters? In the water column? On the bottom? What resources are important to them? Where do they feed? When do they feed and on what? Temporary waters? Permanent waters? Can help in management decisions