Mis-match between chironomid movement to the surface and waterfowl reproduction

Photo by Mattias Ekvall

 

 

In a recent issue of ESA´s (Ecological Society of America) open access journal ECOSPHERE http://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1890/ES14-00133.1

we report that the emergence and movement of chironomids from the sediment of lakes to the surface occurs earlier and in one strong boost in a future climate scenario. Historically the emergence rate of chironomids (Fjädermyggor; see photo) has occurred over a period of more than a month each spring and has thereby served as a food source for waterfowl chicks, which are completely dependent on this resource. We also show that the fundamental change in timing and maximum rate of emergence of chironomids will likely lead to that waterfowl will not be able to adjust their breeding season to match the future scenario of insect emergence, resulting in a mis-match in consumer-resource relations. Likely this will lead to a considerable reduction in waterfowl abundance and biodiversity in a future climate change scenario. /Lars-Anders Hansson et al.