Life histories of some Benthic invetebrates form streams of the Northern Jarrah Forest, Western Australia

Abstract

Life history patterns of thirteen species of invertebrates from streams of the northern jarrah forest were examined over a 1-year period. Five species had univoltine cycles with a single cohort and demonstrated a high degree of synchrony of larval development and a restricted period of adult emergence. Two species of Leptophlebiidae also had univoltine cycles but showed the more typical pattern of Australian mayflies, with extended recruitment, multiple overlapping cohorts and a long period of adult emergence. Uroctena sp., a small gammarid, had a generation time of 1 year but showed considerable spatial variation in the degree of synchrony of development. This appeared to be a result of differences in the constancy of stream discharge and was not attributable to differences in the temperature regime of the streams.

At least three species demonstrated cohort splitting which resulted in an apparently bivoltine cycle. A life-history pattern of alternating long and short development times is described which, on average, would produce two generations every 3 years. This is considered to be a highly adaptive strategy for Australian stream insects with slow life cycles and can explain the extended periods of recruitment and adult emergence so often observed.

Streams of the northern jarrah forest are depauperate compared with other Australian streams, despite predictable temperature and discharge regimes. The insular nature of the south-west Bassian region and its long period of isolation may be the principle cause of this reduced diversity. The invertebrate community of these streams is simple in structure and has a high degree of seasonality that is atypical of the temperate streams of Australia and New Zealand.