The effects of leaf litter characteristics on feeding and fitness of a tropical stream shredder, Anisocentropus maculatus (Trichoptera : Calamoceratidae)
Aggie O. Y. Li A and David Dudgeon A BA Division of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
B Corresponding author. Email: ddudgeon@hkucc.hku.hk
Marine and Freshwater Research 59(10) 897-901 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08120
Submitted: 13 April 2008 Accepted: 27 July 2008 Published: 27 October 2008
Abstract
Plant diversity is high in the tropics, resulting in leaf litter of differing quality in streams that may affect feeding and fitness of shredders. The effects of leaf toughness and nitrogen content on feeding and fitness (pupal weight) of a Hong Kong shredder, Anisocentropus maculatus (Trichoptera : Calamoceratidae), were investigated in laboratory feeding trials that included leaves from five plant species with contrasting characteristics. Leaf toughness adversely affected the feeding rates and fitness of A. maculatus. Feeding rates on tough leaves (Indocalamus sinicus and Pandanus furcatus) were >96% lower compared with soft leaves (Ficus fistulosa and Liquidambar formosana), whereas feeding rates on moderately tough leaves (Melaleuca quinquenervia) were intermediate. Larval mortality was >7 times higher on tough (78–100%) than softer leaves (0–11%), and resulting pupae were >71% lighter. Leaf nitrogen content was not a good determinant of feeding or fitness of A. maculatus, but larvae appeared to eat greater amounts of nitrogen-poor leaves to compensate for lower food quality. Leaf toughness was the primary determinant of feeding and fitness of A. maculatus, and the refractory leaves of many tropical plants could account for the scarcity of shredders in tropical streams.
Additional keywords: Hong Kong, leaf toughness, nitrogen content.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr Niall Connolly and Dr Luz Boyero (James Cook University) for providing the penetrometer used in this study, as well as to Dr Boyero and two anonymous referees for their constructive comments on the manuscript. Ms Lily Ng provided invaluable laboratory support. A permit for collection of plants/animals was issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The work was partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. [HKU] 7509/06M), and by a postgraduate studentship awarded to A. O. Y. Li during her M.Phil. studies at the University of Hong Kong.
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