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University of Michigan Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) was founded in 1909.

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Modeling A. lycorias body shape and hydrologic conditions

Project Abstract: 
Morphological variation across environmental gradients can elucidate a phenotypic response organisms have with their surrounding environment. Phenotypic variation from local adaptation, phenotypic and/or developmental plasticity in labile biologic traits, such as body shape, can provide information about ecological conditions. In the benthic region of streams, body shape variation of benthic fish, macrophytes, and crayfish has been linked to stream discharge. Very little attempt has been made to document variation in stream insects. Insect nymphs must respond to fluctuations in stream discharge to find food, shelter, and remain in a preferred habitat without being lost in the drift. Correcting for size, we have previously identified a distinct gradient of body shape in one stonefly species (Acroneuria lycorias) along of stream hydrologic conditions. Collection sites were selected for the presence of United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauges. We are looking to expound on previous field sampling in three ways. We will resample USGS sites to track phenotypic change over a three – year period in relation to hydrologic shifts. Secondly, we will compare the utility of using hydrologic modeling software to A. lycorias body shape measurements for describing magnitude and frequency hydrologic conditions. Lastly, a reciprocal flow study will be conducted at the UMBS stream research facility. With increasing human influence to freshwater systems and climate change influencing precipitation patterns, this research adds to growing evidence for identifying useful biological entities to describe in – stream hydrologic conditions.
Investigator(s): 
David D Edwards
Paul Moore
Years Active: 
2017
Methods: 
A 2x2 factorial design will be used with flow magnitude (high, low) and nymph body shape (streamlined, stout) as factors. Mature A. lycorias nymphs representative of each morphotype will be collected from the Brule River, Silver River, and allowed to emerge in artificial stream channels at the UMBS stream research facility. Males will be introduced to females in 2x2ft fabric baskets and routinely checked for copulation and oviposition. A dish of Maple River water and cobble will be provided for oviposition. Oviposited eggs from three females of each native stream will be kept separate and equally divided amongst three-replicates of two magnitude (TBD) treatment in artificial stream channels. This study will run from late May-August 2017 as Perlidae egg development and hatching time has been reported as 28.95 ± 1.35 days, allowing for seven weeks of growth and development. Individuals will be stored in 70% ethanol for a geometric morphometric shape analysis. As development is monitored, the general utility for inferring hydrologic conditions from observed body shape variation will be assessed. Geospatial data (land cover, soil, elevation etc.) will be aggregated in AquaVeo’s Watershed Modeling Software (WMS 10.1, AquaVeo). Within WMS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has developed a Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC – HMS) with the ability to model daily discharge in ungauged streams. Daily discharge data from a known watershed are used to calibrate HEC – HMS for use in nearby watersheds. The calibrated HEC – HMS system will be used to model a six-year daily discharge flow record (2010-2016) in five ungauged streams. A. lycorias will be collected from each stream site and body shape variation will be quantified through a geometric morphometric analysis. The utility of using body shape measurements relative to modeling software for describing simple discharge magnitude and frequency conditions will be evaluated through multivariate regressions.