The Effects of Depth, pH, Depth of Light Penetration, and Area on Backswimmer (Hemiptera Notonectidae) Distribution in Seasonal Ponds of the Florida Scrub

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

McCord, Elzie

Keywords

Backswimmers, Seasonal Pond, Lake Wales Ridge

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

Backswimmers (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) are small, predacious Hemipterans. It is not known what factors affect the distributions of the five species of Notonectidae present at Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Florida. Depth, pH, the depth of light penetration, and area are known to influence Notonectidae distribution among lakes and ponds in different locations throughout the world. This thesis shows that each of these factors influence only one of the species of Notonectid studied. Other factors, such as vegetation density, may play a role. Competition within the ponds may also be reduced by other mechanisms such as size differentiation.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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