University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Fall 1977 ECOLOGY OF TWO TIDAL MARSH INSECTS, TRICHOCORIXA VERTICALIS (HEMIPTERA) AND ERYTHRODIPLAX BERENICE (ODONATA), IN NEW HAMPSHIRE LARRY JIM KELTS Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation KELTS, LARRY JIM, "ECOLOGY OF TWO TIDAL MARSH INSECTS, TRICHOCORIXA VERTICALIS (HEMIPTERA) AND ERYTHRODIPLAX BERENICE (ODONATA), IN NEW HAMPSHIRE" (1977). Doctoral Dissertations. 1168. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1168 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 46106 USA St. John's Road, Tyier's Green High Wycombe. Bucks, England HP10 8HR 7813002 KELTS, LARRY JIM ECOLOGY OP TWO TIDAL MARSH INSECTS, TRICHOCORIXA VERTICALIB (HEMIPTERA) AND ERYTHRODIPLAX BERENICE (ODONATA), IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, PH.D., 1977 University , MJupfiirns International » o n . z e e b r o a d , a n n a r b o r, m i naioe © 1977 LARRY JIM KELTS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ECOLOGY OE TWO TIDAL MARSH INSECTS, TRICHOCORIXA VERTICAL IS (HEMIPTERA) AND ERYTHRODIPLAX BERENICE (ODONATA), IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ■by LARRY J. KELTS B.S., Cornell University, 1959 M.S., Southeastern Massachusetts University, 1971 A THESIS Submitted, to the University of New Hampshire In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate School Department of Zoology September, 1977 This thesis has been examined, and approved Thesis ^fr^c'fcor, Pty^Tip J. Sawyer, Prof. or zoology Robert i. Blickle, Prof. of Entomology Arthj^O. horror, Prof. of zoology L a r r ^ ^ 1 ^ ‘r^s,''^^cV^l¥ol'. of Zoology .chae t twitz!%bboc, frrof. oT Biology . j ^ 7 7 TO MY MOTHER AND FATHER IN MEMORY OF THEIR LOVE AND DEVOTION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I extend my sincerest gratitude to my dissertation professor, Dr. Philip J. Sawyer, for his assistance throughout the course of this investigation and for his guidance during my graduate tenure at the University of New Hampshire. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Robert L. Blickle for his advice and assistance in Entomology, and to Dr. Arthur C. Borror for his invaluable assistance in the revision of this thesis and for numerous enlightening discussions during my graduate studies. My appreciation also to the other members of my doctoral committee, Drs. Larry G. Harris and Michael Mazurkiewicz, for their advice during the course of this research. A very special thanks are due to my family, and in particular to my wife, Kaori, for the encouragement, patience and understanding that I received during the past several years while I pursued my graduate studies. I am indebted to the following for their assistance in species confirmation: Dr. R. I. Sailer, University of Elorida; Dr. John P. Burger and Mr. Wallace J. Morse, University of New Hampshire. Support provided by the research facilities at the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, is gratefully acknowledged. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OP TABLES............................... V11 LIST OP FIGURES............................... viii ABSTRACT.................................... X I. INTRODUCTION................................ 1 Description of Marsh................. 3 Study Area.................................. ^ Salicornia Bed (SB; site 1)............... 12 Shallow Panne Left (SFL; site 2)........... 12 Isolated Panne Left (IPL; site 3)....... Ip Par Edge Main Panne (FEMP; site 4)......... 14 Platform Pool (PI P; site 5).............. Rotten Panne (EP; site 6)........ 20 TI. TRICHOCORIXA VERTICALIS VAR. SELLARIS: ITS LIFE H I S M T m g O H E ^ IRON M TATTACTORS AFFECTING IT 2 3 Introduction................................. 2 5 Methods and Materials......................... 27 Field.................................. 2? Qualitative Sampling................. 28 Quantitative Sampling................ 30 Birds: Food Item Analysis........... 31 Laboratory.............................. 31 Cultures......... 33 Salinity and Variable Temperature Tolerance..... 34 Salinity and Constant Temperature Tolerance...... 36 Egg Hatching: Salinity and Temperature Tolerance........................ 37 Diurnal Activity: Aquarium Observations..................... 37 Results......... 38 Field.................................. 38 Seasonal Occurrence by Size Class and Stage........... ............ 31 v Observations on T. Verticalis Invertebrate 'Predators. .7.. ...... 60 Predation on T. Verticalis by Fish 64- Birds: Food Item Analysis............ 65 Associated Biota-Community Composition.. 68 Laboratory.............................. 79 Egg Hatching: Salinity and Temperature Tolerance........................ 79 Nymphal and Adult Instars............ 82 First Instar...... 82 Second Instar................... 84- Third Instar........... 84- Fourth Instar................... 84- Fifth Instar................... 85 Sixth Instar (Adult)............ 85 Aquarium Observations................ 86 Salinity and Variable Temperature Tolerance........................ 88 Salinity and Constant Temperature Tolerance........................ 93 III. ERYTHRODIPLAX BERENICE DRURY (ODONATA) : OBSERVATIONS OF LARVAI AND ADULT ABUNDANCE AND SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING IT......... 96 Introduction................................. 96 Methods and Materials......................... 99 Field.................................. 99 Laboratory.............................. 99 Results..................................... 100 Field.................................. 100 Observations and Abundance: 1974- and 1975......................... 100 Laboratory.............................. 104- Culture: Salinity and Variable Temperature...................... 104- Culture: Feeding and Food Source..... 105 IV. DISCUSSION.................................. 108 LITERATURE CITED 132 LIST OF TABLES 1. Seasonal occurrence of birds in the high marsh 32 2. Spring tidal flooding depth/salinity sequence effect on previously dry site 3 (IFL), 8/16/74... 46 3. Number of Trichocorixa verticalis from bottom (open water; samples” site 3 (.1975)............. 56 4. T. verticalis embryonic development in the field Tn relation”to season, salinity and temperature at site 3.................................... 57 5. T. verticalis embryonic development in the laboratory: eggs collected at site 3, and held at different salinities and temperatures......... 59 6. Seasonal occurrence of insects in the Adam's Point marsh.................................. 61 7. Invertebrates recovered (% of total recognizable prey) from shorebird gut analysis of summer and fall 1974, 1975............................... 67 8. Number of fauna from bottom (open water) samples, site 4 (8/13/74)................ 68 9. Number of fauna and high density dates in the algal mat at sites 4 and 5............... 69 10. Comparison of 5 naiads of Erythrodiplax berenice collected and cultured to adult emergence at various salinities and temperatures............. 106 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Great Bay and Adam's Point, New Hampshire..••••••••• 4 2. Tidal marsh and study area...................... 5 3. High marsh at Adam's Point...................... 7 4. Flood tide at Adam's Point Marsh....... 7 5. Diagramatic transect of marsh.................... 8 6. Exposed