Poster Details
CHIRONOMIDAE SURFACE-FLOATING PUPAL EXUVIAE ALONG A SUB ANTARCTIC ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT
This project is part of an ongoing study of the invertebrates along the Róbalo watershed, which is located on Navarino Island in Chile and supplies drinking water to the world’s southernmost town, Puerto Williams. It is a part of the UNESCO Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve and spans the altitudinal gradient of the Dientes de Navarino mountain range. Areas at higher latitudes and altitudes are the most susceptible to temperatures changes related to global climate change. Because of the drastic changes in thermal gradient and plant community over a small change in altitude, this river serves as an excellent natural laboratory to study the impacts of a warming climate on flora and fauna. A study of Chironomidae pupal exuviae in the Róbalo River was initiated in 2018 to assess their utility as a potential tool to measure community responses to environmental changes in the watershed. Surface-floating chironomid pupal exuviae were collected from 15 locations between December 19, 2018, and January 9, 2019, along an altitudinal gradient of 3m to 689m. Although the results are preliminary, changes in pupal exuviae were observed along the gradient and a longer-term study will be initiated.
Tamara Contador (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Universidad de Magallanes, tamara.contador@umag.cl;
James Kennedy (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, james.kennedy@unt.edu;
Taylor Gillum (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, taylorgillum@my.unt.edu;
Sabrina Moore (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, sabrinamoore2@my.unt.edu;
Katherine Cline (Primary Presenter/Author), University of North Texas, katherinecline@my.unt.edu;