DOI: 10.1007/s10750-012-1350-3
Abstract
Changes of seasonal dispersal flight were investigated based on a wide
spectrum of aquatic Heteroptera and Coleoptera species. We hypothesized
that species or groups of species can be characterized by various
seasonal patterns of dispersal flight. Dispersal activity was studied in
a lowland marsh located in NE Hungary during a 30-week long monitoring
period. Insects were attracted to highly polarising horizontal shiny
black plastic sheets laid onto the ground. There are no periods of the
year (from April till October) when insects are not rising into the air,
but species have various seasonal flight activity. Dispersal flight
activity of 45 species could be described. These activities assessed
based on a seasonal approach and proportional classification. Based on
these results, three seasonal patterns and twelve sub-patterns were
defined. Comparing the observed patterns with previously reported
dispersal activity data, we argue that observations found in the
literature fit well with patterns defined here, therefore, to assess the
dispersal behaviour, a unified scheme can be established. Owing to this
unified scheme, the seasonal dispersal activity of primary aquatic
insects observed in different studies becomes highly comparable. This
scheme can be a useful tool for assessing dispersal behaviour of insects
across other geographic regions.
Keywords
Flight behaviour, Seasonal patterns, Year-long dispersal, Polarotaxis, Coleoptera, Heteroptera
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