The abstract for this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Earl, Julia E.

Phillips, Joseph

English

Louisiana Tech Digital Commons

Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana Tech Digital CommonsANS Research Symposium ANS Research Symposium 2019Apr 11th, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AMEffects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on AquaticBeetle ColonizationJoseph PhillipsLouisiana Tech UniversityJulia E. EarlLouisiana Tech UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.latech.edu/ans-research-symposiumThis Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences and Symposia at Louisiana Tech Digital Commons. It has been accepted forinclusion in ANS Research Symposium by an authorized administrator of Louisiana Tech Digital Commons. For more information, please contactdigitalcommons@latech.edu.Recommended CitationPhillips, Joseph and Earl, Julia E., "Effects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on Aquatic Beetle Colonization" (2019). ANS ResearchSymposium. 20.https://digitalcommons.latech.edu/ans-research-symposium/2019/poster-presentations/20 28   Effects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on Aquatic Beetle Colonization  Joseph Phillips1 Julia E. Earl2   1Undergraduate student, School of Biological Science, Louisiana Tech University  2Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University  _____________________________________________________________________________ Tannins are organic secondary compounds stored in leaves. They protect plants from disease and herbivory. As leaf litter decomposes, tannins can leach into and accumulate in aquatic systems. This could have a significant impact on aquatic organisms, especially those that rely on ephemeral bodies of water for reproduction, shelter, and/or food. Amphibians are believed to be highly susceptible to tannins, with high tannin concentrations having been found to have deleterious effects on tadpoles. Currently, little information exists on the effects of tannins on aquatic invertebrates. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between tannin concentration and habitat selection in aquatic beetles. 80-grams of leaves from 15 tree species were collected (3 per species, 45 total) from different locations in Lincoln Parish, LA. 45 wading pools were set up at LA Tech’s South Campus. Each pool contained leaf litter from one of the 15 tree species. Beetles were collected from the pools every 3 to 4 days over the course of 3 weeks during May 2018. Over the course of the experiment, water samples were taken three times for tannin concentration analysis. Beetles were identified to species. Regression was used to examine the relationship between tannin concentration with colonizing beetle abundance. Total beetle abundance, Copelatus glyphicus abundance, and Laccophilus fasciatus abundance were positively correlated with tannin concentration. Tannin concentration had no effect on total Enochrus abundance. Overall, beetles preferred the Chinese Tallow leaves. This preference may prove maladaptive, as tannins have been found to negatively impact some terrestrial species of invertebrates. Members of the genus Enochrus showed no significant preference for either tannin-rich or tannin-poor pools. Our results suggest that aquatic beetles may significantly vary in tannin tolerance.           

Effects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on Aquatic Beetle Colonization

https://digitalcommons.latech.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1078&context=ans-research-symposium

Effects of Leaf Tannin Concentration on Aquatic Beetle Colonization

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Louisiana Tech Digital Commons