LIFE CYCLES AND SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF EPHEMEROPTERA, PLECOPTERA, AND TRICHOPTERA (INSECTA) UNDER AN EXTREME CONTINENTAL CLIMATE (RIVER KHARAA, MONGOLIA)

Abstract

There are still knowledge gaps and uncertainties concerning the research of macroinvertebrates, in particular, a life cycle study of representative species are one such section of information missing in Mongolia. Therefore, this study was conducted within the framework of the biomonitoring program in the Kharaa River Basin under the research aims of the project entitled ‘Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Central Asia: Model Region Mongolia (MoMo)’. This study provided the first quantitative results on the life cycle, production, growth rate and emergence of aquatic insects from Mongolia, to allow comparisons with studies in other regions using the same methods. The 3-year study (2007-2009) of the life cycles of eighteen selected species according to the larval body size distribution and emergence period showed that the life cycle strategies in Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera and their production in the Kharaa River Basin clearly indicated adaptations to the harsh environmental conditions with strict univoltinism and low secondary production. In conclusion, it is essential to obtain knowledge especially about life cycle strategies of macroinvertebrates to predict re-colonisation potential of disturbed habitats and to evaluate the efficiency of management measures.