The influence of environmental conditions on the daily activities of Enallagma geminatum (Kellicott), Enallagma signatum (Hagen) and Enallagma civile (Hagen) (Odonata: Zygoptera)

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
William H. Mitchell (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Paul Lutz

Abstract: A field station was established on the farm pond of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to study some environmental impacts upon the activity cycle of three species of Enallagma. Sites of observation were established to determine activities in association with terrestrial and aquatic segments of the station. The activity cycle of the three species was observed to contain periods of perching, patrolling, mating and ovipositing. Perching was the one single event that dominated the time span for all three species. All other activities were conducted in decreasing frequency. During the study it was determined that each species had a definitive time of day when each phase of the activity cycle was to be conducted. Several of these events were so definitive that they could be used in a general taxonomic identification of the species. In conjunction with the time of day, environmental temperature was closely associated with the initiation of events occurring during the day. Cloud cover was the least effective in differentiating activities of the three species. It can be concluded that cloud cover is ineffective as a single factor, but when coupled with time of day and temperature, the composite environmental effect has profound effect on the activities of the three species of Enallagma.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 1973
Subjects
Odonata $x Life cycles
Odonata $x Reproduction
Damselflies $x Life cycles
Damselflies $x Reproduction

Email this document to