Dynamic microhabitat shifts in space and time of caddisfly larvae (Insecta: Trichoptera) in a first‐order calcareous mountain stream

Abstract

By studying substrate (choriotope) preferences of 25 caddisfly taxa in the Schreierbach stream, a calcareous, first order tributary of the Ybbs river (Lower Austria), we aimed on (1) detecting microhabitat preferences in space and time, (2) to relate this information with ontogenetic choriotope shifts, and (3) to explore relationships between feeding guilds and choriotopes chosen. For this, we took six sets of bi-monthly multi-habitat samples of larvae at three stream sections (360 samples). Densities were highest in Drusinae juveniles (53.60 %), Micrasema morosum (15.14 %), Drusus discolor (13.31 %) and D. monticola (4.46 %), and were significantly higher in the upper stream section (1900 ± 1039 larvae m− 2) than in the central (205 ± 23) and lower (141 ± 22). Ivlev electivity indices revealed preferences for Macrolithal in Rhyacophila spp. and Tinodes dives, for Microlithal in Drusinae juveniles, for Megalithal and Phytal in filtering Drusinae and Micrasema, and for Xylal and Akal in Limnephilinae. A cluster analysis of choriotope electivity yielded five clusters, corresponding with functional feeding types. At the instar level, the chosen grain size increased with increasing instar in some species. Observed habitat shifts in space and time reflected the interaction of instar-specific choriotope choice and longitudinal translocations.