EFFECTS OF DENSITY, DISTURBANCE, AND WASTE PRODUCTS ON GROWTH OF LARVAL <i>ENALLAGMA EBRIUM</i> (HAGEN) (ODONATA: COENAGRIONIDAE)

AbstractIndividual growth rates of larval dragonflies can exhibit density dependence under field conditions. Retarded growth can occur despite an apparent abundance of food and may be due to some form of stress caused by aggressive interactions. I used laboratory experiments to test for effects of larval density, accumulated waste products, and disturbance on growth of larval Enallagma ebrium given abundant food. Experimental treatments had no clear effect on larval weight, size, or duration in an instar. Thus aggressive interactions, in the absence of food limitation, may not be important in affecting growth rates of larval odonates.

EFFECTS OF DENSITY, DISTURBANCE, AND WASTE PRODUCTS ON GROWTH OF LARVAL ENALLAGMA EBRIUM (HAGEN) (ODONATA: COENAGRIONIDAE) Journal Articles