Direct and indirect effects of low pH on the transformation of detrital energy by the shredding caddisfly, Clistoronia magnifica (Banks) (Limnephilidae)

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Abstract
A shredding caddisfly, Clistoronia magnifica (Banks), was used to test the hypotheses that increased acidity would reduce the transformation of detrital energy into shredder biomass by (i) reducing survival, (ii) increasing maintenance costs at the expense of growth, and (iii) reducing food quality as a result of inhibition of microbial activity on the leaf litter. Low pH reduced larval survival immediately after hatching and during the moult from third to fourth instar. However, surviving larvae developed faster at pH 4.2–5.2 than at pH 5.8–6.4 and produced larger pupae and adults. Low pH did not alter metabolic costs or ingestion rates of fourth- and fifth-instar larvae. Accelerated growth resulted from indirect effects of low pH on the food resource, which suggested improved nutritional quality of leaf litter conditioned at low pH. However, enhanced growth of late instar larvae did not compensate for reduced survival of early instar larvae, possibly resulting in lower shredder production under acidic conditions.

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