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Missouri State University

The Effects of Odonates on a Littoral Prey Community

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Lestes sp. and Anax sp. are the dominant larval odonates of MIller's Marsh, Beaver Island, Michigan. These opportunistic predators cling to littoral vegetation and consume aquatic insects and microcrustaceans. To monitor the effects of these odonate predators on community dynamics, a 2X2 factorial in situ enclosure experiment was set up and monitored over an eight-week period. Twelve enclosures were placed in a littoral area of MIllers's Marsh, each containing a natural prey community and absence or presence of dragonfly or damselfly larvae. Prey organisms were sampled with duplicated samples once a week. Statistical analyses indicated a lack of significant predator effects on both the the density and population dynamics of prey whereas replicated enclosures accounted for most of the variation in prey densities. Possible explanations for these results include insufficient replication, odonate mortality, or the accidental presence of other invertebrate predators.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science in Biology
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biology
Year
1992

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Dry, Frederick E.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • John Havel

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • © Frederick E Dry

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/91
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1092

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Missouri State University
Base URL
bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Dry, Frederick E.. The Effects of Odonates on a Littoral Prey Community. Masters thesis, 1992. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/91