Aquatic Insect Bioconstructions Modify Fine?Sediment Entrainment and Mobility

The importance of two-way interactions between animals and the physical hydraulic sedimentological environment are increasingly recognized (e.g., zoogeomorphology). Caddisflies (Trichoptera) a group aquatic insects known for their bioconstructions, particularly cases built from fine sediment silk. Caddisfly differ in size, shape density incorporated sediment, case construction may therefore affect mobility these sediments rivers. However, although communities caddisfly often use substantial quantities construction, effect bioconstructions on transport rivers is unknown. We flume experiment to compare bed shear stress required (a) empty (b) individual particles, following disaggregation case. three species were considered; two that construct different styles tubular (Potamophlax latipennis Sericostoma personatum) one builds domed (Agapetus fuscipes). P. S. personatum easier entrain than grains into them, whilst A. fuscipes not. Despite low mass, most them because impeded rolling. These findings important understand how differences design species, reflect adaptation strategies turbulent river habitat. Furthermore, results suggest un-attached be preferentially transported over other particles thus, where occur high abundance, they increase fluvial entrainment sand.