The Hydrology and Insect Communities of Riverine Rock Pools

Small pools on rock outcrops are a common feature on the banks of Maine rivers, however the unique aquatic insects inhabiting these rock pools have been little studied. This is problematic, as climate change is altering seasonal river flooding and rainfall patterns that may control pool filling and drying. These changes may impact potentially unique species in these pools, or make them more susceptible to invasion by disease vectors such as mosquitos. This project surveyed the insect communities of 40 natural pools in a rocky outcrop on the Penobscot River near Milford. The pools were spread between four zones: two zones that were close to the river and two zones that were out of the range of summer flooding. It was found that the pools were influenced by their distance to the river. Pools that were close to the river were dominated by river-dwelling taxa and pools that were farther from the river were dominated by mosquito and midge larvae. Therefore, changes in river flow regimes and rainfall patterns are likely to affect the structure of these unique insect communities.

Faculty Mentor: Hamish Greig