Midge Additions Increase Arthropod Densities

Aquatic insects are a common and important subsidy to terrestrial systems. Hoekman et al. simulated lake-to-lake insect deposition in a field experiment in northern Iceland. They hypothesized a positive bottom-up response of detritivores that would be transmitted to their predators and would persist into the following year. Midge addition resulted in significantly different arthropod communities and increased arthropod densities, especially detritivores. By manipulating the nutrient pulse delivered by midges, they were able to elucidate food web consequences of midge deposition and subsequent spatial and temporal dynamics.