Relationships between body size and biomass of aquatic insects

TLDR

The study develops predictive equations to estimate dry weight from body length for 43 taxa of aquatic insects. The authors examined the relationships among dry weight, body length, and head capsule width across eight major aquatic insect orders. Regression analysis revealed that a power equation best described the biomass–body size relationship, body length predicted biomass more accurately than head capsule width, and populations from two rivers showed similar dry weight–body length relationships. Summary of the study.

Abstract

SUMMARY. Predictive equations were developed to estimate dry weight from body length measurements for forty‐three taxa of aquatic insects. The inter‐relationships between dry weight, body length and head capsule width of individuals grouped according to the eight major orders of aquatic insects were also examined. Regression analysis indicated that the relationship between biomass and body size was best expressed by a power equation, Y = a X b , rather than by linear or exponential equations. Changes in body length versus head capsule width were best expressed by linear equations, with three distinct relationships being observed. Body length estimated biomass better than head capsule width. Populations often species of insects collected from two different rivers generally did not differ significantly in their dry weight to body length relationships.