Mayflies as resource pulses in Jurassic lacustrine ecosystems

Resource pulses, occasional events of ephemeral resource superabundance, represent a fundamental mechanism by which energy, nutrients, and biomass are transported across ecotones. They are widespread in extant ecosystems; however, little is known about their deep-time record. We report the earliest-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology (Boulder) 2022-09, Vol.50 (9), p.1043-1047
Main Authors: Zhang Qianqi, Zhang Qianqi, Wang Bo, Wang Bo, Zheng Daran, Zheng Daran, Li Jiahao, Li Jiahao, Wang Xueheng, Wang Xueheng, Jarzembowski, Edmund A, Xu Chunpeng, Xu Chunpeng, Li Ting, Li Ting, Zhang Haichun, Zhang Haichun, Engel, Michael S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic insects
Arthropoda
Asia
Biomass energy production
Biota
China
Ecological effects
Ecology
Ecosystems
Ecotones
Ephemeroptera
exoskeletons
Far East
Geology
Guangxi China
Hezhou China
Insect ecology
Insecta
Insects
invertebrate
Jurassic
lacustrine environment
Lakes
lithostratigraphy
Lower Jurassic
Mandibulata
Mating
Mating behavior
Mesozoic
morphology
Nutrient transport
Nutrients
Palaeoptera
paleoecology
paleoenvironment
Paleontology
Pinggui China
Pterygota
reproduction
Reproductive behaviour
Sharephemeridae
Shiti Formation
Taphonomy
Terrestrial ecosystems
wings
Xiwan Basin
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Summary:Resource pulses, occasional events of ephemeral resource superabundance, represent a fundamental mechanism by which energy, nutrients, and biomass are transported across ecotones. They are widespread in extant ecosystems; however, little is known about their deep-time record. We report the earliest-known mayfly swarm from the Early Jurassic Xiwan biota of southern China. Our taphonomic and sedimentological analyses show that these mayflies were buried on the bottom of a calm lake after post-mating death. Our suite of analyses suggests that the complex mating-swarm behavior was already well established in mayflies by the Early Jurassic. More importantly, our find represents the earliest-known resource pulse of insects, a mechanism that can play a substantial role in nutrient transport from aquatic ecosystems to surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. Such an aquatic-terrestrial ecosystem linkage may be a key novelty in Mesozoic lacustrine ecosystems. Our results highlight the underappreciated ecological significance of insects in deep-time terrestrial ecology.
ISSN:0091-7613
1943-2682
DOI:10.1130/G50055.1