We propose a biologically based approach to analyze reproductive data for the midge (Chironomus riparius). We showed in a previous study that its larval development can be divided in two distinct phases regarding the use of energy: The somatic growth period and the gametic growth period. We hypothesize here the gametic period to be a crucial period for the energetic investment for reproduction....

Chironomus Meigen (Diptera, Chironomidae) larvae are usually the largest sediment-burrowing chironomids, and as such often constitute a major part of the freshwater infaunal biomass. However, use of this genus in ecological, environmental and paleoecological studies is hampered by the fact that Chironomus larvae are difficult to identify to species because the larvae of many species are morphol...

The uptake kinetics of waterborne Ca and Cd, both independently and in combination, were examined in C. riparius larvae, which are extremely Cd tolerant. Larvae exposed to Ca (100-2500 micromol L(-1)), exhibited classic Michaelis-Menten saturation kinetics for Ca influx, measured using (45)Ca as a radio-tracer. The maximum rate of Ca influx (J(max)(Ca)) was 0.39 micromol g(-1)h(-1), and the Ca ...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176356.].

Sediment characteristics are well known to interfere with toxicity, mainly through differences in terms of bioaccumulation. Here, with chironomids exposed to zinc in an artificial and a field sediment, we investigated the differences of zinc accumulation and of effects on the life cycle, at individual and population level. We used biology and energy-based modeling to analyze the data at all the...