Coelopa frigida
Encyclopedia
Coelopa frigida is a species of seaweed fly or kelp fly. It is the most widely distributed species of seaweed fly. It can be found on most shorelines in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Other species of seaweed flies include Coelopa pilipes.
The fly has a grayish black body and yellow-brown legs.
The fly oviposits
in dead kelp
that washes up on beach
es. This is the only place it lays eggs, and it can do so on many species of kelp and seaweed, including species of Laminaria
and Fucus
. A female fly lays up to five clutches of 80 eggs each. The larva
e feed upon the bacteria
coating the dead kelp. The life cycle is about 11 or 12 days long.
"Blooms" of the flies occur at times, possibly when temperatures and amounts of kelp increase.
This fly is sometimes cultured in the laboratory. Its behavior is studied in an effort to understand sexual selection
, especially the topic of female choice. Studies suggest that female flies of this species prefer larger males to smaller.
The species engages in sexual conflict
. Females perform rejection behaviors when mounted by males, and may mate with larger males because larger males are better able to force the mating. As females are more likely to successfully reject smaller males, sexual selection favors larger ones. Mating behaviors are genetically influenced, as evidenced by a preference for smaller males among females of a certain genotype
.
This fly is host to the mite
Thinoseius fucicola. It provides food for seabirds such as the Purple Sandpiper
(Calidris maritima). It competes
with another seaweed fly, C. pilipes, for resources.
The fly has a grayish black body and yellow-brown legs.
The fly oviposits
Oviposition
Oviposition is the process of laying eggs by oviparous animals.Some arthropods, for example, lay their eggs with an organ called the ovipositor.Fish , amphibians, reptiles, birds and monetremata also lay eggs....
in dead kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
that washes up on beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es. This is the only place it lays eggs, and it can do so on many species of kelp and seaweed, including species of Laminaria
Laminaria
Laminaria is a genus of 31 species of brown algae , all sharing the common name "kelp". This economically important genus is characterized by long, leathery laminae and relatively large size. Some species are referred to by the common name Devil's apron, due to their shape, or sea colander, due to...
and Fucus
Fucus
Fucus is a genus of brown algae found in the intertidal zones of rocky seashores almost throughout the world.-Description and life cycle:...
. A female fly lays up to five clutches of 80 eggs each. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e feed upon the bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
coating the dead kelp. The life cycle is about 11 or 12 days long.
"Blooms" of the flies occur at times, possibly when temperatures and amounts of kelp increase.
This fly is sometimes cultured in the laboratory. Its behavior is studied in an effort to understand sexual selection
Sexual selection
Sexual selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, is a significant element of his theory of natural selection...
, especially the topic of female choice. Studies suggest that female flies of this species prefer larger males to smaller.
The species engages in sexual conflict
Sexual conflict
Sexual conflict occurs when the two sexes have conflicting optimal fitness strategies concerning reproduction, particularly the mode and frequency of mating, leading to an evolutionary arms race between males and females. The conflict encompasses the actions and behaviors of both sexes to influence...
. Females perform rejection behaviors when mounted by males, and may mate with larger males because larger males are better able to force the mating. As females are more likely to successfully reject smaller males, sexual selection favors larger ones. Mating behaviors are genetically influenced, as evidenced by a preference for smaller males among females of a certain genotype
Genotype
The genotype is the genetic makeup of a cell, an organism, or an individual usually with reference to a specific character under consideration...
.
This fly is host to the mite
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
Thinoseius fucicola. It provides food for seabirds such as the Purple Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
The Purple Sandpiper, Calidris, Arquatella or Erolia maritima is a small shorebird.Adults have short yellow legs and a medium thin dark bill with a yellow base. The body is dark on top with a slight purplish gloss and mainly white underneath. The breast is smeared with grey and the rump is black...
(Calidris maritima). It competes
Competition (biology)
Competition is an interaction between organisms or species, in which the fitness of one is lowered by the presence of another. Limited supply of at least one resource used by both is required. Competition both within and between species is an important topic in ecology, especially community ecology...
with another seaweed fly, C. pilipes, for resources.
Further reading
- Edward, D. A. (2008). Habitat Composition, Sexual Conflict, and Life History Evolution in Coelopa frigida. PhD Thesis, University of Stirling.