Thermal tolerance of meltwater stoneflyLednia tumananymphs from an alpine stream in Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park, Montana, USA

Research on the meltwater stonefly Lednia tumana reveals critical insights into its thermal tolerance limits, with lethal temperature maxima (LTM) of 32.3 ± 0.28°C and 31.05 ± 0.78°C under acclimation temperatures of 8.5°C and 15°C, respectively. While these metrics did not show statistically significant differences, they suggest potential vulnerabilities to rising stream temperatures in alpine ecosystems. The study employed controlled water bath experiments to measure critical thermal maxima (CTM) and LTM, providing a foundation for assessing the impacts of climate change on this species, which is limited to glacial and snowmelt-driven streams in the Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park and a candidate for endangered species listing. Predicted chronic temperature maxima were 20.6°C and 20.2°C for the two acclimation treatments, underscoring the need for further research on long-term thermal effects.

Treanor, H. B., Giersch, J. J., Kappenman, K. M., Muhlfeld, C. C., & Webb, M. A. H. (2013). Thermal tolerance of meltwater stoneflyLednia tumananymphs from an alpine stream in Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park, Montana, USA. Freshwater Science, 32(2), 597–605. https://doi.org/10.1899/12-100.1