香溪河大型底栖动物群落结构季节动态

通过大型底栖动物的量化监测,对香溪河水系大型底栖动物季节动态进行研究.共采集大型底栖动物197种,隶属6纲68科,其中,四节蜉、高翔蜉、短尾石蝇为该水系优势类群,不同季节间大型底栖动物优势类群组成存在较大差异.大型底栖动物群落结构以冬季最为复杂,春、秋季次之,夏季相对简单.大型底栖动物功能摄食类群以集食者占优,其次为刮食者、捕食者和滤食者,撕食者丰度最小.典型对应分析表明,不同季节影响底栖动物群落结构的因子差异较大;夏季和秋季营养盐对底栖动物群落结构影响较大,水深对各季度大型底栖动物群落结构均有影响.     

济南河流大型底栖动物摄食功能群多样性及时空动态

2014年春季(5月)、夏季(8月)和秋季(11月)对济南地区24个样点的大型底栖动物和水环境理化因子进行了野外调查。利用多样性指数以及典范对应分析等方法,分析了大型底栖动物群落组成和空间结构特征。结果表明:共采集到大型底栖动物3门57种,分别为节肢动物门、软体动物门和环节动物门。春季、夏季和秋季采集到大型底栖动物45种、35种和33种,春季优势种为霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)和豆螺(Bithynia fuchsiana),夏季优势种为溪流摇蚊(Chironomus riparius)和豆螺(Bithynia fuchsiana),秋季优势种为喜盐摇蚊(Chironomus salinarius)和豆螺(Bithynia fuchsiana)。春季、夏季和秋季密度平均值为2.49×10~3、0.56×10~3、1.03×10~3个体/m~2;生物量平均值为495.59、137.26、109.45 g/m2;Shannon-Wiener指数平均值分别为1.37、1.33和1.17;均匀度指数平均值分别为0.55、0.67和0.59。全地区共划分出大型底栖动物功能摄食类群5类,春季收集者种类最多为20种,夏季刮食者种类最多为12种,秋季收集者与刮食者种类最多为11种,3个季节中收集者密度均占绝对优势,其次为刮食者。典范对应分析表明,春季影响黄河流域和淮河流域大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要环境因子是总磷和总氮;夏季影响黄河流域和淮河流域大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要环境因子是pH和溶解氧;秋季影响黄河流域和淮河流域大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要环境因子是溶解氧和pH。     

香溪河大型底栖无脊椎动物群落结构季节动态研究

研究香溪河大型底栖无脊椎动物群落结构和季节动态特征情况,发现高翔蜉、萝卜螺、河蚬、湖沼股蛤、四节蜉为香溪河水系优势分类单元,各季节底栖动物优势种的组成存在显著差异。冬季的生物密度、生物量、生物多样性指数显著高于其他季节,说明冬季的河流生境最适宜大型底栖无脊椎动物生存。香溪河刮食者丰度最高,撕食者最低,表明香溪河着生藻类丰富;固着型底栖动物在香溪河底栖类群中丰度最高,说明香溪河河流流速较快,生境更适宜固着型动物栖居。不同季节环境因子对大型底栖动物群落结构有显著影响。     

永定河流域大型底栖动物功能摄食类群时空分布及生态评价

2017年春季(4月)、夏季(7月)、秋季(11月)对永定河流域23个样点的大型底栖动物、水环境和水文因子进行了野外调查,分析了永定河流域大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的群落组成与时空分布特征及其对河流生境变化的响应情况。永定河流域3个季节共采集到大型底栖动物78种,隶属3门6纲39科,其中,春季52种、夏季50种、秋季53种,功能摄食类群以收集者占绝对优势,其次为捕食者,刮食者、滤食者、撕食者所占比例极低。3个季节优势种均属于收集者类群,春季优势种为直突摇蚊属、流水长跗摇蚊属、环足摇蚊属,夏季优势种为雕翅摇蚊属,秋季优势种为多足摇蚊属、摇蚊属、直突摇蚊属。冗余分析结果表明: 水温、流速、盐度以及总磷是影响春季大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要影响因子;总磷、溶解氧、电导率以及流量是夏季大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要影响因子;总磷和溶解氧是影响秋季大型底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要影响因子;总磷在春、夏、秋季均与收集者类群表现出正相关性,表明永定河流域大型底栖动物功能摄食类群受到了水质污染的影响。基于功能摄食类群参数的评价表明:1)物质循环方面,妫水河初级生产力显著高于其他区域,秋季大于其他季节;洋河次级生产力和分解能力显著高于其他区域,春季大于其他季节,但洋河自养/异养作用显著低于其他区域,春季小于其他季节;2)纵向输入能力方面,桑干河显著高于其他区域,秋季大于其他季节;3)沿岸物质的输入方面,妫水河显著高于其他区域,夏季大于其他季节。     

长白山地区溪流冻结初期凋落叶分解与底栖动物定殖的关系

长白山森林源头溪流每年11月至次年4月有约70%的河面被冰覆盖,季节性冻融过程特征明显.为了揭示溪流冻结初期凋落叶分解与底栖动物定殖的关系,在长白山地区1条源头溪流中,利用2种孔径(5和0.3 mm)的尼龙分解袋对色木槭、紫椴、蒙古栎的单一及混合凋落叶进行了为期35 d的分解研究.结果表明: 凋落叶质量损失率在单一树种间差异显著,表现为:色木槭＞紫椴＞蒙古栎,而在4种混合凋落叶间差异不显著;除紫椴和3树种混合凋落叶外,粗、细分解袋间凋落叶质量损失率差异不显著;凋落叶混合效应仅出现在紫椴-蒙古栎混合的粗分解袋内;定殖在不同凋落叶分解袋内的底栖动物群落结构差异较大,但撕食者密度在3种凋落叶间差异不显著,撕食者对凋落叶混合效应的响应也不显著.由结果可知,溪流冻结初期微生物是凋落叶的主要分解者,底栖动物的贡献率较低.虽然撕食者密度较低,但撕食者的活动是凋落叶混合效应出现的必要条件.底栖动物对食物和栖息地有一定的选择性,但由于定殖时间较短,凋落叶对撕食者定殖的影响不显著.本研究对源头溪流生态系统的冬季生态过程研究及生态系统管理具有一定的理论意义.     

长白山源头溪流底栖动物生活型及群落结构的时空特征

底栖动物是山地溪流生态系统的关键生物类群, 其群落组成结构与时空分布在很大程度上依赖于组成物种的生活型以及生活型构成。为认识我国高纬度地区山区底栖动物群落结构与环境的关系, 以长白山龙湾自然保护区的典型源头溪流为对象, 在春、夏、秋三个季节对五个断面进行定量样品采集, 结合溪流生境信息初步分析了源头溪流中不同生活型底栖动物的分布以及时空动态。共采集到底栖动物4525头, 隶属于5纲11目35科82属, 其中水生昆虫以78属占有绝对优势, 优势种类包括Oulimnius属一种、直突摇蚊亚科一种(Orthocladiinae sp.)、Podmosta属一种、纹石蛾一种(Hydropsyche sp)、弓石蛾一种(Arctopsyche sp.)和钩虾属一种(Gammarus sp.); 底栖动物的生活型相对丰度表现为固着型最高, 其次为蔓生型和穴居型, 游泳型最少, 分别为50%、25%、17%和8%; 人为活动显著降低了底栖动物的密度、多样性和物种丰富度, 其中固着型和蔓生型底栖动物反应最为敏感。因此, 在源头溪流, 人为干扰对底栖动物群落结构影响显著, 生活型组成较物种组成对干扰的响应更为敏感。      

珠江口大型底栖动物的群落结构及影响因子研究

2008年8月至2009年5月, 调查了珠江口水域大型底栖动物季节分布以及与环境的关系, 结果表明:共鉴定出大型底栖动物34种, 多毛类和软体动物是该水域大型底栖动物的主要类群;大型底栖动物的密度和生物量以春季最高, 分别为759ind/m2和5.03g/m2,秋季则最低,分别为274ind/m2和2.34/g/m2.食底泥者是珠江口大型底栖动物最主要的功能摄食类群。研究区大型底栖动物的物种多样性指数(H′)、物种均匀度指数(J′)和物种丰富度指数(D)差异均不显著。典型对应分析表明:夏季锌、铜、铅、磷酸盐和透明度等5个因子与珠江口大型底栖动物群落相关性显著;秋季为铵氮;冬季和春季则分别为透明度和温度。       

鲢鳙鱼养殖小型水库底栖动物群落季节动态

底栖动物是鱼类重要的天然饵料,评估水体中底栖动物的现存量可以指导渔业生产中鱼类的放养数量。为了探究淡水生态养殖水库中底栖动物群落的季节动态,于2013年4月、7月、10月和2014年1月对三河水库的底栖动物群落进行了调查分析。研究共采集到7个属的底栖动物,隶属于颤蚓科、摇蚊科和蠓科,未采集到软体动物。相对重要性指数(IRI)计算结果表明,菱跗摇蚊属Clinotanypus(IRI=7136)、颤蚓属Tubifex(IRI=6734)和尾鳃蚓属Branchiura(IRI=1384)是优势类群,分别占总捕获数量的34.26%、50.38%和10.96%。不同季节之间底栖动物的总密度和生物量差异显著(P0.05),均为冬季春季夏季秋季。冬季总密度(4100个/m~2)和总生物量(10.14 g/m~2)最高,春季(1446个/m~2;1.07 g/m~2)次之,夏季(579个/m~2;0.66 g/m~2)较低,秋季(492个/m~2;0.64 g/m~2)最低。非度量多维尺度分析(MDS)和群落相似性分析表明底栖动物群落结构季节差异显著(P=0.001),2013年三河水库的底栖动物群落可明显划分为3个:春季群落、夏秋季群落和冬季群落。皮尔森相关分析表明,底栖动物总密度与溶氧和营养盐呈正相关关系,与其他水理化因子呈显著负相关关系(P0.05)。冗余分析表明,氨氮、盐度、pH和浊度是三河水库底栖动物群落季节差异的显著影响因子(P0.05),总氮对底栖动物群落的季节差异具有边缘显著影响(P=0.08)。     

硫铁矿酸性矿山废水对大型底栖动物群落结构的影响

2006年11月和2007年1月通过金属和生物指标的量化监测,就酸性矿山废水对大型底栖动物群落结构的影响及高岚河污染现状进行研究。典型对应分析表明：酸性废水对高岚河上游大型底栖动物群落结构影响最大。对高岚河大型底栖动物群落结构和功能摄食类群进行分析,研究硫铁矿酸性矿山废水对河流大型底栖动物群落的影响,结果表明：高岚河自矿源起约16km河段,大型底栖动物群落结构已经遭到严重破坏;多足摇蚊Polypedilum tritum和真凯氏摇蚊Eukiefferiellab rehmi对酸和金属均具有较强的耐受力;捕食者和刮食者对矿山酸性废水带来的污染反应最为敏感。逐步回归分析表明：大型底栖动物生物多样性受Al、Ca、Cd、Fe、Mg、Mn等金属影响最大;密度受Ca、Cr和Mg的影响最大。     

新疆巩乃斯河枯、丰水期大型底栖动物群落结构与环境因子的关系

为探究新疆巩乃斯河的生态状况, 团队先后在2018年10月(枯水期)和2019年6月(丰水期)对大型底栖动物群落和环境因子进行了调查, 分析大型底栖动物群落结构、功能摄食类群、生活类型组成及其与环境因子的关系。研究河段共采集到大型底栖动物40种, 隶属3门4纲8目27科, 主要以节肢动物门为主, 其中直突摇蚊亚科(Orthocladiinae spp.)、长跗摇蚊族(Tanytansini sp.)、四节蜉属(Baeits sp.)、亚美蜉属(Ameletus sp.)和Cheilotrichia sp.是优势类群。经过分析发现枯、丰水期巩乃斯河大型底栖动物群落结构差异显著, T检验结果显示: 枯水期大型底栖动物群落的生物密度和物种丰富度显著低于丰水期(P<0.05), 两个时期大型底栖动物的生物多样性指数和均匀度无显著性差异(P>0.05)。巩乃斯河大型底栖动物功能摄食类群完整, 枯、丰水期均以收集者为主; 在生活类型方面, 枯水期时固着型动物最相对丰度最大为43.20%, 丰水期时蔓生型动物相对丰度最大为57.53%。经过对大型底栖动物和环境因子之间进行典范对应分析发现, 水温是影响巩乃斯河大型底栖动物群落变化的关键环境因子。研究成果可为巩乃斯河后续相关研究以及伊犁河水系生态保护提供基础数据支持及参考。     

Macroinvertebrate community loss as a result of headwater stream acidification in the Vosges Mountains (N-E France)

The relationships between water chemistry and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities of 41 headwater streams were studied in the Vosges Mountains (N-E of France) in an attempt to assess the impact of acidification on macroinvertebrate diversity. The taxa richness of macroinvertebrates decreased drastically in headwater streams which were characterized by low pH, low calcium and high aluminum content. All taxonomic groups were affected, but Molluscans, Crustaceans and Ephemeroptera disappeared totally from strongly acidified streams. Simple indices based on taxa richness such as the coefficient of community loss may provide accurate tools to quickly assess the impact of acidification on macroinvertebrate communities. Despite the reduction of atmospheric SO₂ emissions, acidification of freshwater in the Vosges Mountains continues to affect streams which were believed in the past to constitute refuge biotopes for numerous species. Consequently, acidification represents a real threat for numerous invertebrates. This study arises the question of the evolution in the future of headwater stream ecosystems. Urgent decisions and interventions are required to preserve non-acidified streams and to restore impacted ecosystems while awaiting spontaneous recovery.     

Macroinvertebrate community patterns in relation to leaf-associated periphyton under contrasting light and nutrient conditions in headwater streams

1. Temperate headwater streams traditionally have been considered heterotrophic and brown food web dominated with little primary production. Recent work, however, suggests algae on leaves in these streams may play a greater role than previously thought through interactions with microbial decomposers like fungi. Algae also may be important for macroinvertebrates colonizing leaves in streams. Algae are a more nutritious food resource for shredders than fungi and bacteria and provide a food resource for non-shredder macroinvertebrates.
2. In a field experiment, we manipulated light in three low-nutrient and three high-nutrient streams using leaf bags filled with red maple leaves in winter and spring. After four weeks we measured algal and fungal biomass, leaf stoichiometry, and macroinvertebrate abundance and biomass associated with the leaf bags. We also identified the macroinvertebrate community and examined differences in functional feeding guilds and taxa under ambient- and shaded-light treatments and low- and high-nutrient concentrations in relation to measured leaf characteristics.
3. Algal biomass on leaves was greatest in high-nutrient streams and ambient-light treatments in both seasons. Fungal biomass on leaves was greatest in high-nutrient streams and showed a moderate marginally significant positive correlation with algae during the winter. Leaf C:N was negatively correlated to algae in winter and fungi in both seasons, while leaf N:P and C:P were negatively correlated to fungi in winter and algae in spring. Interactions between fungi and algae on leaves and the nutritional importance of each for macroinvertebrates likely change across seasons, potentially impacting macroinvertebrate community composition.
4. Macroinvertebrate diversity did not differ, but biomass was significantly greater in shaded-light treatments during spring. Abundance was highest in the high-nutrient ambient-light conditions in both seasons, corresponding to greatest algal biomass. Functional feeding guild biomass and abundance were related to different leaf characteristics by season and guild. Higher algal biomass was an important factor for colonization of certain macroinvertebrates (e.g., Ephemerella (Ephemeroptera: Ephemerellidae) and Stenonema (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae)), while others were more abundant under shaded treatments with lower algal biomass (e.g., Tipula (Diptera: Tipulidae)), indicating taxa-specific responses.
5. Leaf-associated algae may be an important factor mediating macroinvertebrate communities associated with leaves in temperate headwater streams. Our results demonstrate that green and brown food webs intersect within leaf packs, and they cannot be easily disentangled. We therefore should consider both autochthonous and allochthonous resources within headwater streams when examining their communities or developing water management strategies.

     

Macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater streams: a review

1. Headwater streams are ubiquitous in the landscape and are important sources of water, sediments and biota for downstream reaches. They are critical sites for organic matter processing and nutrient cycling, and may be vital for maintaining the 'health' of whole river networks.
2. Macroinvertebrates are an important component of biodiversity in stream ecosystems and studies of macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater streams have mostly viewed stream systems as linear reaches rather than as networks, although the latter may be more appropriate to the study of diversity patterns in headwater systems.
3. Studies of macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater streams from around the world illustrated that taxonomic richness is highly variable among continents and regions, and studies addressing longitudinal changes in taxonomic richness of macroinvertebrates generally found highest richness in mid-order streams.
4. When stream systems are viewed as networks at the landscape-scale, α-diversity may be low in individual headwater streams but high β-diversity among headwater streams within catchments and among catchments may generate high γ-diversity.
5. Differing ability and opportunity for dispersal of macroinvertebrates, great physical habitat heterogeneity in headwater streams, and a wide range in local environmental conditions may all contribute to high β-diversity among headwater streams both within and among catchments.
6. Moving beyond linear conceptual models of stream ecosystems to consider the role that spatial structure of river networks might play in determining diversity patterns at the landscape scale is a promising avenue for future research.     

Refining a kick sampling strategy for the bioassessment of benthic macroinvertebrates in headwater streams

Small headwater streams constitute a large proportion of the river channel network in many parts of the world. In this study, two multihabitat kick sampling methods (60-second and 20-second) were compared across 10 small headwater streams in the southwest and east of Ireland in spring and summer 2009 to determine the influence of sampling on various benthic macroinvertebrates in headwater streams. The performance of each method, over time and replication, was examined using a range of benthic macroinvertebrate metrics, as well as the community composition and structure recorded by both methods. The ability to recruit taxa, as well as the field sampling and laboratory processing effort required for each method, was also assessed. Results indicated that both kick sampling methods generally recorded similar metric scores with the exception of taxonomic richness (t = 180 s and n = 9 replicates test) where the 20-second kicks consistently out preformed those calculated for the 60-second kicks. All other metrics compared generally performed equally as well regardless of the method used. Multivariate analysis of macroinvertebrate community assemblage, using SIMPROF, RELATE and CS-SMC analyses, further highlighted the high similarity in the macroinvertebrate assemblage recorded between both methods. Finally, the 20-second kicks recruited taxa as efficiently as 60-second kicks samples so long as replication was equal but required less sampling effort (NSE) and processing time. Therefore, the shorter 20-second kicks can be used to assess the ecological health of headwater streams, provided that adequate replication is adopted, resulting in significant effort, cost and time savings.     

山地河流潜流层大型无脊椎动物群落组成及分布

潜流层大型无脊椎动物是河流生态系统重要的组成部分.2013年8月(夏季)、12月(冬季)和2014年4月(春季),在黑水滩河上游河段,采用人工基质法调查潜流层大型无脊椎动物.结果表明: 3个季节共采集大型无脊椎动物27种,其中夏季22种、冬季和春季各16种,各季节水生昆虫种类所占比例均较高,分别为81.8%、75.0%和62.5%;夏季群落密度显著低于冬季和春季,春季最高;冬季群落生物量显著高于夏季和春季,夏季最低;3个季节群落的物种丰富度指数、Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均没有显著性差异.空间分布上,大型无脊椎动物的密度和丰富度均随潜流层深度增加而呈现降低的趋势,大多数个体均分布在0～20 cm深度.群落以滤食者和收集者组成的集食者为绝对优势功能群.动物的相互作用、生活史策略和潜流层的理化条件影响着潜流层大型无脊椎动物的群落结构和时空分布.     

Short-term responses of macroinvertebrate drift following experimental sediment flushing in a Japanese headwater channel

We examined short-term responses of macroinvertebrate drift associated with experimental sediment flushing in a headwater. Increases in the drifting abundances of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera coincided with increases in bed load yield rather than peaks in discharge or suspended sediment concentrations. The approach and arrival of a sediment wave may provide a physical cue that initiates the escape of benthic macroinvertebrates. Because fine bed load sediments, with diameters <4 mm, tended to accumulate on and in the substrate matrix, such sedimentation affected the benthic macroinvertebrates residing on and in the substrate, increasing the number of macroinvertebrates in the drift. Therefore, the decreases observed in the densities of most macroinvertebrate taxa following sediment flushing were probably associated with sediment deposition and the resulting escape of macroinvertebrates from benthic habitats. The magnitudes of the decreases in macroinvertebrate density were lower at sites located 200 m downstream from the sediment sources than at sites located 20 m downstream. The results from this experimental flushing study suggest that bed load movement and resulting sediment accumulation alter macroinvertebrate drift patterns and cause decreases in the abundances of benthic macroinvertebrates in headwater streams.     

Macroinvertebrate community traits and nitrate removal in stream sediments

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Effects of eucalyptus afforestation on leaf litter dynamics and macroinvertebrate community structure of streams in Central Portugal

To test the hypothesis whether afforestation with Eucalyptus globulus affects litter dynamics in streams and the structure of macroinvertebrate aquatic communities, we compared streams flowing through eucalyptus and deciduous forests, paying attention to: (i) litterfall dynamics, (ii) accumulation of organic matter, (iii) processing rates of two dominant leaf species: eucalyptus and chestnut, and (iv) macroinvertebrate community structure. The amount of allochthonous inputs was similar in both vegetation types, but the seasonality of litter inputs differed between eucalyptus and natural deciduous forests. Eucalyptus forest streams accumulated more organic matter than deciduous forest streams. Decomposition of both eucalyptus and chestnut leaf litter was higher in streams flowing through deciduous forests. The eucalyptus forest soils were highly hydrophobic resulting in strong seasonal fluctuations in discharge. In autumn the communities of benthic macroinvertebrates of the two stream types were significantly different. Deciduous forest streams contained higher numbers of invertebrates and more taxa than eucalyptus forest streams. Mixed forest streams (streams flowing through eucalyptus forests but bordered by deciduous vegetation) were intermediate between the two other vegetation types in all studied characteristics (accumulation of benthic organic matter, density and diversity of aquatic invertebrates). These results suggest that monocultures of eucalyptus affect low order stream communities. However, the impact may be attenuated if riparian corridors of original vegetation are kept in plantation forestry.     

Influences of logging history and riparian forest characteristics on macroinvertebrates and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in headwater streams (New Hampshire, U.S.A.)

1. Logging can strongly affect stream macroinvertebrate communities, but the direction and magnitude of these effects and their implications for trout abundance are frequently region‐specific and difficult to predict. 2. In first‐order streams in northern New England (U.S.A.) representing a chronosequence of logging history (<2 to >80 years since logging), we measured riparian forest conditions, stream macroinvertebrate community characteristics and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) abundance. Principal component analysis was used to collapse forest data into two independent variables representing variation in logging history, riparian forest structure and canopy cover. We used these data to test whether logging history and associated forest conditions were significant predictors of macroinvertebrate abundance and functional feeding group composition, and whether brook trout abundance was related to logging‐associated variation in invertebrate communities. 3. Catchments with high PC1 scores (recently logged, high‐density stands with low mean tree diameter) and low PC2 scores (low canopy cover) had significantly higher total macroinvertebrate abundance, particularly with respect to chironomid larvae (low PC2 scores) and invertebrates in the grazer functional feeding group (high PC1 scores). In contrast, proportional representation of macroinvertebrates in the shredder functional feeding group increased with time since logging and canopy cover (high PC2 scores). Brook trout density and biomass was significantly greater in young, recently logged stands (high PC1 scores) and was positively related to overall macroinvertebrate abundance. In addition, three variables – trout density, invertebrate abundance and shredder abundance – successfully discriminated between streams that were less‐impacted versus more‐impacted by forestry. 4. These results indicate that timber harvest in northern New England headwater streams may shift shredder‐dominated macroinvertebrate communities supporting low trout abundance to a grazer/chironomid‐dominated macroinvertebrate community supporting higher trout abundance. However, while local effects on brook trout abundance may be positive, these benefits may be outweighed by negative effects of brook trout on co‐occurring species, as well as impairment of habitat quality downstream. Research testing the generality of these patterns will improve understanding of how aquatic ecosystems respond to anthropogenic and natural trajectories of forest change.     

Are biological classifications of headwater streams concordant across multiple taxonomic groups?

1. Studies assessing human impacts on freshwater ecosystems are typically based on a single taxonomic group, often macroinvertebrates or fish. Unfortunately, the degree to which such macroinvertebrate or fish‐based surveys can be generalised across other taxonomic groups remains largely unknown. A prerequisite for useful generalisations is that different taxonomic groups exhibit concordant patterns of community structure across sites. 2. We examined the concordance among fish, benthic macroinvertebrates and bryophytes in 32 streams in a boreal catchment in Finland. Our goal was to test how consistently different taxonomic groups classify stream sites; for example, can site groupings based on macroinvertebrates be used as a surrogate for bryophyte or fish assemblage classification? 3. Our results show that community classifications in headwater streams are not concordant across taxonomic groups, at least not at the within‐river system scale. The lack of concordance reflected the fact that all three groups responded to different environmental factors. Macroinvertebrate community structure was mainly correlated with stream size and pH, whereas bryophytes were related to water colour, nutrient content and in‐stream habitat variability. Fish community structure was best described by stream depth, substrate size and water oxygen concentration. 4. Our results suggest that great care should be taken when typologies based on benthic macroinvertebrates, or any other taxonomic group, are extrapolated to other groups in creating typologies of lotic environments.