Fauna of Natural Seagrass and Transplanted Halodule wrightii (Shoalgrass) Beds in Galveston Bay, Texas

Abstract We compared nekton and benthos densities and community compositions in a natural mixed seagrass bed dominated by Halodule wrightii (shoalgrass) with those found in three shoalgrass transplant sites and adjoining sand habitats in western Galveston Bay, Texas, U.S.A. Quantitative drop traps and cores were used to compare communities up to seven times over 36 months post‐transplant where transplant beds survived. Total densities of fishes, decapods, annelids, benthic crustaceans, and most dominant species were significantly higher in natural seagrass than in transplanted shoalgrass or sand habitats during most sampling periods. On occasion, fish and decapod densities were significantly higher in transplanted shoalgrass than in adjoining sand habitats. No consistent faunal differences were found among transplant sites before two of three sites failed. Taxonomic comparison of community compositions indicated that nekton and benthos communities in natural seagrass beds were usually distinct from those in transplanted beds or sand habitats, which were similar. We conclude that reestablishing a shoalgrass bed that resembles a natural seagrass bed and its faunal communities in the Galveston Bay system will take longer than 3 years, provided that transplants persist.     

Intertidal Benthic Invertebrates and Sediment Stability at the Mouth of Delaware Bay

From December 1970 to December 1972, the monthly species composition, density, species richness, and biomass of marine macroscopic invertebrates were quantitatively studied from a wave-protected, intertidal sand flat at the mouth of Delaware Bay. Considerable erosion, transportation, and deposition of sand occurred throughout the study period. The fauna was extremely flexible and resilient in its response to a gradient of considerable sediment mobility. This response was similar in scope to one recognized along the coast of California. Comparison of the local biota with other sand flats and beaches from Maine to South Carolina showed that (1). haustoriids were among the dominant species, (2). densities were roughly comparable, and (3). secondary species were similar. Based on the biological index value, three species contained 87.8% of the fauna from the Cape Henlopen tide flat. These species were the polychaete Scoloplos fragilis and the amphipod Neohaustorius biarticulatus, which were characteristic of sand bars, and the polychaete Heteromastus filiformis, which was more characteristic of troughs or depressions. Mean density varied considerably both monthly and annually with almost no cyclic repetition for any of the three species. There was evidence to indicate that specific habitat requirements of a few species can strongly affect the structure which emerges for a total fauna. Morphology, behavior, physiology, and reproductive strategy are aspects of biology which link dominant benthic species of intertidal sand beaches together.     

仙居国家公园溪流摇蚊幼虫群落结构及其对水质的指示作用

为了解浙江仙居国家公园内溪流中摇蚊幼虫的群落结构及其对水质的指示作用,于2016年8月对仙居国家公园内13条溪流59个点位进行了调查,运用Hilsenhoff生物指数对溪流水质进行评价.结果表明: 59个点位中有37个点处于清洁状态,19个点处于轻污染状态,3个点处于中污染状态.此次调查共获得摇蚊幼虫86种,隶属于4亚科51属.其中,摇蚊亚科种类数最多,有19属37种;直突摇蚊亚科次之,有21属35种;长足摇蚊亚科有9属12种;寡角摇蚊亚科最少,为2属2种.摇蚊亚科密度比重最大,为40.3%;长足摇蚊亚科与直突摇蚊亚科所占比重差异不大,分别为30%与29.4%;寡角摇蚊亚科比重最小,仅为0.3%.壳粗腹摇蚊为仙居国家公园溪流摇蚊幼虫绝对优势种;黄色多足摇蚊、流环足摇蚊、平滑环足摇蚊、纽流长跗摇蚊和小型棒脉摇蚊为优势种.仙居国家公园溪流中摇蚊幼虫指示种分析结果显示,平滑环足摇蚊、双色矮突摇蚊、台湾长跗摇蚊和渐变长跗摇蚊可作为污染水体指示种,流环足摇蚊可作为清洁水体指示种.     

内蒙古锡林河流域不同生境中蝗虫种类组成的分析

本文对内蒙古锡林河流域不同生境中蝗虫种类发生的情况进行了分析。经过系统取样和大面积扫网调查,共采集到蝗虫21种,这些种类在各生境中出现的情况,与生境的复杂程度存在很大的关系。在复杂的生境中,蝗虫种类最丰富。根据锡林河流域不同生境中蝗虫种类发生的情况,经过比较分析,我们认为在该区域存在的沙带生境是典型草原的“蝗虫库”。“蝗虫库”的存在,对牧业生产构成一定的潜在威胁。经存在度分析表明,一些常见的种类,生态分布幅度宽,同时,它们又是当地的优势种害虫,为害大,是重点防治对象。     

Diet and Habitat use by Bluefish, Pomatomus Saltatrix, in a Chesapeake Bay Estuary

Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, are recreationally valuable finfish along the Atlantic seaboard and in the Chesapeake Bay. Diet and habitat use patterns for bluefish life history intervals in Chesapeake Bay estuaries are poorly described although it is widely acknowledged that this apex piscivorous species relies on estuarine habitat for feeding and nursery grounds after oceanic spawning and inshore migration of larvae. Bluefish diet, distribution, and abundance patterns were examined in relation to oyster reef, oyster bar, and sand bottom habitat in the Piankatank River, Virginia. Bluefish from all sites were predominantly piscivorous and were more abundant at reef sites than non-reef sites. Bluefish caught in association with the oyster reef consumed a wider diversity of prey items than fish from other sites; diet diversity may contribute to bluefish success during periods when small pelagic food fish abundance is reduced. Bluefish estuarine habitat use is positively correlated with the presence of oyster shell habitat and the complex trophic communities centering on oyster reefs.     

Temporal and Spatial Distributions of Rotifers in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

From July 2003 to June 2005, investigations of rotifer temporal and spatial distributions were car‐ried out in a bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, Xiangxi Bay, which is the downstream segment of the Xiangxi River and the nearest bay to the Three Gorges Reservoir dam in Hubei Province, China. Thirteen sampling sites were selected. The results revealed a high species diversity, with 76 species, and 14 dominant species; i.e., Polyarthra vulgaris, Keratella cochlearis, Keratella valga, Synchaeta tremula, Synchaeta stylata, Trichocerca lophoessa, Trichocerca pusilla, Brachionus angularis, Brachionus calyciflorus, Brachionus forficula forficula, Ascomorpha ovalis, Conochilus unicornis, Ploesoma truncatum and Anuraeopsis fissa. After the first year of the reservoir impoundment, the rotifer community was dominated by ten species; one year later it was dominated by eight species. The community in 2003/2004 was dissimilar to that in 2004/2005, which resulted from the succes‐sion of the dominant species. The rotifer community exhibited a patchy distribution, with significant heterogeneity observed along the longitudinal axis. All rotifer communities could be divided into three groups, corresponding to the riverine, the transition and the lacustrine zone, respectively. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dynamics of sediment carbon stocks across intertidal wetland habitats of Moreton Bay,Australia

Coastal wetlands are known for high carbon storage within their sediments, but our understanding of the variation in carbon storage among intertidal habitats, particularly over geomorphological settings and along elevation gradients, is limited. Here, we collected 352 cores from 18 sites across Moreton Bay, Australia. We assessed variation in sediment organic carbon (OC) stocks among different geomorphological settings (wetlands within riverine settings along with those with reduced riverine influence located on tide‐dominated sand islands), across elevation gradients, with distance from shore and among habitat and vegetation types. We used mid‐infrared (MIR) spectroscopy combined with analytical data and partial least squares regression to quantify the carbon content of ~2500 sediment samples and provide fine‐scale spatial coverage of sediment OC stocks to 150 cm depth. We found sites in river deltas had larger OC stocks (175–504 Mg/ha) than those in nonriverine settings (44–271 Mg/ha). Variation in OC stocks among nonriverine sites was high in comparison with riverine and mixed geomorphic settings, with sites closer to riverine outflow from the east and south of Moreton Bay having higher stocks than those located on the sand islands in the northwest of the bay. Sediment OC stocks increased with elevation within nonriverine settings, but not in riverine geomorphic settings. Sediment OC stocks did not differ between mangrove and saltmarsh habitats. OC stocks did, however, differ between dominant species across the research area and within geomorphic settings. At the landscape scale, the coastal wetlands of the South East Queensland catchments (17,792 ha) are comprised of approximately 4,100,000–5,200,000 Mg of sediment OC. Comparatively high variation in OC storage between riverine and nonriverine geomorphic settings indicates that the availability of mineral sediments and terrestrial derived OC may exert a strong influence over OC storage potential across intertidal wetland systems.     

山东半岛滨海沙滩前缘的野生植物

滨海沙滩是以海水影响为基本过程的地貌类型, 适应这种环境的植物类群与适生于内陆的沙地植物可能存在巨大差别。在野外调查的基础上, 分析了山东半岛滨海沙滩前缘的植物种类及其种间关系。结果表明: (1) 滨海沙滩前缘具有独特的优势种库, 包括沙钻苔草(Carex kobomugi)、肾叶打碗花(Calystegia soldanella)、粗毛鸭嘴草(Ischaemum bartatum)、单叶蔓荆(Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia)、矮生苔草(Carex pumila)和沙引草(Messerschmidia sibirica)等; (2) 优势种库的成员都是潜在优势种, 它们之间主要呈抑制效应, 对库外物种几乎没有抑制效应, 甚至有互补或互利效应。在进化过程中, 这些潜在优势种可能已适应风暴潮的干扰, 不会因受风暴潮灾害而灭亡。当植物适应风暴潮后, 滨海沙滩不再是灾难环境, 反而变为适宜生境。为持续利用这些物种, 不仅要保护其赖以生存的天然生境, 还要开展引种栽培, 消除人们对野生资源的采挖动机。根据物种间的天然联系, 栽培时宜将具有互利或互补关系的物种间混种植, 不宜将具有抑制关系的物种间混种植。     

Macroborers within coral framework at Discovery Bay, north Jamaica: species distribution and abundance, and effects on coral preservation

 Macroboring organisms are recognised as key agents of reef framework modification and destruction, and while recent studies in the Pacific have improved understanding of spatial variations in macroboring community structure, and rates of macroboring within individual reefs, comparable studies from the Caribbean are largely lacking. This study assesses the distribution of macroboring species and the degree of framework infestation across the reefs at Discovery Bay, north Jamaica. Although individual species of borers exhibit variable distributions across the reef, relative abundances of the main groups of macroborers (sponges, bivalves, worms) illustrate clear distributional trends. Sponges are dominant at fore-reef sites, while sipunculan and polychaete worms are only of importance at back-reef/lagoon and shallow fore-reef sites. Bivalves are locally important within back-reef and lagoon patch reef framework. Average percentages of internal bioerosion (macroboring) vary between sites, but are highest at back-reef and deep fore-reef sites. No systematic pattern of variation occurs within back-reef/lagoon samples, but a significant trend of increased macroboring is recognised with increased water depth on the fore-reef. In addition, significant differences in terms of the susceptibility of individual coral species are recognised. These factors are likely to result in biasing of the fossil record, with variable styles of preservation evident both between sites (i.e. with depth/environment) and within sites (i.e. between coral species). Accepted: 1 June 1998     

内蒙古草原繁殖鸟类群聚组成之比较

利用 5月份温带草原鸟类繁殖期 ,在荒漠草原、草原、湿地、沙地和山地等植被 ,选取 1 1个面积 1 0 0 hm2 ( 50 0 m×2 0 0 0 m)同样大小的样区 ,由 3人各隔 1 50 m作平行的穿越线调查 ,并记录所见鸟类的种类与数量。同时 ,也在每一样区任取面积 1 m2 之植被样方 ,记载样方内植物的种类、垂直高度、覆盖度和植物鲜重。调查结果显示草原繁殖鸟类的种类不多 ,在无树的荒漠草原植被是 4～ 6种 ,草原植被在 5～ 8种之间 ,湿地植被 1 5种 ;在有树的沙地植被是 9～ 1 2种 ,山地植被 6种。鸟种多样性和丰富度指数不大 ,由大而小依序是沙地植被、湿地植被、山地植被、草原植被、荒漠草原植被 ;密度也不高 ,由大而小依序是无树草原的湿地植被、草原植被、荒漠草原植被 ,而后是有树草原的沙地植被、山地植被。鸟类食性分布方面 ,荒漠草原和草原植被以食杂性鸟类为优势 ;湿地植被以食虫性鸟类为多 ;沙地植被以食杂与食肉性鸟类为胜 ;山地植被以食虫和食杂性鸟类较多 ,并增加一些食肉性鸟类。     

Seasonal variation in the abundance, biomass and biodiversity of earthworms in soils contaminated with metal emissions from a primary smelting works

1. Earthworms (Annelida: Oligochaeta) were sampled on four occasions (spring, summer, autumn and winter) at 14 sites along two transects from a primary lead/ zinc/cadmium smelting works at Avonmouth, UK.
2. Total abundance and biomass of earthworms decreased with proximity to the smelter. No worms were collected from the two sites closest to the factory (<0·6 km) and catches were significantly lower than controls at a further five sites (<3 km).
3. Seasonal composition of sampled communities differed only for summer with lower numbers of individuals and species collected at all sites. Reduced catches in the summer sample is a response to drought.
4. Species richness was lowest at sites close to the factory. For example, worms such as Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) and Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny) that were dominant at relatively clean sites further from the smelter are absent from the most contaminated soils.
5. Reduced species richness resulted in lower Shannon–Weiner diversity and higher Berger–Parker dominance. Multivariate cluster analysis for spring, summer and winter indicated that sites could be split into three groups based upon relative species composition. In autumn, two clusters were identified.
6. The absence of sensitive species from sites close to the smelting works supports the inclusion of earthworms as a key group in a terrestrial prediction and classification scheme for quantifying the effects of pollutants on soil biodiversity. However, sampling should be carried out in spring or autumn to obtain an accurate picture of community structure.     

Environmental gradients,plant distribution,and species richness in arctic salt marsh near Prudhoe Bay,Alaska

Spatial patterns of plant cover and species composition in arctic salt marsh and salt affected tundra near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska reflect gradients in elevation, soil conductivity, and soil concentrations of the ions prevalent in seawater. Soil conductivity and soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄ ⁼ and Cl^– were significantly related to site elevation, decreasing as elevation increased. Vascular plant species richness increased significantly as soil conductivity and soil ion concentrations decreased, and site elevation increased. Puccinellia phryganodes was the only species present in low elevation sites with low plant cover, high soil conductivity and high soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄ ⁼ and Cl^–. Mid-gradient sites were dominated by Carex subspathaceae. Plant cover at these sites was greater than at lower elevation sites, but bare ground was still present. Higher elevation sites had the lowest concentrations of soil ions and the lowest soil conductivities. These sites had little bare ground, contained as many as 16 species, and were dominated by Dupontia fischeri and Eriophorum angustifolium. Ordinations indicated that a complex topographic gradient related most closely to elevation and site distance from the coast best explains variation in the vegetation cover. Irregular deposition along the coastline partially or completely buried three sites in peat or sand up to 20 cm deep. Such rapid changes in plant cover and species composition contributes to the community patch mosaic typical of these marshes. Results suggest an individualistic response of plant species to the environmental gradients in salt marsh and salt affected tundra and are indicative of successional models developed in other marginal arctic environments.     

崂山湾人工鱼礁区星康吉鳗摄食生态及食物网结构

根据2015年4月至2017年1月于崂山湾人工鱼礁区地笼网和延绳钓捕获的279尾星康吉鳗样本,从胃含物组成、食性类型、摄食等级、营养生态位和营养级等方面对其摄食生态进行研究,同时结合海区许氏平鲉、大泷六线鱼、斑头鱼、褐菖鲉、花鲈等9种鱼类的胃含物分析结果,构建人工鱼礁区鱼类关键种的简化食物网模型.食性研究结果表明:星康吉鳗共摄食7类30余种饵料,虾类是其最主要的饵料类群,其次为鱼类和头足类,大泷六线鱼、方氏云鳚、鹰爪虾、玉筋鱼和日本鼓虾等是其优势饵料.星康吉鳗的饵料生物组成随肛长和季节发生显著变化.四季均以鱼类和虾类为主,春季胃含物中包括头足类,秋季包括头足类和蟹类,冬季亦有蟹类出现.肛长≤120 mm的星康吉鳗主要摄食鱼卵和鹰爪虾,120~130 mm肛长组主要摄食玉筋鱼和日本鼓虾,肛长>130 mm的星康吉鳗主要摄食大泷六线鱼和方氏云鳚.其摄食强度也随季节和肛长而变化,空胃率的季节性差异显著,平均胃饱满系数的季节性差异不显著,不同肛长组的空胃率和平均胃饱满系数均不存在显著差异.人工鱼礁区简化食物网结构显示:鱼类关键种的营养级均在3级以上,星康吉鳗的营养级为4.636,处于海区食物网的最顶端.虾类、蟹类、端足类和软体动物等是鱼类关键种的主要饵料,甲壳类、方氏云鳚、大泷六线鱼和玉筋鱼是高营养级鱼类花鲈和星康吉鳗的主要饵料.     

Long‐term regeneration of a tropical plant community after sand mining

Sandy coastal plant communities in tropical regions have been historically under strong anthropic pressure. In Brazil, these systems shelter communities with highly plastic plant species. However, the potential of these systems to regenerate without human assistance after disturbances has hardly been examined. We determined the natural regeneration of a coastal sandy plain vegetation (restinga) in Brazil, 16 years after the end of sand removal. We inventoried 38 plots: 20 within a sand‐mined site and 18 in an adjacent undisturbed site. We expected lower diversity values in the sand‐mined site compared to the undisturbed site, but similar species composition between the two sites due to the spatial proximity of the two sites and the high plasticity of restinga species. Species were ranked using abundance and importance value index in both sites, and comparisons were performed using Rényi entropy profiles, rarefaction curves, principal component analysis, and redundancy analysis. Species composition and dominant species differed markedly between the two sites. Bromeliads and Clusia hilariana, well‐known nurse plants, dominated the undisturbed site but were almost absent in the regenerating site. Species richness did not differ between both sites, but diversity was higher in the undisturbed site. Within‐site composition differences in the mined area were associated with field characteristics. Interestingly, species classified as subordinate or rare in the undisturbed site became dominants in the regenerating site. These newer dominants in the sand‐mined site are not those known as nurse plants in other restingas, thus yielding strong implications for restoration.     

大亚湾大鹏澳水域春季浮游植物优势种的演替

根据2002年4月28日～5月27日大亚湾大鹏澳内每日采样的现场连续观测资料,使用主分量分析方法和多元回归方法,分析浮游植物优势种类之间的关系及影响其生长与演替的主要理化因子,建立春季浮游植物优势种类的演替模型。模型表明,中肋骨条藻和柔弱菱形藻之间为竞争关系;与浮游植物(以硅藻为主)生长密切相关的理化因子为温度(T)、溶解氧饱和度(DOsat)、铵氮(NH4-N)、亚硝酸氮(NO2-N)、磷酸盐(PO4-P)、硅酸盐(SiO3-Si)。影响中肋骨条藻的理化因子还有盐度(S)和氮磷比值(NO3／PO4)。并根据优势种类发生演替期间的环境变化(降雨),分析了浮游植物优势种由中肋骨条藻演替为柔弱菱形藻的过程。     

深圳大鹏半岛主要河流底栖动物群落结构及水质生物学评价

2013年5月对深圳大鹏半岛4条主要河流(葵涌河、王母河、鹏城河和东涌河)的大型底栖动物群落结构进行了调查,并利用香农-维纳多样性指数和生物指数(BI)对河流水质进行了生物学评价。在大鹏半岛主要河流的15个样点共采获大型底栖动物35种,隶属3门7纲21科,其中水生昆虫26种,约占底栖动物种类数的74%。但底栖动物的种类组成与分布极不均匀,EPT(蜉蝣目+襀翅目+毛翅目)等对水质变化较敏感的类群主要分布于葵涌河的源头及受人为干扰活动较少的东涌河,而耐污能力较强的摇蚊科幼虫、霍甫水丝蚓和颤蚓等则为葵涌河中、下游样点、王母河和鹏城河的优势物种。生物指数(BI)相较于香农-维纳多样性指数,更适用于水质评价。结果显示,除葵涌河源头、鹏城河和东涌河样点的水质处于清洁至轻污染外,其余大部分样点处于中污染至重污染状态。推测大鹏半岛的王母河及葵涌河中、下游河段的生活污水及工业废水已对底栖动物的群落结构与河流水质造成了一定的影响。     

Vegetation restoration by seasonal exclosure in the Kerqin Sandy Land,Inner Mongolia

Grazing control has been reported to be effective for the control of desertification in semi-arid regions. However, economic reasons often make complete inhibition of grazing (complete exclosure) difficult to carry out. Grazing control has been applied to the Kerqin Sandy Lands, Inner Mongolia, China, by means of seasonal exclosure, whereby grazing is allowed from November to April. The harvesting of hay is also allowed once during September - October. The aim of the reported study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this seasonal exclosure on vegetation restoration. Species compositional data were obtained from 356 quadrats and ordinated by Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). Ordination indicated that landform was the most important factor influencing the species composition of the vegetation. Regardless of landform and type of grazing control, however, vegetation coverage, vegetation height and species richness were higher at sites where grazing had been controlled, than at sites lacking any control. Perennial species were dominant at the former while annual species were dominant at the latter. Both shrub and tree species were quite rare at the sites where seasonal exclosure had been carried out. It is concluded that seasonal exclosure is sufficient to restore and maintain grassland vegetation in and around the study area. When shrubby or tree vegetation is needed for reasons such as fixing sands or preventing sand dune remobilization, complete exclosure is recommended.     

互花米草入侵对红树林底栖甲壳动物和鱼类功能群及生态位的影响

为了解互花米草入侵对红树林湿地生态系统底栖甲壳动物和鱼类的影响,本研究利用地笼方式于2020年8月、2021年1月和4月对福建漳江口2个原生红树林样地(白骨壤和秋茄)、2个互花米草入侵样地以及1个光滩样地的底栖甲壳动物和鱼类进行采样调查。采用相对重要性指数、Shannon多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数分析底栖甲壳动物和鱼类的优势种及物种多样性,统计其功能群,并计算其生态位宽度和生态位重叠指数。结果表明: 3个季节共采集到底栖甲壳动物和鱼类种类37种,隶属于2门2纲8目17科,其中大多数为暖水性和广盐性物种,且以肉食性和杂食性功能群为主。双因素方差分析和非度量多维尺度分析结果表明,相比光滩,互花米草入侵后,底栖甲壳动物和鱼类的群落多样性指数变化不显著,但功能群发生了显著变化,浮游生物食性功能群以及肉食性和植食性功能群物种均有一定程度的增加。相比红树林样地,互花米草样地内底栖甲壳动物和鱼类物种丰富度更高。优势物种的时空生态位宽度变化范围在0～1.4186,其中棱鮻最高(1.4186),其次是中华乌塘鳢(1.0168)、刀额新对虾(0.9469)、脊尾白虾(0.8922)。     

Spatial structure of a subtidal macrobenthic community in the Bay of Veys (western Bay of Seine, English Channel)

The spatial distribution of the muddy fine sand community from the Bay of Veys (western English Channel) were investigated during spring and autumn 1997. A grid of 55 and 54 sites was sampled in March and October, respectively, using two replicates per site of a Hamon grab (0.25 m²) for macrofauna collection and an additional one for sediment analysis. A total of 172 species were sampled with a dominance of polychaetes, followed by crustaceans and bivalves. The species richness and abundance show low temporal changes despite higher values in October than in March. In March, the mean abundance was 165 ind. 0.5 m⁻²; in October, the mean abundance was 212 ind. 0.5 m⁻². Four assemblages from the Abra alba-Pectinaria koreni community were identified corresponding to a bathymetric and sedimentary gradient from muddy fine sands with high levels of fine particles in shallow water to fine sands in deeper water. The discussion focuses on factors prevailing on the spatial structure of sandy communities in the English Channel.     

VARIATION IN DIATOM COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AMONG HABITATS IN SANDY STREAMS1

Community structure of benthic diatoms in two sandy streams was studied for two summers to assess differences in abundances and species composition among habitats and between years and streams. The greatest differences in abundances (cells·cm^?2) were lower abundances on rocks than on sand, whether the sand was clean or covered with flocculent organic material. Relatively little variation in abundances occurred between years and streams. Species composition of diatom communities varied more among habitats and between streams than from year to year. Species composition was most unique in floc-covered sand when communities in clean and floc-covered sand, rock, plant, and plankton were compared. Diatom species composition in these sandy streams was most similar on sand and rocks.