Temporal consistency in the long-term spatial distribution of macroinvertebrate drift along a stream reach |
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Authors: | Eric A Hansen Gerard P Closs |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | Previous studies of the spatial pattern of stream invertebrate drift have focused on spatial variation at microhabitat scales
or landscape scales, or temporal variation over diel or seasonal scales. None have examined consistency in spatial variation
over longer time scales (>1 year). This study examined invertebrate drift density and composition at fixed locations (terminal
ends of 10 riffles) each month at day and night along a 1 km reach of a 2nd order stream over a period of nearly 2 years.
Consistent differences in the density of macroinvertebrate drift between riffles over 2 years were observed. The only habitat
characteristic observed to be related to invertebrate drift density was the length and size of riffles above sampling sites,
with larger and longer riffles producing the highest drift densities. Consistent differences in the supply of drifting macroinvertebrates
along a stream reach may have implications for the supply of colonists to substrate patches and the profitability of feeding
positions for drift-feeding fish and other predators.
Handling editor: D. Dudgeon |
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Keywords: | Aquatic macroinvertebrates Drift density Distribution patterns Riffle characteristics New Zealand |
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