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Tropical acid streams – the chironomid (Diptera) response in northern Australia |
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| Authors: | PS CRANSTON PD COOPER RA HARDWICK CL HUMPHREY & PL DOSTINE |
| Institution: | Division of Entomology, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, ACT 2601, Australia,;Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia,;Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, Jabiru, NT 0886, Australia |
| Abstract: | 1. Chironomidae, sampled by interception of drifting cast pupal exuviae, responded to inputs of acid, heavy metal-rich waters in a seasonally flowing tropical stream in northern Australia. 2. Responses included gain of distinctive (indicative) taxa, loss of some species typical of pristine conditions, and increase in species richness. 3. Experimental manipulation (upstream diversion) of a mine adit entry showed that these responses were the result of change in water quality. 4. The higher species richness at low pH, which is contrary to temperate studies, may be explained by the large tropical (Australian and south-east Asian) pool of species tolerant of naturally occurring acidic aquatic habitats. 5. The structure and responses of the exuvial-assessed chironomid community matched long-term larval data. |
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