Compliance of secondary production and eco-exergy as indicators of benthic macroinvertebrates assemblages' response to canopy cover conditions in Neotropical headwater streams

Abundance and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates from shifting sand areas in the bed of the Sand River in central Alberta, Canada, were examined for 1 yr. Macroinvertebrate density ranged from 12 000 to 78 000 individuals/m2, but total biomass was low (50–490 mg/m2 dry mass) due to the small size of most organisms. The interstitial larvae of two chironomid species (Robackia demeijerei and Rheosmittia sp.) contributed a mean of 80.6% biomass and 92.8% of total number of macroinvertebrates. Total annual secondary production of these two species (752.0 ± 144.5 mg∙m−2∙yr−1) was used as an estimate of total secondary production of benthic macroinvertebrates in shifting sand areas. Both R. demeijerei and Rheosmittia sp. exhibited larval growth and development rates much slower than those reported for comparably sized species in other habitats. Food or frequent disturbance may limit the growth of these species. Although unit area biomass and production were low relative to other lotie habitats, shifting sand areas make significant contributions to the river ecosystem because they occupy a large proportion of the river bed.

Download Full-text

Secondary Production of Macroinvertebrate Shredders in Headwater Streams with Different Baseflow Alkalinity

Journal of the North American Benthological Society ◽

10.2307/1467364 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 345-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

M. B. Griffith ◽

S. A. Perry ◽

W. B. Perry

Keyword(s):

Secondary Production ◽

Headwater Streams

Download Full-text

Scale-dependent effects of rural activities on benthic macroinvertebrates and physico-chemical characteristics in headwater streams of the Mara River, Kenya

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.03.011 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 116-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Veronica Minaya ◽

Michael E. McClain ◽

Otto Moog ◽

Fred Omengo ◽

Gabriel A. Singer

Keyword(s):

Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽

Headwater Streams ◽

Chemical Characteristics ◽

Physico Chemical

Download Full-text

Combined effects of water chemistry, canopy cover, and stream size on benthic macroinvertebrates along a Central Appalachian stream continuum

10.33915/etd.1537 ◽

2002 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jesse Adam Bopp

Keyword(s):

Water Chemistry ◽

Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Combined Effects ◽

Stream Size

Download Full-text

Benthic life in karst spring—The life cycle and secondary production of benthic macroinvertebrates under the effects of constant water temperature

Limnologica ◽

10.1016/j.limno.2018.11.002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 74 ◽

pp. 51-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pavel Beracko ◽

Aneta Revajová

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Water Temperature ◽

Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽

Secondary Production ◽

Karst Spring

Download Full-text

Communities of aquatic insects of old-growth and clearcut coastal headwater streams of varying flow persistence

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x03-089 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 33 (8) ◽

pp. 1416-1432 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Karen Price ◽

Arlene Suski ◽

Joanna McGarvie ◽

Barbara Beasley ◽

John S Richardson

Keyword(s):

Aquatic Insects ◽

Algal Biomass ◽

Headwater Streams ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Ephemeral Streams ◽

Aquatic Communities ◽

Old Growth ◽

Organic Detritus ◽

Temporary Streams ◽

Old Growth Forest

Headwater streams, varying in flow persistence from ephemeral to intermittent to perennial, provide the tightest coupling between water and land, yet they often receive the least protection during forest management. We described communities of aquatic insects in perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral channels surrounded by old-growth forest and 4- to 8-year-old clearcuts in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, to determine whether temporary streams have unique aquatic communities and to examine the short-term impacts of harvesting. We measured flow persistence, stream size, canopy cover, organic detritus, and algal biomass in 19 streams. We sampled aquatic invertebrates with a combination of emergence cages and kicknet samples. Temporary and old-growth streams had more organic detritus and a higher abundance of shredders. Perennial and clearcut streams had a higher abundance of some algal grazers, but not higher algal biomass. Insect richness was similar in intermittent and perennial streams of each seral stage but lower in ephemeral streams. Intermittent streams contained four taxa not found in the other stream classes; perennial and ephemeral streams had none. Communities of aquatic insects differed between streams surrounded by clearcuts and old growth, and varied with continuity of flow.

Download Full-text