New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Comparison of the macroinvertebrate faunas of runs and riffles in three New Zealand streams
R. D. PRIDMORE D. S. ROPER
Water Quality Centre
Ministry of Works and Development
Private Bag, Hamilton
New Zealand
Abstract
The macroinvertebrate faunas of runs and riffles in three North Island streams were studied during February 1984. In all three streams, both habitats supported similar numbers of taxa and all species found in runs were also present in riffles. No more than two taxa in any one stream were exclusive to riffles, and of these, only the trichop-teran
Costachorema xanthoptera was exclusive to that habitat whenever it was found. In two of the streams (Rangitukia and Waitakaruru), the mean total densities of macroinvertebrates supported by runs and riffles were not significantly different. However, in Kiripaka Stream, higher total densities were found in riffles than in runs. Most of the taxa (63-68%) in each stream had similar densities in runs and riffles, but some (20-30%) were more abundant in riffles and a few (6 - 12%) were more abundant in runs. Of the nine major taxonomic groups recorded, only Ephemeroptera had consistently higher relative abundances in riffles than runs, whereas Gastropoda and Amphipoda had consistently higher relative abundances in runs. The distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates are discussed in relation to environmental and biotic factors. The relevance of the data to invertebrate sampling programmes is also discussed.
Keywords macroinvertebrates; streams; runs; riffles; New Zealand; distribution; abundance; sampling
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1985, Vol. 19: 283-291 Received 5 November 1984; accepted 23 January 1985
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (651K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
