The response of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities to flow permanence within limestone springs and headwater streams was examined across the English Peak District. At the regional scale, macroinvertebrate communities of perennial and intermittent springs displayed significant differences in the number of taxa, macroinvertebrate community abundance, diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson indices) and the Berger-Parker dominance index at intermediate discharge. However, no significant difference was recorded between intermittent and perennial sites at high discharge or when all sampling occasions were pooled. At the catchment scale, the number of taxa, community abundance and Bray-Curtis similarity coefficients within the River Lathkill differed significantly between intermittent springs and other habitats. At both the regional and catchment scale the macroinvertebrate communities of intermittent springs were characterised by a small number of taxa displaying life cycle adaptations to intermittent aquatic habitats, particularly Trichoptera.
Springs are unique freshwater habitats and represent ideal sites in which to examine the relationship between environmental variables and macro‐invertebrate communities. The results of three case studies infer that species assemblages are determined by the physical habitat conditions within a spring and the ecological requirements of the component species. The composition of the macro‐invertebrate community changes significantly along the longitudinal gradient of a spring‐brook, as predicted by ecological theory. The results of the case studies are examined in relation to the conservation and protection of these little‐studied habitats, and suggestions are made as to how to achieve this in the Wye Valley.
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