Short-term colonisation by macroinvertebrates of cobbles in main channel and inundated stream bank habitats

Abstract

In small, forested catchments, short rainfall events cause relatively rapid increases in river discharge that inundate previously dry streamside habitats and last for several days. We examined the colonisation and use of such newly inundated habitats by macroinvertebrates in the riffles of a cobble-dominated river over a 4-day period. First we simulated inundation by adding dry river rocks to the main channel of the stream. Second, we observed colonisation of streamside rocks that were inundated following rainfall and subsequent natural spate. Macroinvertebrates colonised rocks in both habitats within 24 h, yet overall macroinvertebrate abundance did not change significantly over the subsequent 3 days. The abundances of common taxa were similar on mid-channel and stream bank rocks but each habitat contained a unique suite of uncommon taxa. Taxon richness was significantly greater on the stream bank rocks, which we attribute to the non-selective colonisation of fauna to avoid high flows in the main channel during the spate. Our study shows that fauna use the stream bank habitat as a haven from high flows in the main river channel, but the fate of the animals colonising this habitat is uncertain.

The relative contributions of refugium types to the persistence of benthic invertebrates in a seasonal snowmelt flood

“…Some studies have reported that different species of invertebrates use refugia differently (e.g., Lancaster & Hildrew, ; Winterbottom et al ., b; Lancaster, ; Holomuzki & Biggs, ; Negishi & Richardson, ; Hose et al ., ). One key factor in the availability of refugia is the mobility of a particular species (Gjerløv, Hildrew & Jones, ).…”

Chironomidae (Insecta, Diptera) associated with stones in a first-order Atlantic Forest stream

“…Carvalho & Uieda (2004), studying the colonization of ar tificial rock substrates in a forest stream in the Itatinga Mountains in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, repor ted that Chironomidae lar vae were the most abundant group. Hose et al (2007) obser ved a greater density of Chironomidae in rif fle areas along a stony, cobble-dominated stretch of an Australian river in a colonization experiment. Heino & Korsu (2008), studying the relationship between stone surface area and the associated benthic fauna in a temperate climate stream, observed that the Chironomidae were among the most abundant taxa.…”

“…These Chironomidae are abundant in the drift of streams during periods of faster water flow and are considered to be rapid colonizers (Hose et al 2007), making them well adapted to live in habitats where the water fl ow is faster (Trivinho-Strixino & Strixino 2005). Hose et al (2007) reported that nearly 70 % of the Chironomidae that colonized the surface of stones that had been disturbed by increased fl ow within a period of 24 hours were composed of Orthocladiinae. Sanseverino & Nessimian (2001) found Or thocladiinae preferentially inhabiting stones exposed to the current in Atlantic Forest streams.…”

“…The substrates var y in size, surface texture, heterogeneity and availability of food particles, as well as providing dif ferent degrees of stability for the fauna (Reice 1980). Stones normally are stable habitats in periods of high rainfall because they are less susceptible to being carried downstream by the current (Hose et al 2007) and because their uneven surfaces facilitate the movement and attachment of inver tebrates when the water flow slows, of fering greater stability and availability of micro-sites for colonization (Ayres-Peres et al 2006). According to Wang et al (2009) streambeds consisting of cobbles (6.4 -25 cm diameters) and boulders (above 25 cm in diameter) are very stable and provide benthic macroinvertebrates diversifi ed living spaces.…”

The joint effect of tidal barrier construction and freshwater releases on the macrobenthos community in the northern Yellow River Delta (China)

“…In particular, the effects of freshwater releases on the macrobenthos community have raised extensive concerns (Dukowska et al, 2007;Hose et al, 2007;Rolston and Dittmann, 2009). Freshwater is an essential resource for maintaining coastal wetlands, as it both alters the salinity and carries an important load of sediment, which contains important nutrients such as organic matter (Naiman and Dudgeon, 2011;Rolls et al, 2012;Shafroth et al, 2010).…”