The spatial heterogeneity of a river bottom: a key factor determining macroinvertebrate communities

Longitudinal patterns of macroinvertebrate communities in relation to environmental factors in a Tibetan-Plateau river system

“…In particular, EPT taxa are the main residents on boulder and cobble substrates, and some taxa of Chironomidae and Oligochaeta are more abundant in clay beds. Many studies have consistently found that the taxa richness of macroinvertebrates is positively correlated with the heterogeneity and stability of the substrate (Beisel et al, 2000), and is higher in loose beds than in compact beds, because coarse substrates can provide a wide range of refuges and play the role of the principal habitat of macroinvertebrates (Flecker and Allan, 1984;Cobb et al, 1992). In addition, the results also highlight the importance of channel width on the distribution of macroinvertebrates.…”

“…Substratum types have been particularly identified as determinants of lotic macroinvertebrate communities (e.g. Beisel et al, 1998Beisel et al, , 2000Buss et al, 2004). In this study, substrate type significantly influenced the distribution patterns of benthic communities, suggested from the CCA results.…”

Assessing impact of eucalyptus plantations on benthic macroinvertebrate communities by a litter exclusion experiment

“…Friberg 1997, Kennedy et al 2000. Natural differences such as in discharge pattern, in channel characteristics, in benthic disturbance regimes, in temperature, in light or in water chemistry, make it difficult to isolate the impact caused by the substitution of forest type (Townsend & Riley 1999, Beisel et al 2000. Many factors influence riparian environments, thus making nearly impossible to find spatially separated reaches with the same characteristics (Margalef 1983, Cooper et al 1997.…”

The Effect of Riffle-Scale Environmental Variability on Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in a Tropical Stream

“…Palmer et al (2000) quantified the spatial distribution of sand and leaf patches in stream sites 20 m long, and demonstrated the influence of patch spatial arrangement on the abundance of chironomids and copepods. Beisel et al (2000) quantified substratum heterogeneity at mesohabitat scale and found a relationship between assemblage characteristics and some heterogeneity measures, and Boyero (2003b) obtained similar results at a smaller spatial scale (225 cm^ plots). Sansón et al (1995) quantified surface roughness of stones, which represents a form of heterogeneity at a smaller scale.…”

“…The Shannon index has been previously applied to measure environmental variabihty (e.g. Beisel et al, 2000).…”