PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #11: Aquatic Ecology: Conservation, Plankton, Invertebrates.
Presiding: C. Cooper
Monday, August 5. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Palo Verde Room, Radisson.
Macroinvertebrate diversity in New Zealand spring brooks and streams.
Barquin, Jose*,1, Death, Russell1, 1 Institute of Natural Resources - Ecology, Palmerston North, New Zealand
ABSTRACT- The effect of disturbance on macroinvertebrate communities has been examined in a number of studies both in New Zealand and elsewhere. Springs provide a unique scenario in which to study macroinvertebrate communities in the absence of disturbance. We sampled 18 pristine springs in 4 different New Zealand regions. Each of these springs was matched with a nearby stream of similar physical characteristics. Five Surber samples were collected in each site. Not surprisingly the substrata of spring brooks was more stable than in the corresponding streams. As a consequence spring brooks had higher concentrations of chlorophyll a than the streams. Macroinvertebrate diversity and density was also usually higher in spring brooks than in streams. The exceptions to this pattern appear to be associated with low variation in spring brook water temperature.
KEY WORDS: Springs, Spring brooks, Disturbance, Macroinvertebrate diversity, New Zealand