Summary
A method is described by which samples of stream macroinvertebrates can be linked to the roughness of the substratum, the water depth, the velocity, and to a combination of these factors, i.e., Froude number and thickness of the laminar sublayer, at the exact point of sampling. The abundance of Odagmia ornata (Diptera: Simuliidae), the species considered in this study, was not related to roughness, but depended with increasing significance on depth, velocity, Froude number, and laminar sublayer. Therefore, it is suggested that the population size of stream macroinvertebrates can be estimated using the relationships between abundance and the most suitable hydrodynamic factor. For this purpose it is necessary only to measure the physical factors and then to calculate the abundance, using both these measurements and the abundance-hydrodynamic factor relationships formerly established.
A longer section of a stream with a relatively wide range of habitats was sampled for 1 week, during which the new method yielded results that reached the level of accuracy per sampling effort obtained to date only when a narrower range of habitats was sampled, usually only one stream riffle. Under the latter conditions, the new method is suggested to yield results of increased accuracy, particularly if samples are taken within a short period.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen KR (1958) The distribution of stream bottom faunas. Proc N Z Ecol Soc 6:5–8
Ambühl H (1959) Die Bedeutung der Strömung als ökologischer Faktor. Schweiz Z Hydrol 21:133–264
Campbell RC (1971) Statistische Methoden für Biologie und Medizin. Thieme. Stuttgart
Chutter EM (1972) A reappraisal of Needham and Usinger's data on the variability of a stream fauna when sampled with a Surber sampler. Limnol Oceanogr 17:139–141
Chutter FM, Noble RG (1966) The reliability of a method of sampling stream invertebrates. Arch Hydrobiol 62:95–103
Décamps H, Larrouy G, Trivellato D (1975) Approche hydrodynamique de la microdistribution d'invertébrés benthiques en eau courante. Annls Limnol 11:79–100
Elliott JM (1979) Some methods for the statistical analysis of samples of benthic invertebrates, 2nd ed, 2nd impr. FBA Sci Publ 25 Ambleside
Elliott JM, Tullett PA (1978) A bibliography of samplers for benthic invertebrates. FBA Occas Publ 4 Ambleside
Gore JA (1978) A technique for predicting in-stream flow requirements of benthic macroinvertebrates. Freshwat Biol 8:141–151
Hynes HBN (1971) Benthos of flowing water. In: WT Edmondson, GG Winberg (eds), A manual on methods for the assessment of secondary productivity in fresh waters. IBP Handbook 17 Blackwell Sci Publ Oxford-Edinburgh p 66–74
Jacobi GZ (1978) An inexpensive circular sampler for collecting benthic macroinvertebrates in streams. Arch Hydrobiol 83:126–131
Mason JC (1976) Evaluating a substrate tray for sampling the invertebrate fauna of small streams, with comment on general sampling problems. Arch Hydrobiol 78:51–70
Needham PR, Usinger RL (1956) Variability in the macrofauna of a single riffle in Prosser Creek, California, as indicated by the Surber sampler. Hilgardia 24:383–409
Phillipson J (1956) A study of factors determining the distribution of the larvae of the blackfly, Simulium ornatum Mg. Bull Entomol Res 47:227–238
Resh VH (1975) The use of transect sampling in estimating single species production of aquatic insects. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 19:3089–3094
Resh VH (1978) Preliminary observations on spatial distribution patterns of stream caddisfly populations. Proc 2nd Int Symp Trichoptera 1977 Junk The Hague p 331–336
Riedwyl H (1980) Regressionsgerade und Verwandtes. UTB Haupt Bern-Stuttgart
Smith IR (1975) Turbulence in lakes and rivers. FBA Sc Publ 29 Ambleside
Statzner B (1979) Der Obere und Untere Schierenseebach (Schleswig-Holstein). Strukturen und Funktionen in zwei norddeutschen See-Ausfluß-Systemen, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Makroinvertebraten. Diss Univ Kiel
Statzner B (in press) The relation between “hydraulic stress” and microdistribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in a lowland running water system, the Schierenseebrooks (North Germany). Arch Hydrobiol
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Statzner, B. A method to estimate the population size of benthic macroinvertebrates in streams. Oecologia 51, 157–161 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540594
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540594