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Habitat complexity as a determinate of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure in cypress tree reservoirs

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Abstract

We analyzed benthic samples (n = 128) collected from four cypress-tree population areas within a large, shallow Arkansas reservoir over a 2-year period to investigate macroinvertebrate community distribution patterns and their relation to physical and chemical parameters. The calculated biomass, abundance and diversity of the benthic macroinvertebrate community varied significantly both temporally and spatially. Variations of these variables are most likely explained by significant differences in the concentration of carbon and nitrogen in sediments across lake sites, and on a smaller scale, the presence or absence of cypress trees. Benthic macroinvertebrate abundance, biomass, and diversity significantly decreased with distance from tree.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the members of the Lake Conway benthic macroinvertebrate research groups who made this study possible. Specifically, we thank Neely Claassen, Joshua Bryant, and Chris Roberts for their assistance with both field and laboratory work. We also appreciated the help of Garin Holman, Alicia Makia, Joelle Shostell, and Mark Thoortak for their assistance in the field, and The Highway Landing Bait Shop for the use of their watercraft. Lastly, we appreciated the constructive comments of two anonymous reviewers and the Associate Editor of Hydrobiologia.

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  1. Department of Biology, Penn State University-Fayette, Route 119N, Uniontown, PA, 15401, USA

    Joseph M. Shostell

  2. Biology Department, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, 72035, USA

    Bradley S. Williams

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  1. Joseph M. Shostell
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  2. Bradley S. Williams
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Correspondence to Joseph M. Shostell.

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Shostell, J.M., Williams, B.S. Habitat complexity as a determinate of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure in cypress tree reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 575, 389–399 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0385-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0385-8

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