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Animal community structure as a function of stream size

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Abstract

The species-area relationship of the island biogeography theory was calculated for macroinvertebrates in 22 coastal, adjacent streams. A z-value of 0.19 was obtained. The low z-value was probably a consequence of the short distances between streams as well as high dispersal rates. In addition, a cluster analysis based on the dissimilarity of species assemblages showed that stream size was of prime importance in categorizing the streams. To a smaller extent water quality affected the community structure in the streams.

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Brönmark, C., Herrmann, J., Malmqvist, B. et al. Animal community structure as a function of stream size. Hydrobiologia 112, 73–79 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007669

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