Distribution of macroinvertebrates in relation to physical and biological variables in the littoral zone of nine New Zealand lakes

• Published in: Hydrobiologia Vol. 462; no. 1-3; pp. 115 - 129
• Main Authors: WEATHERHEAD, Mark A, JAMES, Mark R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 15.10.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic plants; Biological and medical sciences; Chironomidae; Community composition; Community structure; Environmental factors; Ephemeroptera; Fresh water ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitats; Hyridella menziesi; Invertebrata; Lakes; Littoral zone; Macroinvertebrates; Mollusks; New Zealand; Odonata; Oligochaeta; Oligotrophic lakes; Plecoptera; Potamopyrgus antipodarum; Suspended sediments; Synecology; Trichoptera; Wave action; New Zealand; Oceania; Community structure; Littoral zone; Environmental factor; Freshwater environment; Substrate; Spatial distribution; Animal plant relation; Animal community; Regression model; Lakes; Habitat; Aquatic plant; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1013178016080

Macroinvertebrates play a key role in the littoral zone of lakes. Macroinvertebrate community composition is closely linked to habitat conditions. To date, there have been few attempts to relate macroinvertebrates to habitat factors in lakes. In this study, nine mainly oligotrophic lakes from throughout New Zealand were surveyed for macroinvertebrates. The lakes were selected to represent a range of suspended sediment loading and lake level regimes. Within each lake, several sites were selected to provide a range of exposure to wave action. A multiple regression approach was taken to relate macroinvertebrate community composition and habitat characteristics. The results of the analysis suggest that the littoral zone of the lakes we studied could be divided into four general habitats. The first is the wave wash zone characterised by coarse substrates and macroinvertebrate taxa usually associated with lotic environments, such as Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. The second habitat is associated with macrophytes and is limited at the top by wave action and at depth by light attenuation. In this zone, the snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum is dominant, along with Trichoptera and Odonata. At the base of the macrophytes is the detrital habitat characterised by fine, organic rich sediments and dominated by chironomids, oligochaetes and Trichoptera. At depths below the macrophyte zone, fine sediments are found, and bivalves such as the freshwater mussel Hyridella menziesi are common. While macroinvertebrate abundance can be highly variable, some general predictions of community structure can be made based on a few key environmental factors. Abundance of snails Odonata and Trichoptera was positively related to macrophyte biomass. Some macroinvertebrate groups such as oligochaetes, chironomids, snails and bivalves were more common in fine substrates, while Ephemeroptera were characteristic of coarse substrates. Detrital biomass was important for most of the macroinvertebrate groups studied showing a positive relationship for oligochaetes and Trichoptera and a negative relationship for Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]