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Factors Affecting the Benthic Community Structure of a Discontinuous Stream in Guadelupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Author(s) -
Meyerhoff Richard D.,
Lind Owen T.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19870720304
Subject(s) - benthic zone , periphyton , species richness , national park , detritus , environmental science , biomass (ecology) , ecology , community structure , ordination , geography , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering
McKittrick Creek, a discontinuous mountain‐desert stream in Guadelupe Mountains National Park, Texas, was sampled at discrete locations (pools) to test for differences in biomass, density, species diversity, equitability, and species richness in the benthic macroinvertebrate community. Significant differences occurred among pools for these biotic characteristics of the benthic community along the downstream gradient. Pools connected by flow were more similar to each other than pools separated by dry reaches. Variation in the quantity of coarse detritus and periphyton best explained differences among pools.