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A study of the benthic communities of twenty lakes in the South Island, New Zealand
Author(s) -
TIMMS B. V.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1982.tb00608.x
Subject(s) - trophic level , ecology , dominance (genetics) , benthic zone , biology , chironomus , detritivore , species diversity , benthos , species richness , chironomidae , larva , biochemistry , gene
SUMMARY. The benthos of a heterogeneous series of lakes was sampled in late winter‐spring (before insect emergence) to determine species composition, community structure and standing crops. Nearly 50 species were found, with an average of only 12.4 per lake. Fifteen species occurred widely, with the same few species (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Potamopyrgus antipodarum and sometimes Chironomus and Macropelopia spp.) often dominant. All taxonomic groups were of limited diversity; for instance, the maximum number of chironomids per lake was 8, with an average of 4.7 species. There were no chaoborids or mayflies, and very few isopods, amphipods, ceralopogonids and water mites. Niches of common species were broad. Species composition and dominance were not related to lake trophic status; hence there were no indicator organisms. Standing crops varied only broadly with lake trophic status, probably because of the differential influence of extraneous factors such as relative depth and input of allochthonous organic matter and silt. Depth: biomass profiles were also variable and only partly correlated with trophic status. Instead, many lakes were grouped on the basis of geographical area and the influence of extraneous factors; species were grouped according to the relative extent of their distribution.