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The macroinvertebrate fauna of an acid‐stressed headwater stream system in the Adirondack Mountains, New York
Author(s) -
SIMPSON K. W.,
BODE R. W.,
COLQUHOUN J. R.
Publication year - 1985
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.1365-2427.1985.tb00241.x
Subject(s) - fauna , ecology , caddisfly , streams , abundance (ecology) , tributary , biology , chironomidae , larva , geography , computer network , cartography , computer science
SUMMARY.1 The Silver Run system in the Adirondack Mountains of New York includes three first‐order streams with very different pH regimes: one moderately acidic (pH 5.8‐7.2), the others much more so (pH generally 4.4‐5.0) 2 The less acidic (acidophilic) site yielded a relatively diverse, well balanced fauna, with at least 10% each of midges, mayflies, stoneflies and elmid beetles. Ephemerella funcralis (Ephemeroptera) and Oulimnius latiusculus (Coleoptera) were dominant in this community. They appear to be among the most acid‐tolerant species of their respective families and may become abundant under moderately acidic conditions. Their absence or low abundance in the more acidic tributaries of the Silver Run system suggests that they arc eliminated as acidification intensifies, These species therefore may he useful indicators of advancing acidification. 3 The more acidic (acidobiontic) communities contained fewer Hum half as many taxa as the acidophilic communities, contained few elmid beetles or mayflies, and were heavily dominated In stoneflies. Leuctra feiruinea and Isopecrla sp. were dominant, comprising.56‐86% of the individuals. Other common constituents included black flies ( Simuliumn gouldingi and S. venustum ) and the caddisfly Rhyacvphila fuscula.