Colonization and succession of invertebrate communities in a new stream in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Abstract

SUMMARY1. Invertebrate colonization of a new stream following glacial recession is documented for a 12 year period from 1978 to 1990.2. Invertebrates, particularly Chironomidae, displayed site‐specific temporal succession over the study period, at the end of which a number of the pioneer colonizers were no longer collected.3. Maximum species richness was found in 1988, whereas total invertebrate density was greatest in 1978, 10 years earlier.4. Water temperature appeared to be the most significant factor determining the year of colonization of invertebrate taxa. As a result, deterministic trends were apparent in patterns of invertebrate colonization and succession.5. Salmonids first colonized the stream in 1988. Dietary analyses of juvenile Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) showed preferential selection for blackfly and small chironomid larvae.