Interactions among nutrients, algae and invertebrates in a New Zealand mountain stream

Abstract

SUMMARY. 1. Colonization of nutrient‐diffusing substrata by periphyton and invertebrates was investigated at forested and open sites in a small, mountain stream and a spring in the South Island of New Zealand.2. Substrata had colonization surfaces made from 100μm mesh plankton netting that enabled algal assemblages to be removed intact for scanning electron microscopy. They also allowed small volumes of solvent to be used for the extraction of photosynthetic pigments.3. At all sites, periphyton assemblages were dominated by species of Achnanthes, Cocconeis and Gomphonema, and except in the forest in winter, periphyton biomass was always greater on enriched (N + P added) than control substrata.4. Invertebrates colonizing diffusion substrata were principally larval Chironomidae (Orthocladiinac). No larvae were present in winter, but in three spring and summer trials mean larval densities were higher on nutrient‐enriched than control substrata at all sites.5. The inclusion of an insecticide Malathion in diffusion substrata, reduced insect colonization at open and forested sites. After 28 days, no concurrent increases in algal pigment concentration were observed on nutrienl‐enriched or control substrata at the forested site. However, pigment concentrations were higher on substrata incorporating Malathion at the open site suggesting that algal standing crop was depressed by the activities of grazers.