Macroinvertebrate drift in the upper Wye catchment, Wales

Abstract

Drift samples collected at five sites in the upper catchment of the River Wye yielded 99 taxa (excluding Chironomidae and Simuliidae). Significantly fewer taxa were collected from a site on the impounded River Elan (W4) compared with nearby River Wye sites. Mean daily density of drifting macroinvertebrates ranged from 6.3 × 10-2 to 782.9 × 10-2m-3, with greatest densities during the summer months, and Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera and Diptera generally comprised the greatest proportion of animals collected. Chironomids formed a considerable proportion of collections at W4 and the relative abundance of ephemeropterans, coleopterans and trichopterans was generally significantly less at W4 than at other sites. Estimates of the total numbers of invertebrates drifting past each site varied from 8.3 × 103 to 1 373.1 × 103day-1. Total numbers drifting were significantly related to estimates of total benthic density and similar relationships were established for some major taxonomic groups and some species.