Macroinvertebrate secondary production in 3 forested streams of the upper Midwest, USA

Abstract

AbstractMacroinvertebrate secondary production was estimated for 2 reaches in each of 3 adjacent forested headwater streams. We had 3 objectives: 1) to compare macroinvertebrate secondary production and community structure both within and among streams to examine the spatial extent of variability, 2) to explore important habitat variables related to secondary production, and 3) to compare our secondary production values to values from other headwater streams in deciduous forests. Principal components analysis separated study streams on the basis of small differences in substrate composition, organic-matter standing crops, and instream wood, but geology, riparian tree species composition, and fine benthic organic-matter standing crops were similar among streams. Secondary production varied among streams (range ∼1.2 to 3.3 g ash-free dry mass m−2 y−1) and was low compared to estimates from other streams draining deciduous forest. Macroinvertebrate communities had relatively higher production of scrapers, pr...