Seasonal and spatial variations in benthic macroinvertebrate communities of Magela Creek, Northern Territory

Abstract

This study examined seasonal and spatial patterns of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in four billabongs and a perennial stream riffle in the Magela Creek catchment, Northern Territory. Chironomids, coleopterans, trichopterans and hydracarina were the most diverse and abundant taxa, although the mussel Velesunio angasi contributed over 98% of total standing crop in most billabongs. Diversity and standing crop were usually higher in littoral than in profundal areas of two shallow billabongs, probably because of the presence of macrophytes. Diversity, abundance and biomass declined sharply over the dry season, from maxima in May-July to minima in December. Recovery in the early wet season was rapid, commencing after the first creek flows in December. The decline and recovery were closely associated with the availability of sediment organic matter, which reflected inputs of mainly allochthonous (terrestrial) detritus over the wet season followed by losses due to intense microbial breakdown. Microbial respiration also seemed related to declines in benthic communities in the latter half of the wet season, by producing hypolimnetic anoxia during periods of reduced creek flow.