Macrophyte Patches Research Articles

Abiotic controls of emergent macrophyte density in a bedrock channel — The Cahaba River, AL (USA)

Research examining bedrock channels is growing. Despite this, biotic–abiotic interactions remain a topic mostly addressed in alluvial systems. This research identified hydrogeomorphic factors operating at the patch-scale (100–102m) in bedrock shoals of the Cahaba River (AL) that help determine the distribution of the emergent aquatic macrophyte, Justicia americana. Macrophyte patch density (number of stems/m2) and percent bedrock void surface area (rock surface area/m2 occupied by joints, fractures, and potholes) were measured (n=24 within two bedrock shoals) using stem counts and underwater photography, respectively. One-dimensional hydrologic modeling (HEC-RAS 4.1.0) was completed for a section within a shoal to examine velocity and channel depth as controlling variables for macrophyte patch density. Results from binary logistic regression analysis identified depth and velocity as good predictors of the presence or absence of Justicia americana within shoal structures (depth p=0.001, velocity p=0.007), which is a similar finding to previous research conducted in alluvial systems. Correlation analysis between bedrock surface void area and stem density demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.665, p=0.01), elucidating a link between abiotic–biotic processes that may well be unique to bedrock channels. These results suggest that the amount of void space present in bedrock surfaces, in addition to localized depth and velocity, helps control macrophyte patch density in bedrock shoal complexes. The utility of geomorphology in explaining patch-scale habitat heterogeneity in this study highlights geomorphology's potential to help understand macrophyte habitat heterogeneity at the reach scale, while also demonstrating its promise for mapping and understanding habitat heterogeneity at the system scale.

Swimming and hiding regardless of the habitat: prey fish do not choose between a native and a non-native macrophyte species as a refuge

The ability to respond to a predation threat may be the key factor influencing prey survival. Thus, small-sized fish may adapt to use macrophyte patches as refugia in ecosystems where they face predators. We evaluated the habitat choices of a small fish species (Serrapinnus notomelas) to determine whether these fish prefer native versus recently introduced submerged macrophyte stands in the context of predator avoidance. Specifically, we applied three predator cue treatments: no cue, chemical cue from a hungry predator and presence of a satiated predator. First, we empirically tested the theoretical assumption that the prey fish use vegetated habitats and that the presence of an actual predator has a stronger effect on the choice of habitat than simply a chemical cue. Then we tested the hypothesis that prey do not choose a habitat according to macrophyte species and whether this pattern changed as a result of increasing predation risk. We found that the prey fish preferred vegetated habitats; however, they did not appear to distinguish native from invasive macrophytes. Our results support the hypothesis that the physical structure of macrophytes is more important in determining habitat choice than the evolutionary relationship between the fish and the native macrophyte species.

Diet overlap between two cyprinids: eurytopic roach and rheophilic dace in tailwater submersed macrophyte patches

From May to August 2004, the available food base and diet of two cyprinid species, eurytopic roach, represented by 75 small specimens, and rheophilic dace, represented by 37 small specimens, were investigated in seasonal patches of submersed aquatic macrophytes (SAM) in the impounded lowland Warta River, Poland. The aim of the study was to recognize spatial and temporal patterns in the feeding of both species in relation to available resources, and to evaluate their food niche overlap. To distinguish homogenous classes of fish alimentary tracts on the basis of their contents, a Kohonen artificial neural network (i.e., a self-organizing map, SOM) was used. Indicator food categories were identified using the IndVal index. Roach and dace partitioned the food niche, which was demonstrated in this study by 1) insignificant values of the Schoener's interspecific diet overlap index on particular sampling occasions, and two SOM sub-clusters (homogenous diet classes) with alimentary tracts almost exclusively of roach (axis of resources), 2) zero or low percentage of specimens of both fish species coming from the same sampling occasions and assigned to any of the remaining homogenous diet classes (axis of time), and 3) absence of roach in May and dace in August in the SAM patches, i.e., on almost half of the sampling occasions (axis of space). The diet overlap was highest when the SAM patches and food base were most developed, which is congruent with the niche overlap hypothesis saying that maximal tolerable niche overlap can be higher in less intensely competitive situations.We recommend the combined application of SOM and IndVal index, which have both previously been used in biocoenology, to the analyses of animal diets. They effectively allowed getting insight into the complex trophic relationships.

Fish fauna disassembly after the introduction of a voracious predator: main drivers and the role of the invader’s demography

The introduction of Cichla kelberi to the Rosana Reservoir (Parana River basin, Brazil) was followed by a substantial loss of fish diversity in macrophyte patches, and this study investigated the hypothesis that C. kelberi was the driver of faunal disassembly via certain demographic dynamics (i.e. a pulse of juvenile fish). We analysed the variation in the structure of fish assemblages, the abundance of C. kelberi and habitat quality between 2003 and 2007, including time points that preceded and followed the introduction of the predator. A stepwise regression analysis showed that macrophyte biomass was positively correlated with assemblage attributes (richness and abundance), whereas C. kelberi density showed a strong negative correlation. Variables related to habitat quality were not included in the model, and exhibited little variation over the study years. As predicted, the density of small-bodied fish was negatively associated with the pulse of juvenile C. kelberi, and a tethering experiment revealed that predation pressure increased in the macrophyte patches when young C. kelberi were abundant. This study therefore obtained strong evidence supporting the hypotheses that C. kelberi caused the fish fauna disassembly and that the predator’s demography was the driver underlying the diversity loss.

Effects of an Invasive Alien Poaceae on Aquatic Macrophytes and Fish Communities in a Neotropical Reservoir

AbstractWe investigated the potential effects of an invasive alien Poaceae (Urochloa arrecta) on the abundance, richness, and composition of native macrophytes and fish. Samples were collected in patches of macrophytes dominated by the invasive species and in others dominated by a native macrophyte (Eichhornia azurea). We assessed the potential effects of these two species on macrophyte and fish abundance and richness, as well as in fish assemblage composition. The effects of both macrophytes did not differ when they were in similar, low biomasses. Consistent with our expectations, however, the abundance of native macrophytes and fish decreased with increasing U. arrecta biomass, and both assemblages were eliminated at the extreme high levels of biomass attained by this species. In contrast, E. azurea did not affect the assemblages because this native species never reached levels of biomass as high as those recorded for the invasive species. Competition for space and light most likely determines the elimination of macrophytes in patches that are extensively colonized by U. arrecta, whereas fish assemblages do not occupy these patches due most likely to the limited space available for movement and foraging. Thus, U. arrecta is a source of concern for biodiversity conservation because it has negative influences on both assemblages when it is well developed, which is true in the later stages of the invasion process.

Invasive macrophyte effects on littoral trophic structure and carbon sources

Limited data from terrestrial ecosystems suggest that invasive species can affect energy flow and nutrient cycling in invaded systems. This is likely also true for aquatic ecosystems, yet little information is available on food web effects of invasive macrophytes. This study examined the effects of dominant invasive Eurasian watermilfoil on lake trophic structure and energy flow. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were used to compare trophic structure in invaded and uninvaded lakes and macrophyte stands. Contribution of native and invasive macrophytes, their epiphyton and detritus to the upper trophic level of lacustrine food webs was partitioned using mixing models. Carbon isotope values of macroinvertebrate consumers were similar to macrophyte-associated production in stands from which they were collected. However, contribution of Eurasian watermilfoil and its epiphyton to higher trophic level was negligible, and littoral fish derived most of their energy from sources associated with native macrophytes, despite their lower abundance. This means that littoral fish may depend on the remaining patches of native macrophytes in lakes invaded by non-native plants. Considering previous findings, these results show that the assessment of ecosystem-level processes is needed to understand the entire range of impacts of invasive species.

Effects of flooding regime and diel cycle on diet of a small sized fish associated to macrophytes

AIM: In this paper we assessed the effects of flooding (low and high water period) on the feeding activity and diet composition of Serrapinus notomelas in patches of the macrophyte Eichhornia azurea in a shallow floodplain lake (upper Paraná River Floodplain, Brazil). We also assessed the variations of diet composition and feeding activity along the diel cycle. METHODS: Traps were used to catch the fish inside of macrophyte patches monthly from June/2007 to May/2008. A total of 1038 stomachs were examined. We assessed the feeding activity with the mean stomach fullness degree method. To summarize and support the results of diet composition in the different periods (low and high water periods) and times (dawn, light period, and dusk), was applied a nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS). RESULTS: The feeding activity of S. notomelas did not differ between low and high water periods, but it differed along the diel cycle. The feeding activity was higher during the light period and dusk, at both the low and high water period. The diet composition differed significantly between low and high water periods, and also along the diel cycle. In the low water the diet of S. notomelas was composed mainly by algae and in the high water by Cladocera. Algae were consumed mainly during the light period while Cladocera in dawn and dusk. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the oscillations in the water level affect the diet composition, but not the feeding activity of S. notomelas. These seasonal changes are probably related to the temporal abundance of food resources, thus, when Cladocera density was low (low water), S. notomelas consumed mainly algae but when Cladocera was more abundant (high water), it became a common food resource.

Self‐organised patchiness and scale‐dependent bio‐geomorphic feedbacks in aquatic river vegetation

Spatial self‐organisation of ecosystems is the process by which large‐scale ordered spatial patterns emerge from disordered initial conditions through local feedbacks between organisms and their environment. Such process is considered important for ecosystem functioning, providing increased productivity, resistance and resilience against environmental change. Although spatial self‐organisation has been found for an increasing number of ecosystems, it has never been shown so far for aquatic river vegetation. Here we explore the existence of spatial self‐organisation of freshwater macrophyte patches in a typical lowland river (Belgium), showing that the underlying mechanisms for pattern formation are scale‐dependent feedbacks between plant growth, water flow and local river bed erosion and sedimentation. The mapping of vegetation patches showed that the frequency distribution of patch sizes is governed by a power‐law function, suggesting that the patches are self‐organised. Scale‐dependent feedbacks, likely to lead to this self‐organised pattern, were demonstrated with a mimic experiment. Both positive and negative feedbacks on plants were confirmed by a transplantation experiment. Placing vegetation patch mimics in the river showed experimentally that on a short range (within and behind the mimics) flow reduction and increased sedimentation occurred, while on a larger range (next to patches) the flow was accelerated and decreased sedimentation took place. By transplanting macrophytes within, next to and further away from existing patches, it was proven that the conditions within the patches favoured the survival and growth of transplants (i.e. short‐range positive feedback), while the conditions just next to patches led to decreased survival and growth (i.e. long‐range negative feedback).

Spatial distribution of rotifers (Rotifera) in monospecies beds of invasive Vallisneria spiralis L. in heated lakes

Abstract Species abundance and richness of rotifer communities occupying monospecies beds of Vallisneria was studied in Lake Licheńskie included in the open cooling system of heat and power stations. Differences were found in rotifer numbers, species composition and diversity between sampling points within the same location and between the locations. Factors that seem to be responsible for the high diversity of rotifer communities inhabiting Vallisneria beds are: large-scale horizontal diversity (between macrophyte patches), small-scale horizontal diversity (within patches) and the high vulnerability of Vallisneria epiphyton to disturbances caused by wave action.

Stream hydraulics and temperature determine the metabolism of geothermal Icelandic streams

Key-words: river, ecosystem functioning, hydrogeomorphology, ecosystem services Stream ecosystem metabolism plays a critical role in planetary biogeochemical cycling. Stream benthic habitat complexity and the available surface area for microbes relative to the free-flowing water volume are thought to be important determinants of ecosystem metabolism. Unfortunately, the engineered deepening and straightening of streams for drainage purposes could compromise stream natural services. Stream channel complexity may be quantitatively expressed with hydraulic parameters such as water transient storage, storage residence time, and water spiralling length. The temperature dependence of whole stream ecosystem respiration (ER), gross primary productivity (GPP) and net ecosystem production (NEP = GPP−ER) has recently been evaluated with a “natural experiment” in Icelandic geothermal streams along a 5−25 ◦ C temperature gradient. There remained, however, a substantial amount of unexplained variability in the statistical models, which may be explained by hydraulic parameters found to be unrelated to temperature. We also specifically tested the additional and predicted synergistic effects of water transient storage and temperature on ER, using novel, more accurate, methods. Both ER and GPP were highly related to water transient storage (or water spiralling length) but not to the storage residence time. While there was an additional effect of water transient storage and temperature on ER (r 2 = 0.57; P = 0.015), GPP was more related to water transient storage than temperature. The predicted synergistic effect could not be confirmed, most likely due to data limitation. Our interpretation, based on causal statistical modelling, is that the metabolic balance of streams (NEP) was primarily determined by the temperature dependence of respiration. Further field and experimental work is required to test the predicted synergistic effect on ER. Meanwhile, since higher metabolic activities allow for higher pollutant degradation or uptake, river restoration and management should promote habitat diversity and complexity (hyporheic zone, macrophyte patches, substrate heterogeneity), especially for microbial activity.

Macroinvertebrate communities associated with macrophyte habitats in a tropical man-made lake (Lake Taabo, Côte d’Ivoire)

An ecological study was done on Lake Taabo with the main objective of characterising macroinvertebrate communities associated with the microhabitats created mainly by Eichhornia crassipes and other littoral native macrophytes. We sampled organisms in patches of those aquatic macrophytes. Also, some abiotic variables (temperature, transparency, turbidity, pH, TDS, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, NH, NO, NO, PO and SiO were measured. Overall, forty-three taxa of macroinvertebrates were identified. Ten of them were exclusively associated with water hyacinth while five were only associated with littoral macrophytes. Macroinvertebrate taxa with some of the highest family richness were Gastropoda, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Odonata and Diptera. The taxon with highest density in both microhabitats was Chironomidae. Although higher values of taxonomic richness (Rs), the Shannon index (H′) and evenness (J) were obtained with the water hyacinth habitat, significant differences between the two microhabitats were not observed. Canonical Correspondence Analysis revealed that samples of E. crassipes collected in the dry season were characterised by Gastropoda and Odonata, as well as higher values of transparency and ammonia-nitrogen. Baetidae, Hydrophilidae, Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Coenagrionidae, Naucoridae and Ostracoda were most abundant in both E. crassipes and littoral macrophyte habitats during the rainy season. This season was characterised by higher levels of nitrates and conductivity.

Small-sized Fish Assemblages Do not Differ Between a Native and a Recently Established Non-indigenous Macrophyte in a Neotropical Ecosystem

Hydrilla verticillata recently invaded a protected area in the Upper Parana River floodplain. In a rare opportunity, when this non-indigenous species co-occurred with the native Egeria najas in a secondary channel of the river, we assessed its effects on assemblage of small-sized fish. Traps were used to catch fish inside macrophyte patches in periods of low and high water. We assessed fish abundance, biomass, diversity, richness and the community composition (using a DCA). The number of fish species did not differ between plants. Fish abundance and biomass were significantly higher during the low water period but plant species did not affect these attributes. Similarly, fish assemblage composition differed only between seasons. Our results indicate that the oscillations in the water level had a greater effect on the small-sized fish assemblage than the presence of the non-indigenous macrophyte. In addition, H. verticillata favors small fish assemblages such as the native does; however, we contend that our conclusions are valid only for habitats scarcely colonized by native plant species. The invasion of other habitats colonized by a high diversity of native species of macrophytes, which are key for small-sized fish, is a matter of concern.

How to cope with a superior enemy? Plant defence strategies in response to annual herbivore outbreaks

Summary 1. The perfoliate pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus L. constitutes large monospecific macrophyte patches in many Central European lakes. Correlative evidence from the field suggests that P. perfoliatus is under an increasing grazing pressure during its short vegetation period from May to September due to seasonal outbreaks of the aquatic moth Acentria ephemerella Denis & Schiffermüller. We used a mesocosm experiment to determine the influence of A. ephemerella herbivory on P. perfoliatus shoot development and resting bud production and to study the defence strategies of this macrophyte. 2. Herbivory resulted in a reduction of the P. perfoliatus vegetation period by more than 2 months thereby reducing the average resting bud size and the overall resting bud biomass sevenfold. This suggests that besides its severe immediate effects, herbivory affects P. perfoliatus growth and dynamics also during the subsequent season. 3. As a response to herbivory P. perfoliatus translocated nutrients (phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)) from leaves towards buds. Acentria ephemerella larvae had a high P content, implying P limitation of larval growth especially within the herbivory treatment. This suggests that at least the P translocation from leaves towards resting buds may be viewed as an anti‐predator strategy rather than as a nutrient conservation strategy. 4. Acentria ephemerella herbivory changed the allocation strategy of P. perfoliatus in the size versus number of resting buds: only the number, but not the size of resting buds was reduced under shoot grazing by Acentria ephemerella. This change in the number versus size trade‐off might allow the plant to produce a minimum resting bud size necessary for successful sprouting in the next spring. 5. Synthesis. Overall, our results suggest an escape syndrome (after Agrawal & Fishbein, Ecology, 87 (2006) S132) as a defence strategy against herbivory for P. perfoliatus, consisting of a shortening of the growth period, a translocation of nutrients and a change in allocation strategy. The increased plant senescence that was accompanied by the shortening of the growth period has further implications for the usage of macrophyte patches as a habitat for invertebrates and fishes and for the structure of littoral food webs.

Can ephemeral proliferations of submerged macrophytes influence zoobenthos and water quality in coastal lagoons?

Hydrology is often the main determinant of water chemistry and structure of the aquatic communities in coastal lagoons, driven by the interaction of freshwater load from the catchment and marine intrusions. However, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) can have important local effects on both features, even during sporadically and short proliferations. A SAV summer proliferation was observed during 2003 in a coastal lagoon in Uruguay (Laguna de Rocha), increasing macrophyte cover and biomass in the less saline zones. SAV summer proliferations were first observed in summer 2001, with no records prior. The aim of this paper is to describe the ephemeral proliferation of SAV in this shallow brackish lagoon and to analyze its effects on the abiotic environment and on the zoobenthic community. Vegetated and unvegetated zones were sampled in the northern more limnic area (9.1 mS cm−1 ± 4.8) and the southern brackish area (20.9 mS cm−1 ± 5.2). Water and sediment chemistry were analyzed by standard methods and benthos and plants were collected with an Ekman grab. During SAV proliferation, suspended solids were five times lower inside macrophyte patches and water column total phosphorus and nitrogen were three and two times lower, respectively. Zoobenthos abundance and richness were higher in vegetated patches. However, no differences were found between sampling sites in the more brackish southern area and in the North after the SAV proliferation ended. This indicates that SAV can influence water chemistry and benthos structure above a biomass threshold of 100 g DW m−2. Although hydrology is the driving force regulating communities and water chemistry in these coastal lagoons, our results showed that SAV can also be an important local factor above a certain biomass threshold.

Development and functional structure of epiphytic nematode communities on the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in Lake Sakadaš, Kopački Rit, Croatia

AbstractThe structural and functional diversity of epiphytic nematodes associated with the submerged macrophyte species, Ceratophyllum demersum, were investigated from July to September 2004 at three stations in the floodplain lake, Lake Sakadaš, Croatia. At stations I and II, C. demersum was dominant in the macrophyte patches. At station III, Myriophyllum spicatum was the dominant macrophyte species. When analysis of nematode species composition was done by grouping species with decreasing abundance, a community structure was evident on macrophytes that grew in different parts of the lake. When the abundance of nematodes was taken into account, C. demersum, which grew in different parts of the lake, was not associated with a unique nematode functional structure, and different trophic groups of nematodes were dominant at different stations. Eutobrilus nothus was the dominant nematode species for station I and chewers were the dominant functional group. Eutobrilus nothus, Eumonhystera sp. 1 and Eumonhystera filiformis vulgaris group were abundant nematode species for station II and consequently chewers and detritus feeders dominated at different periods of the investigation. Nematodes from station III were characterised by the highest nematode abundance where Chromadorina bioculata was the dominant species, and epistrate feeders were the dominant functional group. A part of our previously published results was reanalysed in this paper to enable comparison of nematode communities established on C. demersum with those developed on M. spicatum. There was no difference in the nematode functional structure between macrophyte species at the same station when the abundance of dominant species was taken into account, i.e., the same trophic structure was established.

The role of an extreme flood disturbance on macrophyte assemblages in a Neotropical floodplain

Aquatic macrophytes produce large amounts of organic matter and have an essential structuring role in floodplains. This process highlights the importance of this community to aquatic biodiversity maintenance. We investigated the role of a flood disturbance on the response of macrophyte assemblages in regional and local structuring in the Upper Parana River floodplain. Plant species were recorded before (November 2006) and after (March 2007) an uncommon increase in water level caused by the El Nino South Oscillation, which is considered a disturbance. Samples were taken in lakes and backwaters located in the floodplain and connected to three distinct rivers (that differentiate three sub-systems). Species richness and the assemblage structure of macrophyte patches underwent significant changes after the flood disturbance, depending on the specific sub-system (rivers) to which the lakes were connected. In addition, flood disturbance had a strong impact on community organization at the local scale. However, regionalization with respect to sub-systems remained significant after the flood disturbance. Our results emphasize the importance of connection to the river on macrophyte community composition and richness, and suggest that flood events in the Upper Parana River floodplain disrupt community organization only at fine (local) scales.

Food resource used by small-sized fish in macrophyte patches in ponds of the upper Paraná river floodplain

This study analyzed the diet of seven small-sized fish species (Characidae) and assessed their use of food resources. The species were collected in 2001 from nine ponds with aquatic macrophytes in the Parana river floodplain, Brazil. Astyanax altiparanae , Astyanax fasciatus , Hemigrammus marginatus and Moenkhausia intermedia consumed aquatic and terrestrial insects. Bryconomericus stramineus and Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae co-dominantly ate insects and microcrustaceans, whereas Hyphessobrycon eques had microcrustaceans as their most important food resource. Overlapping feeding coefficients varied from intermediate (0.4-0.6) to low ( A. altiparanae and A. fasciatus , while a smaller mean was found for H. eques . When comparing all these results, it is possible to conclude that the species were partially segregated by the trophic niche dimension. Thus, the co-existence and higher abundance of these small fish in the shoreline of the ponds is explained by high feeding adaptability, absence of specializations in the feeding tract (except intestinal length) and the wide food supply provided by aquatic macrophytes.

Simple relationships to predict attributes of fish assemblages in patches of submerged macrophytes

Submerged macrophytes play an important role in structuring habitats and, therefore, in determining patterns of aquatic biodiversity. Because these plants are widespread in shallow areas of many Neotropical reservoirs, the present work investigated if variables related to habitat structure, measured in patches of submerged macrophytes (Egeria densa and E. najas), can be used to predict fish assemblage attributes (fish density and species richness). Based on patch characteristics at fine spatial extents (macrophyte patches within reservoir arms), we considered plant biomass, volume and proportional volume (i.e. percentage of macrophyte volume in the water column) as potential predictors. Fish and macrophytes were sampled with a 1-m² throw trap in littoral habitats of Rosana Reservoir, Paranapanema River, and simple correlation analyses were performed. Fish richness and abundance were highly correlated with all variables (R = 0.53 to 0.90), a relationship consistently observed in all sites. When compared to biomass, plant volume and proportional volume did not yield stronger correlations. We observed stronger correlations when E. densa and E. najas patches were analyzed separately (mono-specificity), probably because particular effects of each macrophyte on habitat structuring were removed (e.g. unnoticed morphological differences or unknown effects on habitat quality). The high R values observed in all pairwise relationships are uncommon in ecological studies, highlighting the predictive potential of variables related to habitat structure. These results suggest that, at small spatial extents, macrophyte biomass may represent an interesting predictor of fish density and richness in reservoirs with extensive colonization of submerged plants.

Distribution and growth of benthic macroinvertebrates among different patch types of the littoral zones of two arctic lakes

Summary1. To evaluate the effect of habitat patch heterogeneity on abundance and growth of macroinvertebrates in arctic lakes, macroinvertebrate abundance, individual biomass, and potential food resources were studied in three patch types in two arctic lakes on the Alaskan North Slope near the Toolik Lake Field Station. An experiment was conducted to determine which sediment patch type supported higher growth rates for Chironomus sp., a commonly occurring macroinvertebrate.2. Potential organic matter (OM) resources were significantly higher in both rock and macrophyte patches than in open‐mud patches. Total macroinvertebrate densities in both lakes were highest in rock patches, intermediate in macrophytes and lowest in open‐mud. The open‐mud patches also had lower species richness compared with other patch types. Additionally, individual biomass for one clam species and two chironomid species was significantly greater in rock patches than in open‐mud.3. In a laboratory experiment, Chironomus showed two to three times greater mass increase in sediments from macrophyte and rock patches than from open‐mud patches. Rock and macrophyte experimental sediments had at least 1.5 × the percentage OM as open‐mud sediments.4. Chlorophyll a appeared to be the best predictor for invertebrate abundances across all patch types measured, whereas OM content appeared to be the variable most closely associated with Chironomus growth.5. Our results combined with previous studies show that the relationships between macroinvertebrate community structure, individual growth, and habitat heterogeneity are complex, reflecting the interaction of multiple resources, and biotic interactions, such as the presence or absence of a selective vertebrate predator (lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush).

Macrophytes in Urban Stream Rehabilitation: Establishment, Ecological Effects, and Public Perception

Abstract Efforts to rehabilitate degraded urban streams generally focus on improving physical habitat and rarely include reestablishing biota such as macrophytes. Our objectives in this study were to propagate and transplant native macrophytes into a South Island, New Zealand, urban stream undergoing rehabilitation, assess macrophyte survival and growth, and determine whether native macrophytes suppress non‐native macrophytes and/or enhance stream invertebrate communities. Effects of native macrophytes on invertebrates and non‐native macrophytes were assessed after transplanting patches of native macrophytes into a 230‐m‐long stream section. A 100‐m‐long section upstream was left unplanted for subsequent comparisons. Following the study, a survey was conducted to gauge public opinion about the rehabilitation project and determine whether macrophytes were prominent in perceptions of stream health. In the first growing season, native macrophyte cover in the planted stream section increased from 1.5 to 20%, and then decreased during winter. Regrowth from rhizomes led to rapid aboveground growth during the second year, when cover reached 51%. Non‐native macrophytes colonized the stream the first year, but native macrophytes appeared to limit the spread of non‐natives, which were absent in the planted section by the second spring. Native macrophyte establishment did not enhance invertebrate communities as predicted; few invertebrate metrics differed significantly between the planted and unplanted sections. Pollution‐ and sediment‐tolerant invertebrate taxa were abundant in both sections, suggesting that invertebrate colonization was limited by water quality or sedimentation, not macrophyte composition. Survey respondents considered the stream to be visually and ecologically improved after rehabilitation, and macrophyte establishment was generally considered positive or neutral.