Stream Riffles Research Articles

Going with the flow - how a stream insect, Pteronarcys californica, exploits local flows to increase oxygen availability.

For insects, life in water is challenging because oxygen supply is typically low compared with in air. Oxygen limitation may occur when oxygen levels or water flows are low or when warm temperatures stimulate metabolic demand for oxygen. A potential mechanism for mitigating oxygen shortages is behavior - moving to cooler, more oxygenated or faster flowing microhabitats. Whether stream insects can make meaningful choices, however, depends on: (i) how temperature, oxygen and flow vary at microspatial scales and (ii) the ability of insects to sense and exploit that variation. To assess the extent of microspatial variation in conditions, we measured temperature, oxygen saturation and flow velocity within riffles of two streams in Montana, USA. In the lab, we then examined preferences of nymphs of the stonefly Pteronarcys californica to experimental gradients based on field-measured values. Temperature and oxygen level varied only slightly within stream riffles. By contrast, flow velocity was highly heterogeneous, often varying by more than 125 cm s-1 within riffles and 44 cm s-1 around individual cobbles. Exploiting micro-variation in flow may thus be the most reliable option for altering rates of oxygen transport. In support of this prediction, P. californica showed little ability to exploit gradients in temperature and oxygen but readily exploited micro-variation in flow - consistently choosing higher flows when conditions were warm or hypoxic. These behaviors may help stream insects mitigate low-oxygen stress from climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances.

Assemblage of oligochaetes in mesohabitats of streams with different land uses in Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT The different environmental conditions resulting from the mesohabitats and land uses around streams can interfere in the structure and composition of the oligochaete fauna, widely used as indicators of aquatic ecosystems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the oligochaete fauna found in mesohabitats of pools and riffles in streams with different land uses in their proximity (forested, urban and pasture). A sampling of fauna and environmental parameters was carried out in nine streams belonging to the Ribeirão Marmelos sub-basin, Minas Gerais. A significant difference in the oligochaete fauna was found in the different mesohabitats and land uses. Conductivity, width, and depth were important variables in the separation between pools and riffles. Aulophorus furcatus was the species associated with urban environments, Pristina jenkinae to riffles and Opistocysta funiculus, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, and juvenile Tubificinae were linked to pools. The results found may contribute to understanding the relationship between the structure and composition of the oligochaete fauna, the mesohabitats and land use.

Divergence in digestive and metabolic strategies matches habitat differentiation in juvenile salmonids.

Divergent energy acquisition and processing strategies associated with using different microhabitats may allow phenotypes to specialize and coexist at small spatial scales. To understand how ecological specialization affects differentiation in energy acquisition and processing strategies, we examined relationships among digestive physiology, growth, and energetics by performing captive experiments on juveniles of wild coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) that exploit adjacent habitats along natural low‐to‐high energy flux gradients (i.e., pools versus riffles) in coastal streams. We predicted that: (i) the specialization of steelhead trout to high‐velocity, high‐energy habitats would result in elevated food intake and growth at the cost of lower growth efficiency relative to coho salmon; (ii) the two species would differentiate along a rate‐maximizing (steelhead trout) versus efficiency‐maximizing (coho salmon) axis of digestive strategies matching their ecological lifestyle; and (iii) the higher postprandial metabolic demand (i.e., specific dynamic action, SDA) associated with elevated food intake would occupy a greater fraction of the steelhead trout aerobic budget. Relative to coho salmon, steelhead trout presented a pattern of faster growth and higher food intake but lower growth efficiency, supporting the existence of a major growth versus growth efficiency trade‐off between species. After accounting for differences in ration size between species, steelhead trout also presented higher SDA than coho salmon, but similar intestinal transit time and lower assimilation efficiency. Both species presented similar aerobic budgets since the elevated SDA of steelhead trout was largely compensated by their higher aerobic scope relative to coho salmon. Our results illustrate the key contribution of digestive physiology to the adaptive differentiation of juvenile growth, energetics, and overall performance of taxa with divergent habitat specializations along a natural productivity gradient.

Spanglerelmis, a new genus of Elmidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Brazil with new species and biological notes

In this study, the new genus Spanglerelmis Polizei & Bispo is described; Microcylloepus ochus Hinton, 1940 is synonymized with Microcylloepus femoralis Hinton, 1940, and transferred to the new genus; and two new species, S. xiririca gen. et sp. nov. and S. timburi gen. et sp. nov. are described. The new genus can be characterized by the combination of the following characters: 1) pronotum without transverse, longitudinal or oblique impressions, sulci or gibbosities on disc; 2) elytra with a carina on interval III and two sublateral carinae on intervals V and VI; 3) mesoventrite with sides strongly raised; and 4) femora with an oblique belt of tomentum dorsally and a transverse belt ventrally. The specimens of the two new species were collected mainly in riffles of unimpacted streams in the Atlantic Forest in São Paulo State, Brazil. Scanning electron microscope images, an identification key for the genus and habitat notes are also presented.

It is the ambience, not the menu. Prey availability does not drive habitat selection by the endangered Pyrenean desman

Abstract The Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is an endangered stream‐dwelling insectivore endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and the north of the Pyrenees. It favours riffles over slow habitats such as runs or pools, yet it is still unclear whether habitat preference is based on prey availability or on other factors, such as mechanical constraints on its hunting habits. Desman diet and prey selection were analysed along the pristine Elama Stream and the slightly modified Leitzaran Stream in the Basque Country, Spain. In each stream the prey consumed were identified by metabarcoding 94 desman faeces, and prey availability characterized from 10 Surber samples taken in each habitat type (riffles, runs and pools). Invertebrates were sorted and identified, the biomass of each taxon was calculated, and their DNA was also extracted, amplified using PCR, and sequenced to build a reference database. Prey availability and diet varied between streams. Desmans positively selected shredders and invertebrates that live on the substrate, and selected against taxa that live in fine sediment, taxa with hard shells or those that are highly mobile. The diet of desmans was more selective in the Elama, the stream with better ecological status. Food availability did not differ among habitats, and therefore does not explain the preference of desmans for riffles; rather, mechanical constraints to deal with buoyancy and physical habitat heterogeneity were hypothesized to be the reason behind the habitat preference. The results suggest that promoting the formation of riffles in streams can improve the situation of some desman populations living in degraded habitats.

Differences in regulation of planktonic and epilithic biofilm bacterial production in the middle reaches of a temperate river

To clarify the governing factors of planktonic and epilithic bacterial production (BP) and to quantify their relative contributions to the carbon cycle, we investigated the seasonal variation and regulatory factors of planktonic and epilithic BP in the middle reaches of the Shinano River, Japan, ecosystem from February 2019 to May 2020. Sampling was conducted at 3 stations: upper stream riffle, upper stream pool, and lower stream riffle, where current velocity, water depth, and bed shear stress were distinct. Planktonic and biofilm BP ranged from 5.5 to 466 mgC m-3 d-1 and 2.9 to 132 mgC m-2 d-1, respectively, showing clear seasonal variation. Biofilm BP was higher in the upper stream riffle than at the other stations, where no spatial variation in planktonic BP was observed. Generalized linear models suggest that BP was primarily regulated by water temperature. Additionally, planktonic BP was significantly correlated with dissolved organic carbon, suggesting carbon limitation. Biofilm BP showed no evidence of resource limitation (nutrients and organic matter), but was significantly explained by current velocity and station. The results suggest that although seasonality is dominant in biofilm BP variation, spatial differences are significant within the seasonal variability. Moreover, current velocity and bottom shear stress related to local geomorphologies such as riffles and pools affect substrate supply rate and biofilm formation processes, regulating biofilm BP variation. This study demonstrated different regulatory factors of planktonic and biofilm BP in the middle reaches of a temperate river.

Inter and intraspecific variation in fish body size constrains microhabitat use in a subtropical drainage

Microhabitat characteristics are expected to influence the distribution of stream fish species at fine spatial scales (e.g., within riffle segments). Body size is probably the most important trait that constrains microhabitat occupation by fish, but the effect of intraspecific variation has been understudied. We investigated how physical microhabitat characteristics affect species and body size distribution of fish within a stream riffle segment in a coastal subtropical drainage of Brazil. Fishes were sampled by electrofishing 56 riffle plots along a 730-m long stream segment. Species composition was significantly related to four microhabitat characteristics: substrate size, flow velocity, distance to margin and depth. In addition, mean body size increased with increasing substrate size and depth of microhabitat sampling plots. However, when including species identity in linear mixed-effects models (LMM), we observed a different relationship between body size and microhabitat characteristics, but most of the variation was explained by species identity. Thus, we fitted LMMs separately for each species and found species-specific relations between intraspecific variation in body size and microhabitat characteristics. The low variation explained in the models suggests that other fine scale factors, such as biotic interactions and dispersal from adjacent habitat patches, should be incorporated in modeling microhabitat use by stream fish. Our findings suggest that body size is important by itself, but intraspecific variation in body size also constrains microhabitat use differently for each species, which may depend on other species-specific traits, such as morphology, behavior and life history.

Removal of the Invasive Shrub,Lonicera maackii(Amur Honeysuckle), from a Headwater Stream Riparian Zone Shifts Taxonomic and Functional Composition of the Aquatic Biota

Riparian plant invasions can result in near-monocultures along stream and river systems, prompting management agencies to target invasive species for removal as an ecological restoration strategy. Riparian plant invaders can alter resource conditions in the benthos and drive bottom-up shifts in aquatic biota. However, the influence of management activities on the structure and function of aquatic communities is not well understood. We investigated how removal of a riparian invader,Lonicera maackii(Amur honeysuckle), influenced aquatic macroinvertebrate community functional and taxonomic diversity in a headwater stream. We hypothesized that removal ofL. maackiifrom invaded riparia would result in (H1) increased aquatic macroinvertebrate abundance, density, and diversity; (H2) a taxonomic and functional shift in community composition; and, in particular, (H3) increased functional diversity. Aquatic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly from autumn 2010 to winter 2013 in headwater stream riffles with a dense riparianL. maackiiinvasion and those whereL. maackiihad been experimentally removed. We found macroinvertebrate density was significantly higher in theL. maackiiremoval reach (P<0.05) and that macroinvertebrate community structure and functional trait presence was distinct between stream reaches and across seasons (P<0.05). The removal reach exhibited greater functional richness during spring and summer and had more unique functionally relevant taxa (20% and 85%) compared with theL. maackiireach (5% and 75%) during summer and autumn seasons. Our results suggest bottom-up processes link restoration activities in the riparian corridor and aquatic biota through alterations of functional composition in the benthic community.

Invertebrates, Fungal Biomass, and Leaf Breakdown in Pools and Riffles of Neotropical Streams.

We evaluated fungal biomass (as ergosterol concentration) and invertebrate colonization during leaf breakdown of Picramnia sellowii Planch. (Picramniaceae) in pools and riffles of three low-order forested streams in southeastern Brazil. We hypothesized that leaf breakdown will be higher in riffles due to the high physical fragmentation and fungal activity. The experiment was carried out during the dry season of 2012, using 108 litter bags, each containing 3 ± 0.05 g of air-dried leaves. After 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 d of incubation, six litter bags (riffle = 3 and pool = 3) were removed from each stream. Leaf breakdown rate (k) was classified as intermediate in pools and fast in riffles. We recorded similar values of remaining leaf mass in two habitats until 60 d. However, at 90 and 120 d, this process was faster in riffles. The mean fungal biomass was similar between habitats and showed an increase during the experiment at 90 d. Fauna composition differed between habitats and across sampling dates, with Chironomidae most contributing to these differences and being particularly abundant in riffles and in the initial period of leaf breakdown (until 30 d). Shredder abundance and biomass were not different between habitats and among incubation durations. Leaf breakdown (remaining leaf mass) was positively associated with fungal and shredder biomasses. However, water velocity was not related to leaf breakdown. These findings emphasize the importance of fungal and shredder organisms, as well as the low importance of water velocity, on mass loss in low-order tropical streams.

Environmental constraints structuring fish assemblages in riffles: evidences from a tropical stream

ABSTRACT Riffles are unique habitats regarding to assemblage structure. However, understanding how these assemblages respond to environmental variations in small spatial extents, as within a stream, is a challenge. We assess whether the quantitative structure and the trophic composition of fish assemblages vary predictably among stream riffles. We predict that the variation of environmental conditions will explain species abundance and trophic composition, with the latter presenting higher predictive power, since species would be filtered according to their traits (e.g. diet). Moreover, we expect that the low among-riffle dispersal limitation within a stream and the strong habitat filtering would result in lower importance of spatial variables in the structure of riffle fish assemblages. We tested these predictions by studying 18 riffles of a stream in the Central Brazil. Environmental variables, but not spatial ones, were the most important in explaining the variation in assemblages structure. Environmental variables explained a greater portion of the trophic structure variation (R2=0.62) than of abundance (R2=0.37), indicating that the variation on the trophic traits at community level are more predictable. These results also indicate that these assemblages are subject to environmental control, highlighting the importance of riffle characteristics in driving ecological processes within streams.

Morphological change and phenotypic plasticity in response to water velocity in three species of Centrarchidae

Morphological responses to flowing water have been documented in many fishes, but rarely reported in species with gibbose body types, despite their use of riffles in rivers and streams. In this study, we compared morphological responses to water flow in three gibbose centrarchids: bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus (L., 1758)), and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque, 1817)). Flow-through plexiglass units, set to either a sustained flow or static conditions, were used to rear juveniles from each species for an 80-day period. All three species developed more streamlined body forms, longer and thinner caudal peduncles, and longer pectoral fins when reared in sustained current. Pumpkinseed exhibited the highest level of phenotypic plasticity in response to water flow, followed closely by bluegill; rock bass was the least plastic species. Rock bass developed longer predorsal and prepectoral lengths, which differ from the morphological changes observed in bluegill and pumpkinseed. The findings not only suggest that some gibbose fishes are capable of exhibiting strong phenotypic responses to water flow, but that many morphological changes are species specific, even within the same taxonomic family. Lastly, all three species developed shorter dorsal fin base lengths when reared under flowing condition, which differs from some previously documented work on fusiform fishes. The results of this study provide a better understanding of how morphology in three closely related species varies in response to environmental conditions.

ダム下流礫床河川における水生昆虫動態と小型河床材料移動性の人為的土砂供給前後の変化

For clarifying the effects of sand supply on the down stream riffle of Futase-Dam, field survey data at two locations on bed material and invertebrate composition from autumn to early spring were analyzed. Downstream site has more distinct trend to shift smaller particle size distribution after the sand supply. During winter season, from autumn to early spring, changes in invertebrate community showed different temporal pattern before and after the sand supply. The downstream site has clearer tendency not to increase in the abundance of net-spinning caddis-worms, but to increase in the species which can escape from flood disturbance. The particle size distribution before sand supply affects the change in flood season and movement of small size particle at small flood event from autumn to next spring. The possible movement time of small particle size is greatly changed with the sand supply amount and the location.

Metacommunity structuring in stream networks: roles of dispersal mode, distance type, and regional environmental context

Within a metacommunity, both environmental and spatial processes regulate variation in local community structure. The strength of these processes may vary depending on species traits (e.g., dispersal mode) or the characteristics of the regions studied (e.g., spatial extent, environmental heterogeneity). We studied the metacommunity structuring of three groups of stream macroinvertebrates differing in their overland dispersal mode (passive dispersers with aquatic adults; passive dispersers with terrestrial adults; active dispersers with terrestrial adults). We predicted that environmental structuring should be more important for active dispersers, because of their better ability to track environmental variability, and that spatial structuring should be more important for species with aquatic adults, because of stronger dispersal limitation. We sampled a total of 70 stream riffle sites in three drainage basins. Environmental heterogeneity was unrelated to spatial extent among our study regions, allowing us to examine the effects of these two factors on metacommunity structuring. We used partial redundancy analysis and Moran's eigenvector maps based on overland and watercourse distances to study the relative importance of environmental control and spatial structuring. We found that, compared with environmental control, spatial structuring was generally negligible, and it did not vary according to our predictions. In general, active dispersers with terrestrial adults showed stronger environmental control than the two passively dispersing groups, suggesting that the species dispersing actively are better able to track environmental variability. There were no clear differences in the results based on watercourse and overland distances. The variability in metacommunity structuring among basins was not related to the differences in the environmental heterogeneity and spatial extent. Our study emphasized that (1) environmental control is prevailing in stream metacommunities, (2) dispersal mode may have an important effect on metacommunity structuring, and (3) some factors other than spatial extent or environmental heterogeneity contributed to the differences among the basins.

Radioactive contamination of aquatic insects in a stream impacted by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident emitted radioactive substances into the environment, contaminating a diverse range of organisms. Stream algae, litter, sand substrate, aquatic insects and fishes are among the organisms that have been impacted. Radioactive Cs contaminations in the litter and sand substrate were elevated where the atmospheric dose rate in the air was high. Radioactive Cs contaminations in algae and aquatic insects varied irregularly; nevertheless, radioactive Cs contaminations in aquatic insects in pools were consistently higher than those in stream riffles. Contamination by the radioactive Cs differed by species, location and stream velocity. This study was undertaken in a limited number of samples and sites, with more extensive studies planned to fully determine the impact of radionuclides on aquatic ecosystems.

Bed coarsening, riffle shortening, and channel enlargement in urbanizing watersheds, northern Kentucky, USA

Stream systems naturally respond to watershed land use dynamics, particularly in urban developments with unmanaged impervious areas. Such urban-provoked alterations to channel morphology cause water quality impairments, have adverse effects on aquatic biota, and pose risks to adjacent public infrastructure. Over the past four years we have collected detailed hydrogeomorphic data at 40 unique stream locations throughout northern Kentucky, with at least two rounds of annually repeated surveys at 70% of the sites and three rounds of surveys at 50% of the sites. Analysis of this time-series data encompassed measured rates of instability across three distinct dimensions including (1) channel cross sections, (2) longitudinal profiles, and (3) bed material particle composition. Regression analyses between geomorphic change and 2011 watershed imperviousness indicated stream cross sections in urban/suburban watersheds tend to be getting larger—their overall shape is both deepening and widening. Additionally, stream riffle lengths are shrinking and their pools are becoming both longer and deeper; and finally, their bed material composition is coarsening, particularly in streams in the early stages of watershed development. By documenting fluvial geomorphologic dynamics in such detail, this study highlights the process by which unmitigated urbanization homogenizes stream habitat and degrades aquatic ecosystems. This improved, process-based understanding of the urban-induced channel response sequence has clear implications to both stormwater management and stream/ecosystem restoration, particularly in stream systems where headcut migration is a primary driver of channel instability.

Schistura tenebrosa, a new species of loach from the Kwai Noi River system, Mae Khlong basin, Thailand (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)

A new species of Schistura is described from the Kwai Noi, Mae Khlong basin, in the Thong Pha Phum District ofKanchanaburi Province in western Thailand. The species is distinguished from all other species of Schistura by a uniformdusky brown color pattern without marks on the dorsum or side of body and with many conspicuous supplementaryneuromasts along the lateral line and on the head. It is further distinguished from other species of Schistura lacking markson the body by its dark brown color, an incomplete lateral line extending only to beneath the dorsal fin, and the origin ofthe dorsal fin located above the origin of the pelvic fin. The species is small, reaching only 46.0 mm SL, 55.1 mm TL, and inhabits shallow gravel and rubble riffles in small streams.

Morphology Characteristics of Southern Appalachian Wilderness Streams1

Zink, Jason M., Gregory D. Jennings, and G. Alexander Price, 2012. Morphology Characteristics of Southern Appalachian Wilderness Streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(4): 762‐773. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00647.xAbstract: Watersheds without urbanization or impacts from logging are rare in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness of North Carolina and Tennessee contains 24 km2 of old‐growth forest, with the balance of the wilderness in a mature second‐growth forest. The watersheds of Little Santeetlah and Slickrock Creek are located within the wilderness. Morphological information, including channel dimensions and longitudinal profiles, was gathered from 14 alluvial stream reaches in these watersheds. The study sites had drainage areas from 0.25 to 41.6 km2 and stream slopes from 0.014 to 0.104 m/m. Bankfull cross‐section dimensions of the study stream reaches were strongly correlated to drainage area across the observed range of slopes and bed morphology. Cross‐section area and width relationships for the streams in this study did not differ significantly from regional curves for the mountain physiographic region of North Carolina. Observations of these reaches did not suggest a definitive rule regarding the proportion of steps and riffles in streams. Pools occupied greater than 50% of the length in all stream reaches with slopes less than 0.07 m/m. Significant correlation existed between step height ratio and slope, suggesting that step height can be approximated as the product of channel width and slope. Riffle length and riffle slope ratios were also significantly correlated with slope, though pool spacing was not.

BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE RESPONSE TO HABITAT RESTORATION IN A CONSTRUCTED ARCTIC STREAM

ABSTRACTWe examined the ability of engineered rock structures to enhance the productive capacity of benthic macroinvertebrates 2 years after their installation in a constructed stream in the Northwest Territories, Canada. We used a control‐impact design to compare biological attributes of the structures to those of riffles in natural reference streams and among individual structures. The biomass of epilithon and coarse particulate organic matter, cover by bryophytes and macrophytes and volume of woody debris, however, were similar at structures and unenhanced control sites in the constructed stream and lower than at riffles in reference streams. Total macroinvertebrate density and densities of Chironomidae, Nematoda and Oligochaeta did not differ among engineered structures, unenhanced sites and reference riffles. In contrast, reference streams supported higher densities of Simuliidae and Ephemeroptera compared with engineered structures and unenhanced sites within the channel. Total biomass, biomass of Chironomidae, non‐chironomid Diptera and combined biomasses of (i) Nematoda, Oligochaeta and Turbellaria and (ii) Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Hemiptera from reference riffles exceeded those at engineered structures. Density and biomass of macroinvertebrates varied within and among structure types and were highest at one of two ramps, one of two vanes and at the single groin compared with other structures. In the majority of cases, density and biomass of macroinvertebrates from individual structures were less than those at reference streams. These results suggest that engineered structures had variable effects on the productive capacity of benthic macroinvertebrates of the constructed streams and may be related to the extent that structures provided habitat conditions characteristic of reference riffles. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2011. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Natural Resources.

Judging a Brook by Its Cover: The Relation between Ecological Condition of a Stream and Urban Land Cover in New England

The US Geological Survey conducted an urban land-use study in the New England Coastal Basins (NECB) area during 2001 to determine how urbanization relates to changes in the ecological condition of streams. Thirty sites were selected that differed in their level of watershed development (low to high). An urban intensity value was calculated for each site from 24 landscape variables. Together, these 30 values reppresented a gradient of urban intensity. Among various biological, chemical, and physical factors surveyed at each site, benthic invertebrate assemblages were sampled from stream riffles and also from multiple habitats along the length of the sampling reach. We use some of the NECB data to derive a four-variable urbanintensity index (NECB-UII), where each variable represents a distinct component of urbanization: increasing human presence, expanding infrastructure, landscape development, and riparian vegetation loss. Using the NECB-UII as a characterization of urbanization, we describe how landscape fragmentation occurs with urbanization and how changes in the invertebrate assemblages, represented by metrics of ecological condition, are related to urbanization. Metrics with a strong linear response included EPT taxa richness, percentage richness of non-insect taxa, and pollution-tolerance values. Additionally, we describe how these relations can help in estimating the expected condition of a stream for its level of urbanization, thereby establishing a baseline for evaluating possible affects from specific point-source stressors.

Effects of Tea Plantations on Stream Invertebrates in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot in Africa

ABSTRACTTropical stream ecosystems in montane forest watersheds are important centers of endemism and diversity and provide essential ecosystem services. These habitats are subject to a variety of stressors, including the conversion of adjacent terrestrial habitats from forest to agriculture, but the impacts of these anthropogenic effects are largely unknown because of the paucity of studies in these systems. In montane habitats in the wet tropics, large‐scale cultivation of tea is common and can represent an important source of income at local and national scales. However, little is known about how tea cultivation impacts adjacent stream ecosystems. In this study, we examine stream macroinvertebrate assemblages in a biodiversity hotspot the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Specifically, we compare diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages found on cobbles in stream riffles in watersheds dominated by forest with those surrounded by tea cultivation. We found that streams surrounded by tea were characterized by significantly lower dissolved oxygen and had lower total estimated species richness and number of families. Furthermore, the richness of invertebrate taxa known to be sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance were substantially reduced in tea streams and general assemblage‐level analysis shows significant differences in the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages between tea and forested streams. Our results suggest that tea cultivation may reduce stream habitat quality and biodiversity in the East Usambaras. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of tea cultivation on streams over longer times scales and to address methods for minimizing negative effects of agriculture on montane stream communities.