Longitudinal Changes in Physical Habitat and Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Along a Neotropical Stream Continuum

J. Checo Colón-Gaud, Matt R. Whiles

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

Abstract

Information on the structure and function of upland Neotropical streams is lacking compared to many other regions. We examined habitat characteristics and macroinvertebrate assemblages along an 8-km stretch of a stream originating on the continental divide in central Panama in order to examine patterns along a stream continuum. Wetted width and discharge ranged from 1 m and 18 L/s, respectively in the uppermost headwaters to 12 m and 1,580 L/s, respectively at the lowest reach examined. Percent substrate composition showed a decrease in fine particle sizes from upper headwater reaches (38%) to the lowest reach (10%). A total of 61 macroinvertebrate taxa were identified along the continuum, with more taxa present in lower reaches (45) compared to headwaters (28), but responses of individual groups varied. Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Diptera richness increased from headwaters to the lowest site, whereas Hemiptera and Coleoptera richness decreased along the gradient. Collector-gatherers and predators were the dominant functional groups (~70% of total abundance) and changed little across sites. Shredder abundance was highest in headwaters (15% of total), while scrapers (20%) and collector/filterers (11%) peaked in the lower reaches. These patterns suggest that upland streams in this region follow basic tenets of the River Continuum Concept.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - May 2005
EventNorth American Benthological Society Annual Meeting (NABS) - Santa Fe, NM
Duration: Jun 10 2010 → …

Conference

ConferenceNorth American Benthological Society Annual Meeting (NABS)
Period06/10/10 → …

Keywords

  • Longitudinal changes
  • Macroinvertebrate assemblages
  • Neotropical stream continuum
  • Physical habitat

DC Disciplines

  • Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Longitudinal Changes in Physical Habitat and Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Along a Neotropical Stream Continuum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this