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Aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure of aNymphoides peltata-dominated and macrophyte-free site in an oxbow lake

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Abstract

The aquatic macroinvertebrates in two freshwater biotopes,viz. aNymphoides peltata-dominated site and a macrophyte-free site, were studied quantitatively in a shallow alkaline oxbow lake of the river Waal, the main branch of the river Rhine in The Netherlands. The research comprised the analysis of water, sediment and macrophyte samples.

In the macrophyte-free site Oligochaeta and Nematocera, particularly of the collector gatherer functional feeding group, dominated the prevailing benthic community. The total macroinvertebrate biomass ranged here from 0.3 to 0.9 g ash-free dry weight per m2 of biotope.

Species richness, densities, and biomass of macroinvertebrates were considerably higher in the biotope dominated byNymphoides peltata. Many taxa were found associated with the aboveground macrophyte. The sediment compartment, however, contributed most to the total density and biomass of macroinvertebrates. Nematocera and Oligochaeta were the most abundant fauna groups, whereas the largest share in total biomass was provided by clams (Mollusca). The biomass of the total macroinvertebrate community in theNymphoides-dominated site ranged from 6.2 to 7.5 g ash-free dry weight per m2 of biotope. The biomass of the aboveground phytophilous fauna ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 g ash-free dry weight per m2 of biotope. In September, when theNymphoides peltata vegetation was in its senescent phase, the largest numbers and the highest biomass of phytophilous macroinvertebrates were observed. The contribution of the shredder functional feeding group was high in this period. This, and the overall high abundance of fauna with a detritivorous mode of life, indicates the importance of macrophyte detritus as input to food chains.

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Author notes

  1. Theo C. M. Brock

    Present address: DLO the Winand Staring Centre for Integrated Land, Soil and Water Research, P.O. Box 125, 6700, AC Wageningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525, ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Gerard Van Der Velde

  2. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525, ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Gerard Van Der Velde

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Brock, T.C.M., Van Der Velde, G. Aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure of aNymphoides peltata-dominated and macrophyte-free site in an oxbow lake. Netherlands Journal of Aquatic Ecology 30, 151–163 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02272235

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