Impact of headwater stream acidification on the trophic structure of macroinvertebrate communities

Abstract:

In order to investigate the impact of freshwater acidification on the trophic structure of macroinvertebrate communities, we performed a study on 22 forested headwater streams characterised by different degrees of acidification (mean pH = 4.49 to 6.98). Results showed that in acidic streams all functional feeding groups were affected in terms of taxonomic richness. As far as the population density was concerned, only a few acid-tolerant taxa of shredders and predators showed an increasing abundance under acidic conditions. Trophic structure of acidified streams appeared to be deeply impacted with a large contribution of shredders and a complete disappearance of scrapers. In contrast, in circumneutral streams, we found that each functional feeding group had an almost equal share of the trophic web.

Año de publicación:

1999

Keywords:

• Trophic structure
• Acid-sensitive taxa
• Macroinvertebrate communities
• Stream acidification
• Vosges mountains

Fuente:

scopus