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Runoff and the longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrates in a glacier‐fed stream: implications for the effects of global warming

Abstract:

The downstream pattern in benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages along glacier‐fed streams is a result of decreasing glacial influence on environmental conditions. However, meltwater run‐off shows temporal variation, reflected in differences in, for example, temperature, conductivity and turbidity. Consequently, depending on their run‐off patterns, comparable environmental conditions may occur at different distances along glacier‐fed streams. Our aim was to assess whether short‐term variations in glacial run‐off were reflected by changes in longitudinal distribution patterns of macroinvertebrates along a glacier‐fed stream in the Ecuadorian Andes. We measured environmental parameters, obtained continuous gauging data, measured macroinvertebrate drift rate with an hourly resolution during glacial floods and sampled benthic macroinvertebrates c. 3‐monthly for 30 months at three sites at varying …