Species richness and assemblage structure of Trichoptera in Danish streams

• Published in: Freshwater biology Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 633 - 647
• Main Authors: Wiberg-Larsen, P., Brodersen, K. P., Birkholm, S., Grøn, P. N., Skriver, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-04-2000; Blackwell Science; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; assemblages; Biological and medical sciences; Denmark; environmental variables; Fresh water ecosystems; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; richness; streams; Synecology; Trichoptera; Denmark; Europe; Order; Community structure; Fauna; Insecta; Trichoptera; Environmental factor; Zoobenthos; Physical properties; Freshwater environment; Species diversity; Faunal survey; Animal community; Macrofauna; Riparian; Arthropoda; Stream; Invertebrata; Localization; Species richness; Geographical variation
• ISSN: 0046-5070; 1365-2427
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.2000.00546.x

Summary
1
Species richness and assemblages of Trichoptera from 157 ‘pristine’ Danish lowland stream sites were analyzed, for dependence on geographical position of the sites and simple physical variables, using two way indicator species analysis and detrended correspondence analysis.
2
A total of 106 species were recorded, representing ≈ 90% of the species pool known from Danish streams. Only seven species occurred at more than half the sites, whereas an additional 11 species were found at more than a quarter of the sites.
3
Although sites showed significant regional differences in environmental variables (stream order, width, slope and presence/absence of riparian forest), species richness and assemblages were primarily correlated with stream order, width and slope. Maximum richness was found at the largest (5th order) stream sites.
4
Regional differences in species assemblages were found, with several species being absent from the islands Funen and Bornholm. Species assemblages also differed between forested and non‐forested stream sites.
5
We found evidence that stream temperature may be of only minor importance in determining Trichoptera species richness and assemblage composition in Danish streams compared to other size‐related physical factors.