Riverine macroinvertebrate assemblages up to 8 years after riparian restoration in a semi-rural catchment in Victoria, Australia
Alistair Becker A B and Belinda J. Robson A CA School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, Vic. 3280, Australia.
B Present address: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
C Corresponding author. Email: belinda.robson@deakin.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 60(12) 1309-1316 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08350
Submitted: 17 December 2008 Accepted: 3 June 2009 Published: 17 December 2009
Abstract
Willow removal followed by riparian revegetation is a widespread river restoration practice in Australia, but the ecological response to this has rarely been evaluated. We sampled river macroinvertebrates from six sites each of three riparian vegetation types: revegetated (treatment), willow-dominated (control) and native forest (reference) in the Gellibrand River catchment during austral spring 2007 and autumn 2008, and measured temperature and light intensity. Revegetated sites varied in age from 1 to 8 years since restoration. Abundances of invertebrates were similar across vegetation types, but were higher during autumn. Macroinvertebrate assemblages at revegetated sites (regardless of age) and at willow-dominated sites showed little among-site variation compared with native forest sites, which showed high site-to-site variability. Water temperatures and light intensity were higher at revegetated sites where works had recently been completed and cooler in native forest sites and long-established revegetated sites. The reduced variability in macroinvertebrate communities among revegetated sites may result from their history as willow-dominated sites or from the disturbance created by willow removal. Either way, these results suggest that longer than 8 years is required before macroinvertebrate assemblages in restored stretches of stream show the variation that appears characteristic of natural sites.
Additional keywords: disturbance, multivariate dispersion, recovery, revegetation, Salix spp., willow removal.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Deakin University. The authors thank the landowners who allowed access to private properties to sample the revegetated and willow sites. Denis Lovric instigated this project and helped with logistics. Garry Matherson was valuable as a guide on the initial fieldtrip. Kerrylyn Johnston and Travis Howson assisted with fieldwork during the macroinvertebrate sampling trips. Edwin Chester provided advice on invertebrate identification and statistical procedures.
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