Survey of stream invertebrate communities on Macquarie Island

Abstract

In all, 15 sites on 12 streams were kick-sampled for invertebrates. Eleven fully aquatic taxa were found: a species of Iais (Isopoda: Janiridae); six species of oligochaetes (three enchytraeids, one tubificid, one naidid, one phreodrilid); a harpacticoid copepod; two nematode taxa; and Minona amnica, a turbellarian. Composition of this depauperate community changed littlebetween sites, although one site disturbed by penguins had clearly fewer taxa. Aquatic insects (and fish) were absent, apart from three species of semi-aquatic Diptera that occurred very sparsely. In terms of biomass, the streams were dominated by the oligochaetes.