Vertical distribution of Benthic Invertebrates in the Bed of the Thomson River, Victoria

Abstract

The vertical distribution of the benthic fauna was studied at three sites on the Thomson River using a freeze-corer. Samples were taken over two years in early and late summer. At each site an average of 72 to 84% of the fauna was found in the 0-10 cm zone of the riverbed, 10-20% in the 10-20 cm zone and 6-8% in the 20-30 cm zone; flooding at one site was followed by an increase in the depth to which the fauna penetrated. Surface percentage abundances were probably underestimated because of the inability of the corer to sample surface rocks and their fauna consistently and because the coring operation disturbs the surface fauna to some extent before it can be frozen. Nevertheless, the results indicate that in the Thomson River the majority of the fauna is within the depth range (0-10 cm) of a Surber sampler.