Recolonization dynamics of benthic macroinvertebrates after artificial and natural disturbances in an Australian temporary stream

Abstract

The effects of substratum particle size (cobbles, coarse gravel and medium-fine gravel) on recolonization by benthic macroinvertebrates after disturbance was investigated in small plots (0.05 m2) in the Finniss River, an intermittent stream in South Australia. Six weeks after flow resumed, the intermediate particle size (coarse gravel) supported the greatest densities of taxa and individuals. Experimental disturbance reduced species richness by 83% and numbers of individuals by 97%. Rapid recolonizers (e.g. mayfly and stonefly nymphs) showed little substratum specificity and attained predisturbance densities within one day. Slow recolonizers (e.g. chironomid hatchlings) favoured gravel substrata and had not reached predisturbance densities within 4 days. Recolonization of small plots appeared to be by surface movement from neighbouring intact areas. A spate on Day 7 prevented further sampling, destroying all experimental plots, but this permitted a study of macroinvertebrate recolonization following a natural disturbance at a larger spatial scale. The spate reduced species richness by 45% and numbers of individuals by 70%. Vertical migration rather than drift appeared to be the major source of recolonizing fauna. Our data show that results from small-scale experiments can not be extrapolated to large-scale disturbance because the scale of disturbance strongly influences the rate and pathways of recolonization as well as the sources and faunal composition of the recolonists.