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Macroinvertebrate species and assemblages in the headwater streams of the River Tyne, northern England in relation to land cover and other environmental variables

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Michael Eyre, Professor Stephen Rushton

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Abstract

The macroinvertebrate species and assemblages of headwater streams of the River Tyne catchment in northern England were classified and their relationship with environmental variables based on stream structure, water acidity, distance from source and land cover investigated using constrained ordination and logistic regression. Fuzzy classification of data from 322 stream sites generated five assemblages. Stream structure, quantified as an exposure index, was found to be the most important environmental variable, with water acidity also important. Distance from source and land cover had less influence on species and assemblage distribution. A considerable amount of variation in assemblage distribution was explained using a two-variable logistic regression with stream structure (exposure index) and water acidity (pH) in a template. Site structure and water acidity appeared to be related to drift, geology and topography with little anthropogenic influence. The applicability of the habitat template concept for explaining the distribution of stream macroinvertebrates is discussed. © Springer 2005.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Eyre MD, Pilkington JG, McBlane RP, Rushton SP

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Hydrobiologia

Year: 2005

Volume: 544

Issue: 1

Pages: 229-240

ISSN (print): 0018-8158

ISSN (electronic): 1573-5117

Publisher: Springer Netherlands

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-0861-6

DOI: 10.1007/s10750-005-0861-6

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