东鄱阳湖国家湿地公园越冬水鸟多样性及其年际动态

于2015-2020年每年1月采用样区直数法对东鄱阳湖国家湿地公园18个样区的水鸟进行1次监测,探讨6年间水鸟数量和多样性指数的变化规律.共记录水鸟7目12科47种87 433只.雁形目种类占绝对优势,其个体数占水鸟总数量的75.33%.共记录国家I级重点保护鸟类4种(白鹤Grusleucogeranus、白枕鹤Grusvipio、东方白鹳Ciconiaboyciana和黑鹳Ciconia nigra)以及国家II级重点保护鸟类5种.水鸟数量和物种数主要由雁形目和鸻形目鸟类组成,雁形目水鸟数量呈上升趋势,鸻形目水鸟数量波动大且呈下降趋势.鸬鹚类、鹳类、??类、鸥类的年际变化曲线类似.鹤类和鸻鹬类的数量高峰与低谷正好与上述4种水鸟类群相反.共记录优势种6种,以雁形目鸟类为主,其中豆雁Anser fabalis是连续6年的优势种.研究期间物种数(31-38种)变化不大,数量(7 313-21 883只)变化明显. 2020年多样性指数和均匀度指数均为6年中最低,主要因为豆雁占绝对优势(44.38%).上述结果表明东鄱阳湖国家湿地公园的水鸟资源丰富,在鄱阳湖濒危水鸟和水鸟多样性的保护与维持上发挥着重要作用;鸻鹬类较雁鸭类更难适应水位的变化;鸬鹚类、鹳类、??类、鸥类的生态需求类似,与鹤类和鸻鹬类的生态需求存在较大差异;湖区多样的微生境才能维持较高的水鸟多样性.(图2表3参34)     

中国西南不同湿地类型水鸟多样性评价

水鸟是反映湿地生态系统健康的指标之一,对不同湿地水鸟多样性进行评价能提出有利于湿地生态系统健康良性发展的湿地管理措施,亦能更好地保护水鸟资源。为缓解近年来中国自然湿地退化和消失的问题,中国政府积极推进实施了大量修复自然湿地和新建人工湿地的工程。然而受限于人力、物力和经费,当前对自然湿地和人工湿地水鸟多样性的系统调查和评价多局限于单一地点或局部区域。因水鸟的分布具有地域性,从地域尺度进行不同湿地类型水鸟多样性评价将更为客观,公众科学数据为区域大尺度数据获取提供了可能。本研究借助中国观鸟记录中心数据,比较了2014年1月至2018年2月中国西南4省(市)自然湿地和人工湿地的水鸟物种多样性和组成相似性;结果共记录到9目19科139种水鸟,其中有94.96%的物种分布于自然湿地,67.63%的物种分布于人工湿地;各类群水鸟在自然湿地中的物种数均高于人工湿地。结果说明自然湿地在水鸟保护中具有重要栖息地功能,人工湿地能为大部分水鸟提供栖息地,但不能完全代替自然湿地。自然湿地中的湖泊湿地、河流湿地和沼泽化草甸以及人工湿地中的水库、城市人工景观水面和娱乐水面是水鸟,特别是受威胁水鸟分布的重要湿地类型;建议政府部门重点对上述湿地亚类进行合理的规划和管理。     

江苏东台条子泥和如东湿地越冬水鸟多样性研究

江苏东台条子泥和如东湿地是东亚-澳大利西亚水鸟迁徙路线上的重要节点,是水鸟重要中转停歇地和越冬地。分别于2017—2020年冬季采用样点法对东台条子泥和如东湿地越冬水鸟种类、数量及生境类型进行调查。结果表明,2处湿地共记录水鸟52种,隶属于8目13科;其中,东台条子泥湿地记录到水鸟8目12科42种,累计有5种水鸟单次调查数量超过该物种全球种群数量1%的标准;如东湿地记录到水鸟6目11科43种,累计有3种越冬水鸟数量达到该物种全球数量1%的标准。不同年份间2处湿地水鸟物种数、数量和多样性指数均不存在显著差异,东台条子泥湿地水鸟密度显著大于如东湿地。水塘和滩涂是湿地越冬水鸟分布的主要生境,东台条子泥和如东湿地在这2种生境中的水鸟类群组成、群落相似性指数和多样性指数方面均存在一定差异。研究结果表明,东台条子泥和如东湿地是重要的水鸟越冬地,两地间水鸟多样性差异与生境利用和人为干扰等因素有关。针对水鸟及栖息地保护和管理提出合理建议。     

连云港市4个河口湿地越冬水鸟群落结构及多样性

连云港市地处东亚-澳大利西亚鸟类迁徙的重要通道上,是水鸟的重要停歇地和越冬地。分别于2016—2018年冬季,对连云港市临洪河口、青口河口、兴庄河口和埒子河口湿地水鸟多样性进行调查。共记录水鸟47种,隶属于8目12科;其中,冬候鸟37种(占总种数的78.72%),留鸟5种(占10.64%),旅鸟5种(占10.64%);有国家Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级重点保护鸟类各1种,累计共有5种水鸟的单次调查数量超过该物种全球种群数量1%的标准。不同年份间水鸟物种数和数量不同,2017年种类和数量均最多,2016年种类最少,2018年数量最少。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均以2017年为最高,2018年居中,2016年最低;而2016年Simpson优势度指数最高。4个河口间水鸟物种数和多样性指数差异不显著,但水鸟数量和密度差异显著(P均0.001)。河口间水鸟相似性指数(≥0.600)均较高,其中,兴庄河口和埓子河口水鸟相似性指数(0.714)最高。研究结果表明连云港市滨海湿地是重要的水鸟越冬地,且不同河口水鸟多样性受各区域的围垦、开发建设和生境改变等因素影响。针对越冬水鸟资源及栖息地保护和管理提出了合理建议。     

广东雷州湾和汕头沿海湿地越冬水鸟多样性

广东省海岸线长,沿海湿地资源丰富,但开展长期水鸟观测的湿地较少。为更好掌握广东沿海湿地鸟类多样性分布情况,识别广东沿海湿地生态环境主要问题和评估生态系统稳定性,于2016—2019年对广东西部雷州湾和东部汕头沿海湿地进行越冬水鸟观测,研究两地越冬水鸟群落物种、功能和谱系多样性的差异。共记录到水鸟6目10科63种96 048只,其中汕头沿海越冬水鸟群落主要由鸻形目、雁形目和鹳形目组成,而雷州湾则仅以鸻形目为主。两地水鸟群落物种多样性指数无显著差异,以体重、食性和取食层为特征的功能均匀度也无显著差异,但汕头沿海水鸟功能分异度高于雷州湾。在谱系结构上,雷州湾水鸟表现为聚集(SES.MPD0),即主要受环境过滤影响;而汕头沿海则表现为分散(SES.MPD0),以物种竞争为主要驱动力。以上结果表明两地水鸟群落构建机制存在差异,反映了当地地理位置、生境组成和人为干扰等环境因素的影响。建议研究区鸟类保护措施和生态恢复策略应根据水鸟群落特点制定。     

鄱阳湖康山和都昌水鸟多样性动态研究

2017—2019年,采用样区直数法对鄱阳湖区康山湖区候鸟自然保护区(简称康山)和都昌候鸟自然保护区(简称都昌)水鸟多样性进行调查,共记录水鸟9目12科48种159 701只,其中康山38种38 074只,都昌42种121 627只。记录到国家I级重点保护鸟类5种,分别为中华秋沙鸭(Mergus squamatus)、白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)、白头鹤(Grus monacha)、东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)和黑鹳(Ciconia nigra);国家Ⅱ级重点保护鸟类5种。国家保护动物种类和主要类群在康山和都昌分布差异较大,2个保护区在水鸟保护上各有优势。2个保护区水鸟优势种共计10种,其中,康山水鸟优势种有8种,包括雁鸭类和鹬类等,都昌仅记录3种水鸟优势种,均为雁鸭类。调查期内,每年康山水鸟物种数、个体数和群落优势度指数均低于都昌,水鸟多样性指数和均匀度指数则高于都昌。推测这种差异与2个保护区的微生境有关。康山和都昌水鸟物种的差异,体现2个保护区在国家重点保护鸟类和优势水鸟的保护上起到了生态功能互补作用,应继续加强对2个保护区的保护。     

洱海流域湖泊湖滨带福寿螺时空分布

福寿螺是世界100种恶性入侵物种中唯一的水生螺,已对大理及周边地区造成了不可估量的经济损失和生态安全问题。为探究洱海流域湖泊湖滨带福寿螺时空分布及与水环境因子、季节之间的关系,探索福寿螺在大理地区的入侵机制,为大理地区高效防治福寿螺提供建设性建议,并为福寿螺时空分布格局的相关研究积累资料,于2016年冬季和2017年夏季在大理洱海及其上游水源地海西海、西湖、茈碧湖、绿玉池,以及罗时江湿地进行系统抽样,利用统计软件分析福寿螺分布与水质关系,结合GIS,分析福寿螺的时空分布以及潜在入侵危害。结果表明,从空间尺度上,洱海流域福寿螺有进一步扩散的趋势;从时间尺度上,福寿螺的密度随季节性水位的改变而变化;洱海流域的福寿螺分布和水质因子之间基本无相关性。     

草海国家级自然保护区冬季主要水鸟群落结构与生境的关系

于2011年12月至2012年2月对草海湿地国家级自然保护区冬季主要水鸟进行调查,结果表明:(1)共记录草海主要越冬水鸟30种,隶属于6目10科17属,区系上以古北型与全北型居多;(2)雁形目水鸟种类与数量均占优势,白骨顶(Fulica atra)、赤颈鸭(Anas penelope)、斑头雁(Anser indicus)、赤麻鸭(Tadorna ferruginea)、赤膀鸭(Anas strepera)5种水鸟优势度均达10%以上,黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)和灰鹤(Grus grus)等珍稀水鸟也具一定的种群数量;(3)5种草海典型生境栖息的水鸟种类与数量存在显著差异(Kruskal-Wallis H Test:n=30,!2=16.1893,P=0.003),浅水区是水鸟多样性最丰富的区域,多样性指数(H'=1.079)和均匀性指数(J'=0.804)均最高,而耕地最低(H'=0.345;J'=0.493);(4)群落聚类显示,草海主要水鸟可分为7类伴生群落,不同群落在不同生境中分布存在一定差异。     

水位对小叶章湿地CO2、CH4排放及土壤微生物活性的影响

湿地生态系统对全球碳平衡和气候变化起着极其重要的作用,而水位波动将影响湿地生物地球化学过程,导致温室气体通量变化,为了明确湿地生态系统温室气体通量以及土壤微生物活性对水位梯度的生态响应,通过野外盆栽培养试验,设T1:-5 cm,T2:0 cm,T3:5 cm,T4:10 cm 4种水位梯度,T1和T2模拟湿地非淹水的水分状况,T3和T4模拟淹水状况,研究了不同水位梯度下小叶章(Calamagrostis angustifolia)湿地CO2、CH4通量、土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性的变化规律.结果表明:不同水位条件下,小叶章湿地系统CO2和CH4通量差异较大,-5 cm水位时小叶章湿地CO2通量为(643.35±61.89) mg·m-2·h -1,随着水位增加,CO2通量依次降低6.9%、12.1%、40.0%,且水位升高到10 cm时,小叶章湿地CO2排放量显著降低(P<0.05);而CH4通量则随水位增加呈显著增加趋势,通量变化为(1.52±0.12)~(5.34±0.61) mg·m-2·h-1;水位对微生物活性影响显著,非淹水条件下小叶章湿地土壤微生物量碳、氮含量以及土壤蔗糖酶、淀粉酶活性高于淹水土壤,且随着淹水位增加,微生物活性显著降低.     

水深梯度对荆三棱(Scirpus yagara)生长的影响

研究湿地植物对水深梯度的响应对于湿地修复具有重要的指导意义.在南四湖湖边滩地上的人工修复湿地中开展水深梯度对荆三棱(Scirpus yagara)生长的影响研究,试验观测水深分别为-10、0、10、20、30 cm共5个梯度.结果显示:随着水位的升高,1)荆三棱的株高、基茎、叶长和叶宽均有所增加,当水位大于10 cm时各项指标增加更为显著;2)生物量呈增加趋势,而根茎比则逐渐减小,水位为30 cm时的生物量和根茎比分别为-10 cm时的2.67倍和58.15%;3)叶绿素含量总体呈增加趋势,但在不同水位间的差异不明显(P>0.05);4)叶绿素荧光方面,最大光化学量子产量Fv/Fm均在0.75以上,光化学淬灭qP和非光化学淬灭qN分别呈现出升高和下降的趋势.结果表明,在试验所设置的水位条件下(-10～30 cm),荆三棱的生长没有受到水深梯度增加的显著影响,相反表现出随着水深的增加而生长更好的趋势.可见,在试验设置的水深梯度范围内,相对较高的水位有利于荆三棱的生长,因此在湿地管理中应控制适当的高水位以利于其种群的生长和稳定.     

The influences of climate and hydrology on population dynamics of waterbirds in the lower Murrumbidgee River floodplains in Southeast Australia: Implications for environmental water management

Restoration of waterbird diversity and abundance is a key objective of river system management in Australia. Therefore, understanding the effects of climatic and hydrological variables on waterbird population dynamics is fundamental for successful river restoration programs. We investigated the population dynamics of waterbirds (total abundance) and seven functional waterbird groups in the floodplains of lower Murrumbidgee River. We found a general declining abundance trend from 1983 to 2007, except for the deep water foragers. We modelled the relative contribution of the climatic and hydrological factors to waterbird population decrease using the generalized additive model (GAM) framework after identifying the negative binomial distribution. Most of the seven functional groups were positively related to both annual rainfall and water usage, defined as the total water volume intercepted by the river reach, and the models indicated that rainfall was slightly more important. Temperature also played a role in waterbird abundance: the maximum summer temperature negatively influenced the abundance of dabbling ducks, shoreline foragers and fish eaters, while the minimum winter temperature positively affected the abundance of dabbling ducks and shoreline foragers. Overall, our results support the practice of providing environmental water for sustaining waterbird populations. However, environmental water provision is likely to be most effective when timed to coincide with antecedent rainfall.     

Community composition of aquatic birds in lakes of Bangalore, India

Observations were made on the occurrence, abundance, richness, and diversity of waterbirds in 15 major lakes in Bangalore city during 2008 - 2009. During the study period 35 species of aquatic birds were recorded. The number of aquatic bird species recorded at various lakes ranged from 23 to 35. The percent abundance of waterbirds recorded in the study lakes ranged from 2.46 to 21.49 and itwas significantly different (p < 0.05). The diversity and species evenness of waterbirds in the lakes ranged from 2.07 to 3.16 and 0.32 to 0.76, respectively. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the diversity and species evenness of waterbirds among different lakes. Species richness of the bird population ranged from 2.89 to 4.01 in the different study lakes and it was not significantly different (p > 0.05). There was a variation in number of waterbird species recorded during summer, monsoon and winter seasons. Of the 35 waterbird species, Bubulcus ibis showed cent percent frequency, whereas less frequently (4.44%) observed species was Anas platyrhynchos. Among various waterbird species, Bubulcus ibis, Fulica atra, Tringa hypoleucos, Motacilla maderaspatensis, Phalacrocorax niger Egretta garzetta, Charadrius dubius, Ardeola grayji, Halcyon smymensis and Motacilla alba were frequently encountered in most of the study lakes.     

Monitoring waterbird abundance in wetlands: The importance of controlling results for variation in water depth

Wetland use by waterbirds is highly dependent on water depth, and depth requirements generally vary among species. Furthermore, water depth within wetlands often varies greatly over time due to unpredictable hydrological events, making comparisons of waterbird abundance among wetlands difficult as effects of habitat variables and water depth are confounded. Species-specific relationships between bird abundance and water depth necessarily are non-linear; thus, we developed a methodology to correct waterbird abundance for variation in water depth, based on the non-parametric regression of these two variables. Accordingly, we used the difference between observed and predicted abundances from non-parametric regression (analogous to parametric residuals) as an estimate of bird abundance at equivalent water depths. We scaled this difference to levels of observed and predicted abundances using the formula: ((observed − predicted abundance)/(observed + predicted abundance)) × 100. This estimate also corresponds to the observed:predicted abundance ratio, which allows easy interpretation of results. We illustrated this methodology using two hypothetical species that differed in water depth and wetland preferences. Comparisons of wetlands, using both observed and relative corrected abundances, indicated that relative corrected abundance adequately separates the effect of water depth from the effect of wetlands.     

Mechanistic analysis of interspecific competition using foraging trade-offs: implications for duck assemblages

The role of interspecific competition and resource partitioning in determining the composition of species assemblages is often controversial. In many cases data on species co-occurrence or resource use (prey or habitat) have been interpreted without a clear understanding of how, or even whether, phenotypic differences constrain performance to allow resource partitioning or how these constraints and the density of resources and competitors should shape resource selection by each species. Instead, predictions have been based on assumed constraints, possibly leading to conflicting results. One such controversy involves the role of bill morphology in mediating resource partitioning among dabbling ducks (Anas spp.). To determine whether incorrect assumptions may have contributed to this controversy, I constructed mechanistic models that predict filter-feeding performance for seven species of ducks directly from bill morphology and kinetics and compared these predictions to those of earlier studies that tested the bill morphology hypothesis. The models predicted that species should share a preference for their most profitable (primary) prey while partitioning their less profitable (secondary) prey by size. Consequently, ducks should forage in the same habitats and exhibit high overlap in prey size when competitor/resource ratios are either high or low. In contrast, earlier studies expected that resource partitioning should always be evident, which implicitly assumes that species partition their primary resources. The models also predicted that the ecological similarity of species in assemblages should increase as prey abundance and size variability declines, contrary to the expectations of an earlier study. A more consistent understanding of the mechanisms regulating assemblages of dabbling ducks, and other species, might emerge if patterns of resource use and species co-occurrence were predicted directly from a mechanistic understanding of how performance trade-offs affect resource selection in the context of varying resource and competitor densities.     

Long-term trend of the waterbird community breeding in a heavily man-modified coastal lagoon: the case of the important bird area “Lagoon of Venice”

The aim of the paper is to examine the temporal and spatial changes observed over a 25-year period in the waterbird community nesting in the largest coastal lagoon around the Mediterranean; to examine driving factors for the observed changes; to address the most urgent conservation actions. Published sources and field surveys made between March and July were used to assess number of breeding pairs of the commonest waterbirds in 1990–1992, 2000–02 and 2012–14. The breeding waterbird community exhibited several changes in its structure, with an overall positive trend; the number of species increased from 14 to 25 and the mean yearly abundance increased from 6155 to 14,008 pairs. The diversity (H′) increased slightly, whereas similarity indices and nMDS ordination both highlighted clear differences between 1990 and 1992 and 2012–2014 communities. The increase in richness and abundance were mostly due to the immigration of birds from nearby wetlands, to the partial recovery of lagoon ecological conditions since the end of the 1980s and to the occurrence of suitable man-made habitats, such as fish farms, dredge islands and a constructed wetland. The fraction of the population nesting at artificial sites and fish farms increased from 50% in 1990–1992 till 80% in 2012–2014, highlighting the importance of artificial breeding sites in costal lagoons. At the opposite natural nesting habitats, such as saltmarshes and beaches are losing importance for breeding waterbirds, thus requiring urgent conservation measures.     

Waterbird Communities and Habitat Relationships in Coastal Pastures of Northern California

We examined waterbird assemblages (diversity, composition, and species' densities) in 20 pastures near Humboldt Bay, California, in relation to habitat characteristics (vegetation height, soil penetrability, water depth), abundance of invertebrates (worms and other invertebrates), and presence of livestock. From October 1991 to May 1992 we observed 29 species and 10,776 birds, most (78%) of which foraged. Nonrandom pasture use by birds resulted in a highly clumped spatial distribution (s²:{ovbar>x} ratio = 42.1). Habitat characteristics of pastures correlated with this nonrandom pattern: waterbird diversity and densities of three sandpiper species and one gull species correlated negatively ( r = −0.61 and r = −0.44 to −0.67, respectively) with vegetation height; densities of two plover species correlated negatively ( r = −0.39 and −0.45) with soil penetrability; and waterfowl densities correlated positively with water depth ( r = 0.97). Species composition varied among pastures. Wading birds used pastures with tall vegetation, shorebirds and gulls frequented short-grass pastures, and waterfowl used flooded pastures of waterbirds and their densities increased in association with livestock.In coastal areas where much intertidal habitat has been reclaimed as postureland, pastures offered valuable habitats to nonbreeding waterbirds. We suggest that grazing in coastal pastures can be used to provide a mosaic of vegetation heights, which would yield greater waterbird diversity as well as higher densities of some species.     

Latitudinal variation in abundance of herbivorous fishes: a comparison of temperate and tropical reefs

The aim of the study was to provide comparable estimates of abundance of herbivorous reef fishes at temperate and tropical localities using a standardized methodology. Faunas of herbivorous fish were sampled on the rocky reefs of temperate northern New Zealand and on the coral reefs of the northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and the San Blas Archipelago in the Caribbean. A pilot study established the most appropriate habitat setting and the scale and magnitude of replication for the sampling program in temperate waters. Herbivorous fishes, including members of families endemic to the southern hemisphere (Odacidae and Aplodactylidae), were most abundant in turbulent, shallow water (0 to 6 m) and had patchy distributions within this habitat. A hierarchical sampling program using 10-min transect counts within the 0 to 6 m depth stratum examined abundance patterns at a range of spatial scales including mainland and island coasts, localities separated by up to 100 km and sites separated by up to 10 km. This program identified a characteristic fauna of seven species of herbivorous fishes with mean total abundances ranging from 23 to 30 individuals per 10-min transect. Species composition of the fauna varied between islands and coasts. A similar methodology was used to sample the major families of herbivorous fish in a number of sites in each of the tropical regions. These sampling programs revealed a fauna dominated by acanthurids and scarids in both the GBR and Caribbean localities. Estimates of abundance from these regions were similar, with a mean of 108 individuals recorded on the GBR and 129 per 10-min transect in the Caribbean. Species richness varied between each region, with 44 taxa recorded from the GBR and 11 from the Caribbean. Abundances of temperate water herbivores in New Zealand were found to be 75 to 80% lower than those recorded from shallow water habitats sampled on coral reefs. This was not related to species richness, since both New Zealand and the Caribbean locality had patterns of low richness. We suggest that the differences in abundance found by our study between temperate and tropical regions are not restricted to herbivorous fishes, but are representative of general latitudinal trends in reef fish faunas. Received: 4 November 1996 / Accepted: 15 December 1996     

Assessing the Value of the Umbrella‐Species Concept for Conservation Planning with Meta‐Analysis

Abstract: The umbrella‐species concept, which suggests that conservation strategies designed for one species may benefit co‐occurring species, has been promoted as a framework for conservation planning. Nevertheless, there has been considerable variation in the outcome of empirical tests of this concept that has led researchers to question its value, so we used data from 15 published studies in a meta‐analysis to evaluate whether conservation of putative umbrella species also conserves co‐occurring species. We tested the effectiveness of putative umbrella species categorized by taxonomic group, taxonomic similarity to co‐occurring species, body size, generality of resource use, and trophic level to evaluate criteria proposed to guide the selection of umbrella species. We compared species richness and number of individuals (by species and higher taxonomic group) between sites with and without putative umbrella species to test whether more co‐occurring species were present in greater abundances when the area or resource needs of umbrella species were met. Species richness and abundance of co‐occurring species were consistently higher in sites where umbrella species were present than where they were not and for conservation schemes with avian than with mammalian umbrella species. There were no differences in species richness or species abundance with resource generalist or specialist umbrella species or based on taxonomic similarity of umbrella and co‐occurring species. Taxonomic group abundance was higher in across‐taxonomic umbrella species schemes than when umbrella species were of the same taxon as co‐occurring species. Co‐occurring species had similar, or higher, species richness with small‐bodied umbrella species relative to larger‐bodied umbrella species. The only significant difference among umbrella species categorized by trophic level was that species richness was higher with omnivorous than it was with carnivorous avian umbrella species. Our results suggest there is merit to the umbrella‐species concept for conservation, but they do not support the use of the criteria we used to identify umbrella species.     

Effects of plant morphology on small-scale distribution of invertebrates

Habitat structure influences organism communities by mediating interactions between individuals and species, affecting abundance and species richness. We examined whether variations in the morphology of soft-bottom plants affect their function as habitat and whether complex structured plants support higher macroinvertebrate abundance and species richness. Three Baltic Sea plant species were studied, together with artificial plants resembling each species. In a field collection, we found higher invertebrate abundance on the morphologically more complex plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Chara baltica than on the structurally simpler plant Potamogeton perfoliatus. In a colonization experiment, we found the highest invertebrate abundance on artificial M. spicatum but found no difference between natural plants. Invertebrate taxon richness displayed no consistent relationship with plant structural complexity. The results imply that plant morphology influences small-scale invertebrate distribution, partly supporting the hypothesis that structurally complex plants harbour higher invertebrate abundance.