DETRITUS ABUNDANCE AND BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE CATCH IN ARTIFICIAL SUBSTRATE SAMPLES FROM MOUNTAIN STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: Artificial substrates were designed using rock filled polyethylene bags which were perforated with holes. The substrates trapped waterborne sediment and detritus which enhanced microhabitat complexity. Colonization was compared in side-by-side tests with multiple plate samplers in mountain streams ranging from second to seventh order. After 41 days the bag samples contained more sediment and detritus and more animals than did multiple plates. Plastic bags exceeded multiple plate samples by a factor of nearly 8 for individuals and 1.5 for taxa expressed as numbers/sampler. Although detritus amounts differed significantly between samplers, catch composition was similar in habitat preference and functional groups. Most taxa were “lotic erosional” or “lotic erosional-depositional” detritivores. The plastic bags better represented the streambed fauna judged by their greater similarity to dip net samples. Bag samplers had 4.5 × the colonization area of multiple plates, hence would be expected to support more species. Catch/m² of colonization area was not significantly different between samplers. Functionally the plastic bags act as detritus retention devices, offering a diverse, highly dynamic microhabitat for colonization. Results are interpretable in terms of research on microdistribution of stream benthos and the river continuum model. This study supports the conclusion that stream benthos abundance and diversity are related to the amount of detritus. Maximum diversity and numbers of individuals occurred in samples from third and fourth order streams. Grazers reached peak abundances in the same streams where the continuum model predicts P>R Shredders reached maximum abundances in third and fourth order streams where the riparian canopy was greatest. Predator abundance changed little with stream size. Although bag samples required more sorting time, the samplers are catch effective, inexpensive, and adaptable.     

Water Quality and Pollution in the Hunchun Basin, China

Chemical properties and pollution of water resources were studied in the Hunchun basin, which is located in northeast China and borders directly North Korea and Russia along the Tumen river. Water quality was characterised according to its major constituents and geological features. Ground waters could generally be grouped into (Ca+Mg)-HCO₃ type and (Ca+Mg)-(SO₃+Cl) type in first and the second terrace areas, respectively. The mixing of these two types depends on the local conditions, such as pumping or permeability variations.Hunchun city is a pollution source for local water resources due to its uncontrolled sewage and urban discharge. In a previous study of the southwestern part of the Hunchun basin, groundwater contamination by Fe, Mn and NO₃-N was reported. In addition, this study identified Cd and F as prevailing contaminants in the water resources. Pollution of water resources by these contaminants appeared to be affected by the application of fertilisers, irrigation practice, variation of aquifer characteristics, solubility of mineral phases, and discharge of domestic sewage. Wide distribution and high levels of Cd and F in surface- and ground waters could pose significant problems if they are utilised as major water supply sources.