Original paper
Stream macroinvertebrate communities in the island of Tenerife
Malmqvist, B; Nilsson, A. N; Baez, M; Armitage, P. D.; Blackburn, J.
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 128 Number 2 (1993), p. 209 - 235
23 references
published: Oct 12, 1993
published online: Jun 2, 2021
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/128/1993/209
ArtNo. ESP141012802005, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Macroinvenebrate communities in seven Tenerife streams were investigated in spring and autumn 1991. All Tenerife streams are small and run for limited distances. Six of the study streams represent a majority of the permanent streams in Tenerife, the seventh being seasonal. A total of 127 taxa were identified. Species richness ranged between 34 and 74, and there was a three-fold difference in abundance between the richest and poorest sites. The lowest richness value was found at a laurel forest stream site and the highest at an exposed, low elevation (190 m a.s.l.) site. In a partial least square regression analysis, pool size, algae, pH, and temperature were factors that influenced species richness positively. Altitude had a negative influence. The two orders richest in species in all streams were Diptera followed by Coleoptera. Only nine taxa were common to all streams, viz. the gastropod Ancylus striatum, the oligochaete Eiseniella tetraedra, the dytiscid beetles Nebrioporus canariensis, Agabus biguttatus, and Laccobius canariensis, and the dipterans Dixa tetrica, Simulium tenerificum, Zavrelimyia nubila and Thienemanniella clavicornis. Another 14 species occurred in six streams. In spring, the overall most numerous taxa were Hydroptila sp. (Trichoptera), Baetis canariensis (Ephemeroptera), and Orthocladiinae (Diptera), and in autumn, the dipterans Simulium ruficorne and Tanytarsini. Some taxa occurred in a clear seasonal pattern whereas others did not. About half of all taxa could be characterized as habitat specialists defined as those in which > 90 % of all individuals were found in either pool or riffle habitats. All stream sites contained unique taxa that were not found at other sites. Each stream site also showed major individual differences in the composition of functional feeding groups stressing the individuality of the different streams. The results are discussed in the light of threatening habitat loss for stream-living animals in Tenerife.
Keywords
macroinvertebrate • Tenerife