Recovery of benthic macroinvertebrate and epilithic communities following a large flood, in an unstable, Braided, New Zealand River

Abstract

Benthic macroinvertebrates and small stones were collected from a riffle in the Ashley River, North Canterbury, New Zealand, on 12 occasions within a 132‐day period following a particularly large flood in 1986. Despite the occurrence of smaller floods during this period, benthic macroinvertebrate communities and stone surface organic layers recovered rapidly. Mean concentration of stone surface organic carbon increased from 0.23 g/m2 to 1.01 g/m2 stone surface in the first 23 days after the flood and chlorophyll a concentration increased from 0.13 mg/m2 (day 3) to 9.2 mg/m2 by day 132. Minor floods during the recovery period had little effect on organic layer biomass. Mean faunal density increased from 230/m2 to 7920/m2 during this time and taxon richness from 7 to 21 per 5 benthic samples. Immediately after the flood and throughout the study period the fauna was dominated by larvae of Deleatidium (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae), Hydora (Coleoptera: Elmidae), and Chironomidae. Re‐establishment of Deleatidium populations in previously denuded brands was effected by oviposition, egg‐hatching, and larval immigration. Minor braids are likely to representimportant epicentres from which recolonisation proceeds. © 1988 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.