Structural property in communities of aquatic insects and benthic macroinvertebrates could reflect the impact of environment on aquatic ecosystems. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected at 18 different lakes across different levels of environmental impact in Korea. Community responses were analyzed by species abundance distribution (SAD). Rank-abundance (or relative abundance) curves were evaluated by classical SAD (Geometric series, Log-series, and Lognormal distribution) and niche apportionment models (dominance pre-emption, random assortment, random fraction, and dominance decay). Geometric series was more accepted in lakes among classical SAD models. Niche apportionment models were observed in a diverse manner across different level of ecological integrity in lakes. Dominance decay model and random fraction model were frequently fitted to the lakes with higher integrity, while dominance pre-emption and random assortment models tend to be presented in low to middle range in integrity.

Species abundance patterns have been recently one of key issues in ecology regarding determination of the allowable species richness in a determined area (i.e., island biogeography) and elucidation of structural coherence residing in the relationships between species and their corresponding abundance in communities. The topic of relative species abundance or species abundance distribution (SAD) is considered significant in revealing origination of community establishment in theoretical aspect and in presenting ecological states in response to environmental impact in practical aspect. Conventional models used in SADs including geometric series, log series, log normal distribution and broken stick model were introduced along with example cases. Theoretical interpretation of species abundance patterns was additionally outlined covering the neutral model, power law analysis and application of principles in statistical physics. The future of SADs and the species‐abundance related topics was discussed regarding community organization mechanism and ecological monitoring in response to disturbances.