The community temperature index (CTI) reflects the temperature and environmental preferences of the community. We investigated the distribution patterns of major aquatic insect assemblages (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera; EPT) based on CTI in streams of South Korea. We selected unpolluted 151 study sites at upper streams (less than 3rd) with less than 1.5 mg L-1 of biochemical oxygen demand. Study sites were clustered into six groups based on the similarities of their EPT composition. All three orders showed a continuous decrease in the number of species as CTI increased, especially in Plecoptera. In addition, the functional feeding groups were also significantly changed according the CTI changes. Temperature tolerance range of each group’s indicator species varied according to the CTI of the group. Finally, changes of CTI reflected differences of EPT assemblages according to the differences of environmental condition including temperature. Therefore, CTI can be applied to the evaluation and preservation of stream ecosystems and prediction of community changes due to climate change.

유사한 시기에 조사된 다른 위도의 저서성대형무척추동물 군집 구조의 시공간적 차이를 비교한 결과, 평창 조사지역에서는 3문 5강 12목 44과 69분류군 13,042개체, 완도 조사지역에서는 4문 5강 12목 37과 52분류군 8,887개체가 채집되었다. 평창이 완도보다 다양도와 균등도 또한 높게 나타났다. 우점종은 평창에서는 두점하루살이로 나타났고, 완도에서는 길쭉하루살이로 서로 달랐다. 집괴 분석 결과 평창과 완도 조사지역의 군집 특성이 명확하게 나누어졌으며 지역 내에서는 대체로 계절성의 영향이 컸다. 지표종 분석에서는 총 4종의 지표종이 선정되었으며 대체로 해당 조사시기 및 지점에만 나타난 종이 선정되었다. 기능적 군집으로는 주워 먹는 무리인 깔따구류를 제외하였을 때 평창 조사지점에서는 긁어먹는 무리가 가장 많았다. 완도 조사지점에서는 주워 먹는 무리가 가장 많았으며 평창 조사지역에 비해 걸러먹는 무리의 비율이 더 높았다. 군집 온도지수 산출 결과 평창이 9.8℃, 완도가 11.0℃으로 평창의 군집이 더 낮은 온도를 선호하는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 서식지 온도 특성이 저서성대 형무척추동물 군집 구성에 크게 영향을 미치고 있음을 반영해 주었다.

Headwater streams provide various microhabitats, resulting in high diversity of macroinvertebrate community. In this study, we compared the differences of communities between two adjacent headwater streams (Jangjeon stream (GRJ; GRJ1-GRJ5) and Haanmi stream (GRH; GRH1-GRH3)) in Jungwang and Gariwang mountains, Gangwon-do and evaluated the effects of habitat condition to the macroinvertebrates community composition. In order to characterize the macroinvertebrate communities and extract influential environmental factors, we applied to Cluster analysis (CA), Indicator species analysis and Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). Total 33,613 individuals in 3 phyla, 5 classes, 13 orders, 51 families, and 114 taxa (genera or species) were collected. Gammarus sp. was dominant at the upper stream of GRJ, whereas Chironomidae spp. was abundant at GRH and the downstream of GRJ. The CA classified samples into six clusters (1-6) reflecting spatial and temporal variation of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Benthic macroinvertebrate community composition was significantly different between two adjacent streams. Sweltsa sp. 1, Psilotreta kisoensis, Rhyacophila shikotsuensis and Serratella setigera were identified as representative indicator species for clusters 1, 2, 3 and 5, respectively. Similar to CA results, NMDS revealed the spatial and temporal differences of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, indicating the difference of community composition as well as microhabitat condition. Forest composition, proportion of boulders (>256 mm), and water velocity were main factors affecting the macroinvertebrate community composition.

Headwater streams are the main sources of water sediment and organic material for downstream reaches and their small catchments coupled terrestrial-aquatic linkages. Because headwater streams provide valuable habitats for unique and diverse assemblages of aquatic fauna, they are also essential for sustaining the structure and function of the watersheds. Therefore, it has been recently supported that headwaters are important areas for maintaining biodiversity. In this study, we surveyed four different headwater streams in different watersheds to characterize differences of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages among study streams. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected seasonally with a Surber net at four different streams. In addition, hydrological and physicochemical environmental factors including temperature, discharge, width, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH were also measured at each sampling site. Community indices were used to differentiate spatiotemporal changes of macrointertebrate communities. Multivariate analysis were used to characterize the relationships between communities and environmental factors. Differences of their environmental condition such as meteorological factors and stream hydromorphological factors were reflected in the ordination with macroinvertebrate communities.

Headwaters initiate material export to downstream environments. A nested headwater study examined the flux of dissolved constituents and water from a perennial stream and four ephemeral/intermittent streams in the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi. Water was collected during storm and baseflow conditions. Multiple linear regression was used to model constituent concentration and calculate flux. Event was the major source of water discharged from the ephemeral and intermittent streams however, baseflow was the major source for water discharged by the perennial stream during events. The perennial stream had an area weighted average yields of 10.1, 0.01, 1.03, 0.65 kg/ha/yr of DON (dissolved organic nitrogen), NO3 --N, NH4 +-N and PO4 -3, respectively while large variabilities existed between the ephemeral and intermittent streams. These findings highlight the importance of headwaters in protecting the low order drainage basins as a key to water quality within perennial streams.

During the spring and fall of 1994 and winter of 1995, the exposure time of periphyton biomass on the artificial substrata at 10 headwater streams in the southeastern Korea was evaluated in 7-14 day interval. In the streams with low periphyton biomass (chl a: 2-4 ㎎/㎡) in natural rocks, biomass of artificial substrata (unglazed the: 3.7 × 9.5 × 2 ㎝) exceeded that of the natural rocks after 28 days, while sites with high biomass (chl. a: 20-60 ㎎/㎡) in natural rocks showed slower biomass accumulation after 40 days. Due to the high light input and temperature in a partially shaded mountain stream, development of periphyton biomass in spring occurred faster than that of winter. In general, development of periphyton biomass placed on artificial substrata took 4-5 weeks in spring and at least 6 weeks in winter to reach the natural level.