Miserendino Pizzolon—Macroinvertebrates in Patagonia New Zealand&Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2003, Vol. 37: 525–539 0028–8330/03/3703–0525 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2003
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Distribution of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Azul-Quemquemtreu river basin, Patagonia, Argentina
M. LAURA MISERENDINO LINO A. PIZZOLON Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Sarmiento 849 9200 Esquel Chubut, Argentina email:
[email protected] Abstract Longitudinal and seasonal changes in physical and chemical variables, and macroinvertebrate community structure-function were examined in the Azul-Quemquemtreu river system in the subantarctic forest of Patagonia, Argentina. Patagonian mountain streams have a marked seasonal discharge pattern and may have high suspended sediment loads because of forestry and other land-use practices. The main physical differences among sites were in substrate size (boulder-pebble/ sand), mean width (3–37 m), discharge (
