US EPA

3350004 

Book/Book Chapter 

Riparian sedge meadows in Maine: A macroinvertebrate community structured by river-floodplain interaction 

Huryn, AD; Gibbs, KE 

1999 

John Wiley & Sons 

New York, NY 

Invertebrates in freshwater wetlands of North America: Ecology and management 

363-382 

English 

CCC:000081976000016 

Small rivers with extensive tracts of riparian sedge meadows as lains are a conspicuous part of the Maine landscape. During increasing river discharge because of melting snow inundates floodplains. Although the period of flooding is short (April-May), a rich macroinvertebrate community develops. Members of the community come from two general sources: floodplain and river. Floodplain fauna complete their entire life cycle on the floodplain, whereas river-floodplain fauna have life cycles with both river and floodplain phases. Conspicuous floodplain fauna includes mosquitoes (Aedes), caddisflies (Anabolia and Limnephilus), and fingernail clams (Pisidium). River-floodplain fauna includes the mayflies Leptophlebia, Siphlonisca, and Siphlonurus. These mayflies are able to use the stream as a refuge during the dry period of the summer and the freezing temperatures of winter; and the floodplain during a short but critical period of rapid growth and development during spring. Approximately 75 percent of macroinvertebrate biomass on the floodplain during inundation is composed of the mayflies Leptophlebia, Siphlonisca, and Siphlonurus. Compared to this assemblage, contributions by other fauna to community biomass are minor. Both proximity and physical interconnection of the river and floodplain are required for development of the characteristic floodplain community structure during the short period of inundation. 

riparian wetlands, floodplain wetlands, macroinvertebrates, flood inundation, Tomah Stream, Maine, life history characteristics, river-floodplain interactions 

Batzer, DP; Rader, RB; Wissinger, SA 

9780471292586