Size distribution of aquatic invertebrates in two prairie wetlands, with and without fish, with implications for community production

摘要: 1. We compared the size distribution of aquatic invertebrates in two prairie wetlands, one supporting a population fathead minnows and other fishless. Both wetlands were sampled three depth zones on dates, allowing assessment temporal spatial variation. 2. We determined biomass 17 log2 classes, used these data to develop normalized spectra. We also coupled distributions with an allometric model estimate relative production at community level. 3. The composition invertebrate communities differed greatly between sites, was higher nearly all classes fishless wetland. Intercepts spectra significantly different but slopes generally not, indicating differences standing-stock similar structures communities. Higher wetland resulted per unit area, mass-specific (P/B) wetlands. 4. Our results indicate that may have relatively consistent spite large biomass. hypothesize observed are because predation by minnow and/or macrophyte sites. However, importance macrophytes fish structuring is poorly known.