The faunal communities of upland streams in the eastern region of Ireland with reference to afforestation impacts

摘要: Macroinvertebrates were sampled from forty-seven sites on upland soft water streams in eastern Ireland. Classification generated four recognisable faunal communities or site groups which differed biological, physical and chemical character; these patterns supported by ordination analyses. The environmental gradients probably influenced quality broadly categorised into geology, distance source elevation forestry. Faunal diversity abundance reduced both high altitude extensively afforested compared to moorland sites. Whereas, Plecoptera dominated the fauna at most sites, many taxonomic such as Ephemeroptera members of family Elmidae absent forested areas. impact afforestation was evident those located forest plantations catchments with extensive (>25%) closed canopy (>12 yr) afforestation. Low levels (<25%) forestry absence acid waters did not lead impoverishment. This work reveals how plantation areas receiving only moderately polluted rain can be linked impoverished invertebrate communities.