Submersed Vegetation as Habitat for Invertebrates in the Hudson River Estuary

摘要: We sampled epiphytic and benthic macroinvertebrates in 20 beds of submersed vegetation throughout the Hudson River estuary to assess importance plant providing habitat for determine which characteristics affected density composition macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrate densities were 4-5 times higher, on average, than unvegetated sediments Hudson. The macroinvertebrate community was dominated by chironomid midges, oligochaete worms, hydroids, gastropods, amphipods. Many species found chiefly plants, showing that are important supporting biodiversity Macroinvertebrates most numerous with high biomass interiors beds, whereas neither bed size nor position along length density. Community varied strongly river (freshwater versus brackish), (epiphytic benthic), within (edge interior). Plant also influenced composition, but area had relatively little influence.