A comparison of diatom and macroinvertebrate classification of sites in the Kiewa River system, Australia

摘要: Diatoms and macroinvertebrates are both commonly used for biological assessment of stream condition. As the use techniques increases, resource managers will need to make decisions on which tool a particular study. In study Kiewa River, Victoria, Australia we assessed these two components biota—macroinvertebrates diatoms—using indices pattern analysis, comparing them with an priori landscape classification. We also relationship exhibited between results environmental variables usually significant in ecosystems. To data comparable categorical abundances sets. The analyses showed complementary results, diatoms more closely related water quality variables, whereas were primarily catchment habitat features. An analysis combined set (diatoms plus macroinvertebrates) no extra information was gained. Using categorisation create consistency sets shown reduce affect from diatom analyses. suggested that locally derived bioassessment models provided accurate sites than overseas-derived index. outcomes complicated by issues weighting, whereby presence/absence index may have performed better abundance-weighted due strong dominance one or species at site. Future comparisons benefit increase knowledge regional taxonomy autecology.