Glacial rivers: physical habitat and ecology

摘要: 1. This review examines the physical habitat and ecology of glacial rivers which have been relatively unstudied compared with originating from other sources. 2. Typical summer temperatures below 10°C, a single seasonal peak in discharge, Northern Hemisphere typically occurs July, diel fluctuation flow usually peaks late afternoon, turbidity levels that exceed 30 NTU. These variables contrast those snowmelt/rainfall streams, particularly summer, make conditions more extreme for biota. 3. Where maximum are 2°C benthic invertebrate communities dominated by Diamcsa (Chironomidae). Downstream, increase, channels become stable valley floors older. Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae), Simuliidae, Baetidae, Nemouridae Chloroperlidae characteristic members community. 4. Fauna may be displaced, or at least colonization delayed, channel instability; variable age structure floor will influence faunal gradient, also reset effects tributaries, lakes confinement. 5. We propose qualitative model outlines zoobenthic community gradients determined two principal variables, water temperature stability, as function distance downstream, time since deglaciation.