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Research advances in macroinvertebrate ecology of the stream hyporheic zone.

ZHANG Yue-wei1,2,3, YUAN Xing-zhong1,2,3, LIU Hong1, REN Hai-qing1,2,3   

  1. (1State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control,  Chongqing 400030, China; 2Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Exploitation of Southwestern Resources and the Environmental Disaster Control Engineering,  Chongqing 400030, China; 3College of Resource and Environmental Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China)
  • Online:2014-11-18 Published:2014-11-18

Abstract: The stream hyporheic zone is an ecotone of surface waterground water interactions, which is rich in biodiversity, and is an important component of stream ecosystem. The macroinvertebrates, which are at the top of food webs in the hyporheic zone to directly influence the matter and energy dynamics of the hyporheic zone, and are potential indicators of river ecological health to adjust the function of environment purification and ecological buffer. The macroinvertebrates in the hyporheic zone are divided into three categories: stygoxenes, stygophiles and stygobites. The key factors which influenced macroinvertebrates distribution in the hyporheic zone are physical size of interstitial spaces, interstitial current velocity, dissolved oxygen (DO), water temperature, available organic matter, hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic retention time. A suitable sampling method should be used for diverse research purposes in the special ecological interface. In the future, some necessary researches should focus on the lifehistory and life history strategy of the macroinvertebrates in the hyporheic zone, the quantitative analysis on the matter and energy dynamics in the ecological system of stream, the assessment systems of river ecological health based on the macroinvertebrates of the stream hyporheic zone, and the ecological significance of the hyporheic zone as a refuge for distribution and evolution of the macroinvertebrates.