Comparison of stream benthic invertebrate particularly stonefly assemblages in the temperate forest in Japan in relation to forest types

Abstract

There have been recent investigations on the effects of different Japanese forest types on benthic invertebrate assemblages. In this study, the difference of stonefly assemblage between the two forest types, i.e. natural broad-leaved forest and planted coniferous forest, was clarified at the genus level for both larvae and adults. Differences were manifested in both larval and adult stonefly assemblages. The abundance of some larval stonefly genera varies by forest composition, and this tendency was the same with that of adult stonefly genera. There are few natural forests left in western Japan. If remaining natural broad-leaved forest were to be converted to coniferous plantations, one of the species that inhabit natural forest streams may become extinct.

Keywords:

• Plecoptera
• assemblage
• forest types
• Japan

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Shigeo Kuramoto and Mr Atsushi Sakai for their assistance with the riparian vegetation surveys. This work was partly supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research Fund from the Japan Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (no. 18580154) and a research grant from the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (#200004).