Predicting dry weight of New Zealand aquatic macroinvertebrates from linear dimensions

Abstract

Regression equations are presented for the estimation of dry weight from head width and body length for 20 common New Zealand stream‐dwelling macroinvertebrate taxa. Equations for taxa grouped at order level are also provided. A power equation, y = a x b is used to express the relationship between dry weight and body size. For the majority of taxa, dry weight could be estimated with more precision from body length than from head width.