Effects of hydrological variation and planktivorous competition on macroinvertebrate community structure in experimental billabongs

Abstract

1. To study two factors which are predicted as causing changes to community structure in cut‐off meanders (colloquially known in Australia as billabongs, a term of aboriginal origin), 16 experimental billabongs were constructed. These were designed to test two hypotheses: (a) that the structure of macrophyte and invertebrate communities within billabongs is altered by changing the pattern of flooding; and (b) that the presence of small planktivorous fish alters invertebrate community structure and diversity within billabongs. 2. An increase in the duration of flooding seems to favour animals better adapted to a greater availability of macrophyte habitat. Changing the seasonality of flooding resulted in prolonging of the time water was available over the summer months. 3. The presence of a planktivorous fish appears to affect macroinvertebrate communities through competition with other planktivores. Variable top‐down pressure may create differing successional patterns and ultimately different communities at lower trophic levels.