Length-mass relationships for macroinvertebrates in freshwater environments of Patagonia (Argentina)

MISERENDINO, M. L

ECOLOGÍA AUSTRAL

Revista de la ASAE

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2001 vol. 11 p. 3 - 8

0327-5477

Mass-length equations were obtained for aquatic macroinvertebrates collected in different streams and rivers of Patagonia, Argentina. Thirty six taxa were studied: Plecoptera (10 species), Ephemeroptera (3 species, 3 genera), Trichoptera (4 species, 1 genus), Diptera (6 genera), Coleoptera (1 species, 1 genus) Anisoptera (1 genus), Crustacea (2 species), Oligochaeta (1 genus, 1 family), Gasteropoda (1 species) and Turbellaria (1 genus).  Additional relationships were obtained at the order level for Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Diptera. Mass-length relationships were estimated by fitting the model Y= a. X b (linearized by logarithmic transformation) to data of dry weight vs. body length of preserved specimens. The regressions were highly significant and explained a high proportion of variation of the dependent variable as expressed by the coefficient of determination (r2= 0.58-0.98).  The equations obtained allow to estimate biomass of Patagonian running water invertebrates from measurements of linear dimensions, facilitating calculations of benthic standing crop and secondary production