Natural communities in catch basins in southern Rhode Island

Northeastern Naturalist
6773_Butler.pdf
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Abstract

Storm-water drainage catch basins are manmade structures that often contain water and organic matter, making them suitable environments for various organisms. We censused organisms inhabiting catch basins in southern Rhode Island in 2002 in an effort to begin to describe these communities. Catch-basin inhabitants were mostly detritivores, including annelids, arthropods, and mollusks that could withstand low oxygen levels and droughts. Our results suggest that catch-basin inhabitants were mostly washed in with rainwater, and populations increased over the summer season as biotic activity resulted in increased nutrient levels later in the summer. In contrast, mosquitoes and other Diptera larvae were abundant earlier in the summer because the adults actively sought catch basins for oviposition sites. Mosquito larvae were likely to be abundant in catch basins with shallow, stagnant water that had relatively low dissolved oxygen and pH, and relatively high total suspended solids, carbon, and nitrogen.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Natural communities in catch basins in southern Rhode Island
Series title Northeastern Naturalist
Volume 14
Issue 2
Year Published 2007
Language English
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 235-250
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Northeastern Naturalist
First page 235
Last page 250
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