Macroinvertebrate Associations with Aquatic Macrophytes and Artificial Substrates

Macroinvertebrate populations associated with Myriophyllum exalbescens, Potamogeton richardsonii, and Vallisneria americana were compared with those on plastic ‘plants’ similar in morphology to P. richardsonii. The density of organisms varied according to macrophyte species (Myriophyllum ? Potamogeton > Vallisneria). The plastic imitations did not differ significantly from Potamogeton in the total numbers of macrophytes they harboured at two different sampling periods during the growing season. A similar macroinvertebrate species composition occurred in association with the three plant species and with the artificial substrates.