LIMING RESTORES THE BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY TO PRISTINE STATE

After liming of twelve acidified rivulets in central Sweden, the fauna increased its mean similarity to the fauna in unlimed non-acidified r eferences. All species which were found after liming were also found i n other waters north and south of the limed area The species compositi on after liming should thus be considered as typical of the limed geog raphical area. Before liming, the fauna was characterized by the acid tolerant mayfly Lep tophlebia spp. After liming the fauna was characte rized by the acid sensitive mayfly genus Baetis, an important food org anism for young brown trout; The restoration of the water quality by l iming resulted in an apparently ''pristine'' benthic invertebrate comm unity, enhancing the conditions for salmonid fish.