AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE PRODUCTION IN SOUTHEASTERN USA WETLANDS DURING WINTER AND SPRING

We measured aquatic invertebrate abundance, standing stock biomass, an d community production in three types of wetlands on Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge from December 1987 through April 1988. Together, Ortho cyclops modestus and Daphnia pulex were the most abundant organisms co llected in all habitats during both winter and spring, but each contri buted little to total standing stock biomass or production. Caecidotea communis and Pristina osborni made up greater-than-or-equal-to 47% of the total standing stock biomass at each site during both winter (Dec ember-February) and spring (March-May). Crangonyx gracilis, Chironomus spp., Chaoborus punctipennis, and Eclipidrilus spp. each contributed greater-than-or-equal-to 5% of the total biomass at one or more wetlan d habitats. Estimates of aquatic invertebrate community production ran ged from 930 to 1,578 mg dry weight/M2 among wetland types during wint er and from 3,306 to 5,421 mg dry weight/m2 among wetland types during spring. Caecidotea communis and Pristina osborni contributed most to community production during both seasons, but particularly in beaver p onds during spring. Other taxa made up substantial portions of the com munity production in one or two wetland habitats.