RE: NANFA-- Current Literature and a question

Hoover, Jan J ERDC-EL-MS (HOOVERJ_at_wes.army.mil)
Tue, 16 Oct 2001 16:06:02 -0500

"Now for the question...
"hyporheic habitat". I am not familiar with the terminology. Can
someone please clarify?"

Hyporheic refers to wetted area beneath the surface of the bottom
(substrate) of the stream (which I know sounds oxymoronic). Its the tiny
interstitial spaces of the sand and gravel inhabited by rotifers, copepods,
gastrotrichs, and water mites. Benthic biologists collectively refer to
these really microscopic organisms as "meiofauna" and can sample them in
some habitats with soda straws.

The language of "bottom-pickers" is esoteric and it changes over time. Not
too many years ago, the plant-and-animal felt that covered submersed solid
objects was called "aufwuchs." Now the terms periphyton and epifauna (and
specific variants) are more popular.



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