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1 <br />usually occurs in late summer and early fall, the primary period of growth for <br />the majority of stream insects, especially mayflies, stoneflies and caddis- <br />flies. These groups are rarely found in intermittant streams (Hynes 1970) and <br />with the exception of the lentic (standing water) mayfly, Callibaetis, were <br />not found in Foidel Creek. The invertebrate fauna in intermittant streams are <br />adapted for the unique habitat provided. These organisms often will not <br />r survive periods of continual flow due to the inability to cope with current <br />1/ and/or interaction with lotic (running water) organisms (Williams and Hynes <br />1977). As seen above, benthic density in Foidel Creek is highly variable from <br />year to year. However, the number of taxa and species composition of abundant <br />species were much more consistent aver the same period. Typically, benthic <br />species compostion of intermittant streams is very stable despite the unstable <br />habitat (Williams and Hynes 1977). A5 with the tributary, yearly monitoring <br />should continue to provide further insight into the pattern observed. <br />The trends observed in the benthic invertebrate communities of Foidel <br />Creek and its unnamed tributary appear to be related mcre to the variability <br />inherent in temporary streams rather than any discernable adverse affects of <br />coal mining activity. <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />• <br />-15- <br />