1
Supplemental data
Biological and ecological traits of benthic macroinvertebrates (Usseglio-Polatera et al. 29)
Biological traits
Reproduction
Feeding habits
Potential number of reproduction cycles per year
Maximal size
Resistance form
Dispersal
Locomotion and substrate relation
Food
Aquatic stages
Life – cycle duration
Respiration
Ecological traits
Transversal distribution
Longitudinal distribution
Altitude
Bio-geographic regions
Substrate preferences
Current velocity preferences
Trophic status
Salinity preferences
Temperature preferences
Saprobity
pH preferences
Habitat preferences and dispersal mechanisms of the benthic macroinvertebrates according to
their biological and ecological traits
Usseglio-Polatera et al. 29
Group A Organisms living in the cold waters of the
upper part of montane alpine rivers.
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Organisms living in rhithronic, oligotrophic
environments of the channel in piedmont or
lowland streams.
Organisms living in the banks and channels of
rhithronic and epipotamic environments,
mainly in lowland rivers.
Organisms living in the banks or in side-arms
of lowland rivers and lakes.
Organisms living in lentic riverine, lake shore
or ponds of the lowlands.
Organisms avoiding high current velocity in
the active main channel or rivers.
Organisms living in stagnant waters in
lowlands.
Ducrot et al. 30
Group 1
Organisms living in marginal habitats of the benthic
mosaic in lowland rivers. Aerial dissemination and
terrestrial clutches.
Group 2
Organisms living in lentic or stagnant habitats in
various environments. Passive dispersal.
Group 3
Deposit feeders, filterers or shredders and fed mainly
on microphytes and fine organic detritus.
Group 4
Organisms living on a variety of mineral substrates
and macrophytes in lentic section of rivers. Passive
dissemination.
Organisms living in ponds or riverine habitats of
lowland rivers or lakes.
Organisms living in the river banks and are sensitive
to eutrophication.
Group 5
Group 6