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