Effects of sediment and flow regime on the aquatic insects of a high mountain stream

In 1984, a broad size range of sediment (boulder to sand) was introduced into a high elevation Rocky Mountain stream in southeastern Wyoming, U.S.A. In the spring of 1986, this stream was exposed to a high discharge of 7.5 m3 s−1. From 1985 to 1987 a study was conducted to assess the impact of sediment deposition and flow regime on the aquatic insect community in context of the substrate occurrences of the insect fauna. Using a modified Surber sampler, samples were collected from June through September each year at nine stations which were rated as unimpacted, slightly‐impacted, and impacted. The addition of the sediment had minimal effect on the abundance and diversity of aquatic insects. However, high water discharge severely reduced the abundance of aquatic insects and diversity was also negatively impacted. Recovery from these impacts was very rapid. The greatest insect abundance was found in samples taken in gravel and most taxa occurred predominantly on gravel or rubble substrates.