Structural and Functional Characteristics of Aquatic Animal Communities

Abstract Structural and functional characteristics of macrobenthic animal communities have been studied in several rivers and lakes. Shannon diversity index ( H ) has been used as a measure of animal community structure. Relation of community production ( P b ) to metabolic rate of all animals in the community ( R b ) was regarded as its functional characteristic. Quantitative relations between structural and functional characteristics of aquatic animal communities have been established. The work deals with steadiness and stability and complexity of aquatic animal communities with regard to their structural and functional characteristics. For a better understanding of possible changes in communities brought about by human impact a notion of community durability is introduced, which means their ability to resist environmental changes maintaining their structure and functions.