Substratpräferenz und Mikrohabitat-Fauna-Beziehung im Eukrenal von Quellgewässern

The function and the ecological significance of the substratum as a hydromophological element and as a microhabitat for invertebrates of springs are poorly investigated. In eco-faunistic studies which interpret the fauna-microhabitat-relationship of springheads (eucrenal), quantitative and qualitative investigations and analysis of the substrate preferences of invertebrate taxa regarding the eucrenal as an ecotone are still missing. Thereby faunistic research focuses mostly on the aquatic taxa only, rarely on terrestrial organisms. The main objectives of this study are formulated in three questions: 1. Is there a substrate preference for specific taxa considering the ecotone characteristics of springs? 2. What kind of microhabibiat functions offers the substrate type for the fauna? 3. Is there a faunistic relevance of substrate specific habitat types that can be ascertained? The results of this study show a significant relevance of the substrate as a microhabitat for the aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate fauna in springs. Therefor only forest springs of the low mountain range were investigated in regions of Hesse and Thuringia. For some taxa a specific substrate preference was found. Microhabitat functions are mostly characterized as food basis, refuge, protection and reproduction area. A first quantitative method to identify fauna-microhabitat-relationship is given with a new approach of a multihabitat-sampling as an integrated method for collecting and recording faunistic data. For the most commonly substrate specific microhabitat types the faunistic evidence and relevance was found. Some results are leading to new hypotheses, which show the importance of further research in the topic of substrate preferences of fauna and fauna-microhabitat-relationships of springs.