Chapter 8
Non-linear Approach to Grouping, Dynamics and
Organizational Informatics of Benthic
Macroinvertebrate Communities in Streams by
Artificial Neural Networks
T.-S. Chon . Y.S. Park' I.-S. Kwak . E.Y. Cha
8.1
Introduction
Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Streams
The topic of conservation of aquatic ecosystems and maintenance of water quality
has been one of the utmost concerns as of late. The value of water, as for
resources of drinking, agriculture, industry, energy and recreation, has been
increasing rapidly due to the problems of water shortages and pollutions.
Especially stream ecosystems flow through stressfuI sources, and are exposed to
various natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Due to unique characteristics of
streams such as continuous, one-way directional flow and complex relationships
with the watershed area, streams convey various problematic agents rapidly,
widely, and in a systematic way (Hynes, 1960; Calow and Petts 1994; Allan 1995;
Hauer and Lamberti 1996; Welch and LindellI992).
One of the key issues in maintaining aquatic ecosystems is to find efficient and
sustainable management strategies of biological communities residing in streams.
Biological communities equally share "the water right" as humans do, which,
however, has been seriously neglected or ill considered in numerous land-use
plannings through the period of rapid industrial development in the 20
th century.
Biological communities have close interrelationships with their habitats: their
residence is based on the habitat suitability, while communities in turn contribute
to determine characteristics of habitats in the context of the Gaia hypothesis.
Biological communities reveal ecological functions of stream ecosystems, and are
direct indicators of ecosystem health.
Among various biological commumties found in streams, benthic
macroinvertebrates have been considered as one of the most important taxa. They
play a key role in food web dynamics, linking producers and top camivores, and
are one of the most reliable indicator groups along with algae in freshwater
ecosystems (Hellawell 1986). Their spatial sedentariness and intermediate life
span -from several months to several years- make macroinvertebrates ideal as for
an integrative and continuous indicator group of water quality (Hynes 1960;
Non-linear Approach to Grouping, Dynamics and
Organizational Informatics of Benthic
Macroinvertebrate Communities in Streams by
Artificial Neural Networks
T.-S. Chon . Y.S. Park' I.-S. Kwak . E.Y. Cha
8.1
Introduction
Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Streams
The topic of conservation of aquatic ecosystems and maintenance of water quality
has been one of the utmost concerns as of late. The value of water, as for
resources of drinking, agriculture, industry, energy and recreation, has been
increasing rapidly due to the problems of water shortages and pollutions.
Especially stream ecosystems flow through stressfuI sources, and are exposed to
various natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Due to unique characteristics of
streams such as continuous, one-way directional flow and complex relationships
with the watershed area, streams convey various problematic agents rapidly,
widely, and in a systematic way (Hynes, 1960; Calow and Petts 1994; Allan 1995;
Hauer and Lamberti 1996; Welch and LindellI992).
One of the key issues in maintaining aquatic ecosystems is to find efficient and
sustainable management strategies of biological communities residing in streams.
Biological communities equally share "the water right" as humans do, which,
however, has been seriously neglected or ill considered in numerous land-use
plannings through the period of rapid industrial development in the 20
th century.
Biological communities have close interrelationships with their habitats: their
residence is based on the habitat suitability, while communities in turn contribute
to determine characteristics of habitats in the context of the Gaia hypothesis.
Biological communities reveal ecological functions of stream ecosystems, and are
direct indicators of ecosystem health.
Among various biological commumties found in streams, benthic
macroinvertebrates have been considered as one of the most important taxa. They
play a key role in food web dynamics, linking producers and top camivores, and
are one of the most reliable indicator groups along with algae in freshwater
ecosystems (Hellawell 1986). Their spatial sedentariness and intermediate life
span -from several months to several years- make macroinvertebrates ideal as for
an integrative and continuous indicator group of water quality (Hynes 1960;