A Classification of Hypersaline Waters, Based on Trophic Criteria

Abstract. A classification of hypersaline waters is proposed on the basis of the food chain structure of their biota. Four steps of increasing salinity and respective shortening of the food-chains are recognized, respectively named: alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-hypersaline waters.
Some general aspects, dealing with cosmopolitism of the biota, production, competition and benthic ecology in hypersaline waters are discussed.
The relevance of ecological studies in hypersaline waters to theoretical ecology and to the new technological uses of saline waters is briefly mentioned.     

Changes in the faunal composition of two thermal streams near Taupo,New Zealand

The distributions of macroinverte‐brates in two thermal streams near Taupo were examined and compared with observations made in 1966. The cooling of the streams associated with abstraction has altered the species composition. Odonata and Trichoptera were recorded for the first time in the lower reaches of the Waipahihi Stream whereas Ephydridae and Hydrophilidae were restricted to the upper reaches at temperatures above 33.5°C. Molluscs dominated the fauna at sites with temperatures below 33.5°C in the Waipahihi and Waipuwerawera Streams. Potamopyrgus anti‐podarum was present at sites with temperatures below 28°C.