Scales of spatiotemporal variation in macroinvertebrate assemblage structure in monsoonal streams: the importance of season

1. We assessed the relative importance of different scales of spatial and temporal variability on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage structure in six unpolluted streams in monsoonal Hong Kong using ordination and complementary multivariate analyses. The spatial scales were regions, sites (streams) and sections (riffles) within sites. The temporal scales were years (three, including one with unusually high rainfall), seasons (dry versus wet) and days within seasons.