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Anderson, R. V., J. Eckblad, T. Claflin, S. Cobb and L. Sanders (1987). Habitat diversity and utilization by invertebrates and fish along the Mississippi River continuum. Page 241 in M. P. Lynch and K. L. McDonald, eds. Estuarine and Coastal Management, Tools of the Trade, New Orleans, Louisiana (USA).

The Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico represents the higher orders (8-12) of the stream classification system arranged along an increasing continuum. Theory suggests that a change in community composition of fish and macroinvertebrates should occur along this continuum. However, little changes in species composition of fish and trophic guilds of benthic invertebrates was found when comparing these communities from similar habitat types down the length of the Mississippi River. Density did decline in the lower reaches of the river and much higher densities of the Asiatic clam did occur in the lower river reaches. More differences were found in fish and macroinvertebrate communities along a lateral gradient throughout the system than a longitudinal gradient. The highest densities and biomass of macroinvertebrates and fish were found associated with potential availability of particulate organic matter.