To determine the effects of small dam on benthic macro-invertebrate community, benthic macro-invertebrates were
surveyed with both quantitative and qualitative collecting methods from 4 sites at a terraced interval (3.02 small dams
per 100 m) and from 5 sites at a non-terraced interval (0.96 small dams per 100 m) in upper reach of Dorim stream, Seoul.
The average water flow rate was higher at the non-terraced interval (0.149 m/s) than at the terraced interval (0.043 m/s).
Diptera, which prefer slow water flow or lentic habitats, appeared more abundantly in the terraced interval (78.3%) than
in the non-terraced interval (32.0%)(p<.05). Ephemeroptera, which prefer fast water flow or lotic habitats, appeared more
abundantly in the non-terraced interval (14.1%) than in the terraced interval (4.5%)(p=.203). There was a difference in
species distribution of Trichoptera in terraced and non-terraced intervals depending on preferred environment. In the
terraced interval, the occupancy ratio of gathering-collector was 1.8 times higher than in the non-terraced interval (p<.05).
In contrast, filtering-collector appeared to be about 4.4 times higher rate in the terraced interval (p=.124). The evenness
indexes (J′) were found to be 0.41 and 0.77, respectively in terraced area and non-terraced intervals. KSI, evaluating
biological water quality, showed an average of 4.0 and 2.4 respectively in terraced and non-terraced intervals. EPT/C
index, indicating the balance of the community, showed an average of 0.1 and 0.7 respectively in terraced and non-terraced
intervals. It suggests that we should make small dams in order to maintain biodiversity of benthic macro-invertebrates.