Table 1. Overview of the three species-poor and three species-rich ditches studied in the western part of The Netherlands.

Ditch			Macroinvertebrates Detritivores				Abiotic conditions
#	Location	Coordinates	Species	# taxa	%	Dominant taxa	(nutrients in mg N or P L−1)
1	Demmerik-1	N 52°12″08′, E 4°56″46′	poor	2	98	Gammarus	pH 8.01 ± 0.04	Cl 137 ± 7 mg L−1
4	Achtervlietpad-1	N 52°14″54′, E 5°00″10′	poor	3	100	Tubificidae	NKj 2.06 ± 0.10	NO3 0.41 ± 0.04
6	Keverdijk	N 52°18″33′, E 5°05″51′	poor	2	100	Chironomus	Pt 0.14 ± 0.01	PO4 0.040 ± 0.006
2	Demmerik-2	N 52°12″08′, E 4°56″48′	rich	10	96	Gammarus/Chironomus	pH 7.68 ± 0.07	Cl 151 ± 14 mg L−1
3	Demmerik-3	N 52°12″00′, E 4°56″53′	rich	10	97	Gammarus	NKj 2.66 ± 0.39	NO3 0.34 ± 0.08
5	Achtervlietpad-2	N 52°15″01′, E 5°00″05′	rich	14	70	Valvata/Chironomus	Pt 0.33 ± 0.01	PO4 0.063 ± 0.012

Coordinates, composition of the macroinvertebrate community, percentage of detritivores of the macroinvertebrate community and the dominant detritivorous taxa (initial screening) are provided and an overview of abiotic conditions (mean ± SE) derived from frequent monitoring activities by the local water authority Waternet (N_Kj Kjeldahl Nitrogen; P_t Total Phosphorus).