Abstract
The whole metazoan community inhabiting macrophyte stands and gravel beds of the English chalk stream River Lambourn were sampled for 1 yr. Secondary production estimates for specific taxa of macrofauna and meiofauna, usually at species or genus level, were made using the size‐frequency method. Annual standing biomass and production to biomass ratios were also estimated. Total annual secondary production was as high as 64.99 g m −2 yr −1 in the macrophyte stands while within the gravel beds total annual secondary production was 22.55 g m −2 yr −1 . Macrofauna contributed >91% to secondary production in both habitats. A corresponding standing biomass of 11.87 g m −2 in the macrophyte stands was also higher than within gravel beds of 5.13 g m −2 . Macrofauna contributed >97% to standing biomass in both habitats. A large number of meiofauna and some macrofauna species displayed annual production‐to‐biomass (P : B) values in both habitats significantly higher than 9 or 10. Despite higher densities and turnover rates within the benthos of the River Lambourn, there was a minimal contribution of the meiofauna to total secondary production dominated by the macrofauna.