摘要：Most alpine glaciers worldwide are receding rapidly, revealing new streams to be colonized by aquatic organisms. Several major questions are whether these new streams are colonized by aquatic organisms, how fast this colonizing occurs, which organisms are colonizing, and what factors constrain dispersal. We examined longitudinal patterns (over a length of 5 km) in physicochemistry, as well as periphyton and macroinvertebrate composition in 2 glacier streams (Dinwoody, Gannett) in the Wind River Range wilderness, home to the few remaining glaciers in the contiguous USA. We found that newly emerged streams near the glacial snout were inhabited by periphyton and macroinvertebrates, suggesting rapid colonization by biota. Longitudinal (distance from the glacier) patterns were documented in water temperature (increasing), particulate organic carbon (decreasing), particulate phosphorus (decreasing), and benthic organic matter (increasing in Dinwoody). Macroinvertebrate total density and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) also increased with distance from the glacier. Chironomids (Diamesinae) dominated the macroinvertebrate assemblages, a result supporting the importance of water temperature as a controlling factor influencing macroinvertebrates. Sixteen OTUs were documented, with low-elevation mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies occurring at sites with warmer temperatures (>3.0 °C). Only Diamesinae were found at sites nearest the glacial source where water temperature was < 2.0 °C. As glaciers recede, the physicochemistry of alpine streams will change and likely differ among glacial streams. The mechanistic basis for the consequent effects of these physicochemical changes on freshwater biodiversity is still poorly understood.La mayoría de los glaciares alpinos de todo el mundo están desapareciendo con rapidez, lo cual da origen a la existencia de nuevos arroyos que pueden ser colonizados por organismos acuáticos. Es importante determinar si dichos organismos acuáticos pueden colonizar los nuevos arroyos, qué organismos los están colonizando, con qué rapidez y cuáles son los factores fundamentales que frenan la dispersión. Examinamos patrones longitudinales (aproximadamente 5 km) en físicoquímica, perifiton y macroinvertebrados en dos arroyos glaciares (Dinwoody, Gannett) en Wind River Range, donde se encuentran los glaciares que quedan en los Estados Unidos Continentales. Encontramos que los nuevos arroyos que se encuentran cerca de la orilla del glaciar estaban habitados por perifiton y macroinvertebrados, lo cual sugiere una rápida colonización de biota. Los patrones longitudinales (según la distancia al glaciar) se documentaron en la temperatura del agua (en aumento), carbono orgánico particulado (en disminución), fósforo particulado (en disminución) y materia orgánica bentónica (en aumento, en Dinwoody). La densidad total de macroinvertebrados y las unidades taxonómicas operacionales
