SUMMARY1 The potential importance of interactions between macro‐ and meiobenthos in the littoral zone of takes was studied in a series of laboratory experiments with a chironomid and a chydorid.2 In a situation of intraspecific density dependence,Chydorus pigerSars inhibited the growth ofChironomus ripariusMeigen, while both second‐ and fourth‐instar C,ripariusstimulated the parthenogenetic reproduction of C.piger.3 The meiofaunal chydorids may thus have a structuring effect on macrofaunal chironomid populations by interfering with the early‐instar larvae.4 With macro‐ and meiofaunal species both operating at the primary consumer‐level of the food web, this kind of complex interaction will affect the magnitude of secondary production available to hi