| Popis: |
Stream ecology is dominated by studies that describe the distribution of invertebrate populations and communities. Many of these studies make untested assumptions about the various ecological processes that influence these distributions. The most common assumption, which is often unstated, is that distribution patterns reflect habitat selection by individual animals. However, very few studies have directly tested the relative importance of this process or considered other processes that may also affect the distribution of stream invertebrates. In this thesis I use a correlative survey in combination with manipulative field experiments and behavioural observations to investigate the factors and ecological processes that are associated with the distribution of hydropsychid caddisfly larvae in rocky upland streams in southeastern Australia. |
