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Trout predation and the size composition of stream drift 1
Author(s) -
Allan J. David
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1978.23.6.1231
Subject(s) - mayfly , predation , nocturnal , trout , invertebrate , biology , ecology , taxon , adaptation (eye) , streams , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , computer network , nymph , neuroscience , computer science
Nocturnal drift of stream invertebrates is examined as a predator avoidance adaptation via the hypothesis that those taxa or growth stages which are large, and thus subject to intense predation relative to smaller forms, should be most strongly constrained to nocturnal drift activity. Smaller taxa or stages may be aperiodic or day active. Data from an alpine stream document for the abundant and widespread mayfly Baetis bicaudatus that, on a continuum from small to large size, the risk of predation increases while the propensity to drift during the day decreases. There is supporting and some contrary evidence from the literature for the generality of this pattern.