Abstract
Life history, distribution, drift and food habits of two coexisting Rhyacophila species, Rhyacophila evoluta and Rhyacophila intermedia were studied in a high mountain stream in the Pyrenees.
The life histories of both species took two years downstream and three years upstream. Several generations and a large range of larval instars permanently coexisted in the river.
Slight temporal segregation of the life histories and differences in size and food habits of the coexisting larvae partially reduced the interspecific competition and allowed an optimal use of space. Instars IV of R. evoluta and V of R. intermedia, which had the most similar biological characteristics had the same microdistribution when they lived alone but used different habitats when they coexisted.
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Lavandier, P., Cereghino, R. (1995). Use and partition of space and resources by two coexisting Rhyacophila species (Trichoptera) in a high mountain stream. In: Balvay, G. (eds) Space Partition within Aquatic Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 104. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0293-3_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0293-3_15
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