Aquatic Insect Communities of a Small Stream on Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec

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Abstract
Weekly sampling of a small woodland stream in Quebec between March 1966 and March 1967 revealed at least 120 species of insects in sand, gravel, stones, leaves, and leaf detritus habitats. Fallen leaves were the primary food source. Characteristic communities of insects were found in each habitat. Widely distributed species were usually more abundant in one of the five habitats than in the others. Some species changed their habitats with age. Congeneric species either occupied different parts of the stream or developed at different times of the year. Linear distributions of insects were determined by the substrate type, by the extent of summer drought and the ability to avoid desiccation, and in some species by upstream flying of adult females. The species composition of each community may be characteristic of small, slow-flowing streams in deciduous forests in eastern Canada.