Concepts

Indirect effects of predators on lower trophic levels mediated through changes in intermediate consumer behavior or abundance

Behavioral, physiological, and life-history changes that reduce the risk of predation but have associated energetic or fitness costs to prey individuals and populations

The decomposition and fragmentation of dead organic matter by organisms, particularly the conversion of coarse to fine particulate organic matter

The modification of environments by organisms in ways that influence resource availability for other species, exemplified by beaver dam construction creating pond habitats.

The network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem

Selective pressure relationships between host plants and their parasites that can shift based on environmental changes

Taxa that are significantly associated with particular habitat conditions and can be used to assess ecosystem state or restoration success

Chemical cues released by predators that benefit prey by providing information about predator presence

The nutritional value of algae as food for aquatic consumers, typically measured by nutrient content

Selective consumption behavior of invertebrates feeding on different types of organic detritus

The flow of energy through ecological systems, measured as invertebrate biomass transfer from terrestrial to aquatic environments

Quantitative collection methods for invertebrates living on or in stream bottom substrates

Co-occurrence patterns between species that reflect ecological interactions beyond shared environmental responses

Categorization of invertebrates based on feeding mechanisms: collector-gatherers, grazers, predators, shredders, and suspension-feeders

Species-specific selection for particular combinations of physical habitat characteristics like water depth, current velocity, and substrate size

Behavior where caddisfly larvae consume material from their own or others' protective cases

Daily behavioral pattern where aquatic organisms move vertically in the water column, typically showing different activity levels during day versus night periods

Combined impact of multiple predators differs from the sum of their individual effects, can be greater or less than additive

Input of terrestrial invertebrates into aquatic food webs providing energy to aquatic predators

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera orders used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health

The sequential development of microbial communities on substrates following disturbance

Consumption of dead organic matter by organisms, particularly caddisfly larvae feeding on detritus

Functional guild of macroinvertebrates that break down dead organic material, contributing to nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems

Differential prey use based on habitat type, with fairy shrimp comprising majority of diet in temporary ponds

Asymmetric intraguild predation (IGP) between caddisflies where larger, faster-growing species prey on smaller competitors

Algae growing attached to surfaces such as decomposing plant material

The rate at which predators consume prey, measured as prey mortality per predator per unit time

Habitat structure that provides protection from predation by offering shelter or hiding places