King, Ryan Steven, 1972-Stanley, Charles Edwin, 1982-Baylor University. Dept. of Biology.2009-08-252009-08-252009-082009-08-25http://hdl.handle.net/2104/5395Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-36).Hydrological variability and instream habitat connectivity play predominant roles in governing fish communities in lotic ecosystems. Hydrologic extremes of drought (2006) and flood (2007) events were the backdrop for fish assemblage and physical habitat data collected during summer in 28 central Texas streams. I evaluated the correspondence between the magnitude of physical habitat and fish community composition change in stream reaches sampled in these two contrasting years using multivariate statistics and ordination techniques. Streams characterized by disconnected pools had different fish community structure and different habitat characteristics than streams that had habitats connected by flowing water. The amount of interannual change in both fish community structure and habitat characteristics was greatest between streams that had disconnected pools in 2006 and their paired samples in 2007. Indicator species analysis revealed indicator species of disconnected and connected habitat types whose life histories give us information about the biotic interactions within these habitats.vi, 36 p. : ill., map.63380 bytes1169709 bytesapplication/pdfapplication/pdfen-USBaylor University theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact librarywebmaster@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.Fish Communities --- Texas.Stream ecology --- Texas.Stream measurements --- Texas.ThesisWorldwide access