Microhabitat use in a stream fish assemblage

We quantified microhabitat use by members of a southern Appalachian stream fish assemblage over a ten-year period that included both floods and droughts. Our study site (37 m in length) encompassed riffle, run and pool habitats. Previous research indicated that species belonged to either benthic or water-column microhabitat guilds. We examined microhabitat use among fishes in a 37 m section of Coweeta Creek, NC., over a ten-year period (1983-1992) that included both floods and droughts. Multivariate comparison using Principal Component analysis of fish use data was contrasted with habitat availability.