Warum ändern sich Grösse und Gewicht adulter Trichopteren entland eines Fliessgewässers? [Why change size and weight of adult caddisflies along a running water gradient?]

Although the life cycle of Chaetopteryx villosa (Insecta, Trichoptera) lasted 6 - 8 weeks longer in the spring of the Breitenbach (Hesse, Germany) compared with lower stream sections, adult females at this site remained smaller and lighter. The site specific temperature pattern was the determining factor, whereas population density and nutrient limitation seemed to be of minor importance