Resource utilization, overlap and temporal community dynamics: a null model analysis of an epiphytic chironomid community.

Observed mean overlap in temporal utilization in this community was significantly larger than expected from null models. Temporal pattern in community dynamics, especially in terms of production, was strongly influenced by diatom abundance. Dietary overlap was significantly larger than expected from a null model in some months, due mainly to limited choice of food and lack of selective feeding by different species of chironomids. No significant dietary partitioning occurred throughout the year. Competition is thus not important in the temporal organization of the ephiphytic chironomid community.-from Author