DEPTH PROBABILITY-DISTRIBUTIONS IN STREAM REACHES

Modeling spatial probability distributions of depth in natural stream reaches is of major interest to ecologists. Analyses of data from a wi de range of streams at various stages show that depth probability dist ributions in reaches tend from exponential to normal with increasing s tage. This trend is modeled using a simple one-parameter density funct ion. The model is robust and is a simple tool (no topographic sampling nor expensive numerical calculation) for predicting the evolution of depth probability distributions as a function of stage.