CREATIVITY, IDEA GENERATION, AND THE FUNCTIONAL-MORPHOLOGY OF STREAMS

Stream research has contributed only modestly to general ecological th eory. Moreover, the rate of generation of new ideas in stream ecology may have slowed recently. These shortcomings might be remedied by a mo re deliberate effort to generate new, creative ideas about streams tha t will enhance their use in developing general theory. The creative pr ocess has been thoroughly studied by psychologists and, while the fiel d is still in flux, most cognitive psychologists agree that juxtaposit ion of disparate concepts or observations can stimulate new ideas. How this technique might enhance stream ecology is illustrated with an an alogy between functional morphology and stream ecology. Definition of form and function in streams is required to develop this analogy and a hierarchical, scale-dependent approach is essential. The effect of st ructure and configuration of stream channels on their functioning is a promising research area that can be applied at several scales. Parall els with landscape ecology are strong. Extending this analogy to large r scales reminds us that streams are, in essence, branched systems; ho wever, little research has been done on the ecological consequences of branching patterns in streams and rivers. Combination of this branche d image with other surface and subsurface water bodies leads to an eve n broader view of streams as planar systems, intimately connecting ter restrial and aquatic ecosystems along flowpaths. This exploration of i deas about stream shape and its functional consequences suggests sever al opportunities for stream ecology to contribute to general ecologica l theory. More importantly, this effort suggests that the process of i dea generation is straightforward, accessible, and beneficial for both science and scientist.