The river continuum concept: Lessons from the past and perspectives for the future

Abstract

The River Continuum Concept (RCC) is a milestone in stream ecology because of its comprehensive evaluation of the structure and function of lotic ecosystems. Linking stream physical and geomorphological attributes with patterns in biodiversity, functional traits, and metabolism dynamics, this theory describes downstream gradients in community composition and ecosystem processes. The aim of this review is to evaluate how the RCC, 40 years from its publication in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, has influenced basic and applied research in stream ecology, focusing on the most important contributions and recent developments. This work puts into perspective the historical importance of the RCC in the scientific process and integrates past and recent theories, including metacommunity and metaecosystem theories and the river network perspective, to predict taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic communities. Thus, this review provides a unifying overview of the historical context of the field for exploring basic and applied ecological questions to the next generation of stream ecologists.