Ciro C.Z. Branco Visiting Scientist Ph.D., São Paulo State University, Brazil   110 Bartram Hall e-mail: czbranco@assis.unesp.br

My main research interest has been focused on the application of ecological theory in the analysis of spatial and temporal distribution patterns of organisms from lotic ecosystems, particularly stream macroalgae. During this one-year period as a visiting researcher, I intend to apply, considering data sets from southern and southeastern Brazil, the conceptual metacommunity framework to assess the relative effects of environmental and spatial factors on beta diversity of macroalgae and aquatic insect communities of tropical streams at different spatial scales.