Temporal coherence implies synchronous changes over time.
Synchrony in physical and chemical characteristics, and even zooplankton abundances, has been observed in a number of small temperate lakes. However, temporal coherence among populations of larger invertebrates or fish is less frequently observed. Since 1988 we have monitored crayfish populations in 13 small lakes in south central Ontario. Crayfish relative abundances were estimated from midsummer catches of overnight sets of baited traps. In each lake, we sampled three nearshore habitats characterized by rocks and cobbles, macrophytes, or detritus.