Abundance and function of large woody debris in small, headwater streams in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta, Canada

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Jones ◽  
L. D. Daniels ◽  
S. R. Powell
Keyword(s):  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
And Function

Characteristics and function of large woody debris in subalpine Rocky Mountain streams in northern Colorado

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1789-1802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann D. Richmond ◽  
Kurt D. Fauseh
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
And Function ◽  
Rocky Mountain Streams

Large woody debris has been well studied in coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, but little is known of its role in Rocky Mountain streams. Large woody debris was measured in 11 undisturbed streams draining subalpine old-growth forests in north central Colorado to assess abundance, characteristics, and function. Although large woody debris in Colorado had smaller diameter, length, and volume than in the Pacific Northwest, its abundance and function were similar. The majority of pools (76%) were plunge and dammed pools formed by large woody debris, most of which spanned the channels perpendicular to stream flow. Smaller streams had a greater proportion of such perpendicular pool-forming pieces than larger streams. Four disturbed streams had significantly less and smaller large woody debris than undisturbed streams. Flows in larger undisturbed streams were capable of moving large woody debris, so pieces were more often located at the stream margins, oriented diagonally, or distributed in clumps than in smaller streams. Individual pools were larger and deeper in larger streams, but their size was not related to the size of large woody debris pieces forming them. Therefore, the function of large woody debris in forming fish habitat in small Rocky Mountain streams is strongly influenced by the stream's location within the watershed.

Large woody debris characteristics and contributions to pool formation in forest streams of the Boreal Shield

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1213-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P Kreutzweiser ◽  
Kevin P Good ◽  
Trent M Sutton
Keyword(s):  
Woody Debris ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Primary Input ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Riparian Trees ◽  
Boreal Shield ◽  
And Function ◽  
Pool Formation

The inputs, characteristics, and function of large woody debris (LWD) were assessed in 16 mid-order (average channel widths of 3–7 m), moderate-gradient (approx. 1%–5% channel slopes) streams in mixedwood forests of the Boreal Shield in Ontario. Three of the streams were adjacent to clearcuts, with the remainder in areas that have not been logged or recently (>70 years) burned. The average frequency (19.9 pieces·100 m–1) and size (mean diameter 16.7 cm) of LWD in these streams were less than reported in most other regions and forest types. Averaged across sites, input sources were undetermined for about 50% of the LWD owing to fluvial displacement from the points of origin. Natural mortality (24%) and windthrow (15%) were primary input sources of the remaining LWD. Windthrow was highly variable and mostly associated with nearby clear-cut logging. At the three sites near clearcuts, windthrow contributed 34%–62% of LWD in streams. In study reaches where active beaver colonies were observed, beaver-felled trees accounted for up to 47% of LWD inputs. The average frequency of debris dams (2.4 dams·100 m–1) was less than those reported from studies in other areas and was positively correlated with an index of bottom substrate size (r = 0.72). Less than 15% of the pools in these streams were formed or influenced by LWD. Most wood pieces appeared to be ineffective as pool-forming agents because of their relatively small size and instability. In these Boreal Shield forests, it appears that most riparian trees do not live long enough or grow to sufficient size to contribute functional LWD and influence stream morphology or pool formation.

Large woody debris in bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) spawning streams of logged and wilderness watersheds in northwest Montana

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 915-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Richard Hauer ◽  
Geoffrey C Poole ◽  
John T Gangemi ◽  
Colden V Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Woody Debris ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Bull Trout ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Salvelinus Confluentus ◽  
Stream Bank ◽  
Northwestern Montana ◽  
Bankfull Width

We measured large woody debris (LWD) in 20 known bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) spawning stream reaches from logged and wilderness watersheds in northwestern Montana. Mean bankfull width of stream reaches was 14.1 m ranging from 3.9 to 36.7 m. Streams were large enough to move LWD and form aggregates. We determined the characteristics of individual pieces of LWD that were interactive with the stream channel. Large, short pieces of LWD attached to the stream bank were the most likely to be positioned perpendicular to stream flow, while large, long pieces either tended to be parallel to the flow or, when attached, were most apt to extend across the channel thalweg. Observations indicated that the majority of pools were formed as scour pools by either very large LWD pieces that were perpendicular to the stream or multipiece LWD aggregates. Among reaches in wilderness watersheds, ratios of large to small LWD, attached to unattached LWD, and with and without rootwads were relatively consistent. However, among reaches with logging in the watershed, these ratios varied substantially. These results suggest that logging can alter the complex balance of delivery, storage, and transport of LWD in northern Rocky Mountain streams, and therefore, the likely substantive change in stream habitats.

Woody debris input and function in old-growth and clear-felled headwater streams

2012 ◽  
Vol 286 ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Burrows ◽  
Regina H. Magierowski ◽  
Jason B. Fellman ◽  
Leon A. Barmuta
Keyword(s):  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
And Function

Characteristics and Function of Large Woody Debris in Streams Draining Old-Growth, Clear-Cut, and Second-Growth Forests in Southwestern Washington

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 2499-2508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Bilby ◽  
James W. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Woody Debris ◽  
Sediment Accumulation ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Stream Size ◽  
And Function ◽  
Pool Formation

Amount of large woody debris (LWD) surveyed in 70 stream reaches flowing through old-growth, clear-cut, and second-growth forests decreased with increasing stream size for all stand types but was greatest at old-growth sites. Average piece volume was larger at old-growth sites than at other stand types in streams >10 m wide, but no differences were seen in smaller streams. Scour pools accounted for 90% of the wood-associated pools at second-growth and clear-cut sites but only 50% at old-growth sites, which contained more pools than other stand types, particularly for larger streams. Pool size was similar for all stand types in smaller streams, but averaged 10 m2 in streams >10 m wide at old-growth sites and 4 m2 for other stand types. Pool size was similar for all stand types in smaller streams. Sediment and fine organic matter retained by woody debris decreased with increasing stream size for ail stand types, but old-growth sites contained greater amounts of both materials than other stand types. The frequency of pool formation, the type of pool formed, and sediment accumulation were influenced by the amount of fine debris associated with LWD. Changes in LWD amount, characteristics, and function occurred very rapidly following removal of streamside vegetation.

Temporal dynamics of large woody debris in small streams of the Alberta foothills, Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1159-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Powell ◽  
L.D. Daniels ◽  
T.A. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Riparian Forests ◽  
Large Woody Debris ◽  
Time Since Death ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
And Function

Large woody debris (LWD) is a key link between riparian forests and streams; however, the temporal dynamics of in-stream wood remains poorly quantified. Using dendrochronology, we evaluated the dynamics of five Pinus -dominated and five Picea -dominated riparian forests in the foothills of Alberta and cross-dated the ring widths of 186 pieces of LWD. Time since death of LWD ranged from 2 to 143 years, with maximums of 86 and 143 years for Pinus and Picea, respectively. Recruitment of Pinus LWD was influenced by stand-replacing fires followed by self-thinning about 40 years after stand establishment. In uneven-aged Picea-dominated forests, tree mortality and LWD recruitment were due to fine-scale disturbances. Time since death increased significantly with decay and position classes, which resulted in changes in LWD function through time. LWD persisted in the bridge position for about 30 years. Bridged LWD was least decayed, was significantly longer, and had greater volume than LWD in other positions. LWD remained in partial bridge and loose positions about 15 years and >80 years when submerged in water and buried in sediment. Given the persistence of LWD, we conclude that management that alters wood abundance and recruitment has short- and long-term implications for the structure and function of small streams.

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