Macroinvertebrate community succession under variable flow regimes in subtropical Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Leigh Stitz ◽  
Larelle Fabbro ◽  
Susan Kinnear
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Ephemeral Streams ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Initial Flow ◽  
Abiotic Conditions ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Subtropical Australia

Seasonal changes in hydrology are important factors influencing abiotic conditions and subsequently the biota. Although these effects have been studied in tropical catchments and in central arid Australia, subtropical ephemeral streams have largely been ignored. In the present study, three ephemeral streams in Central Queensland were monitored over 15 months. We hypothesised that macroinvertebrate abundance would increase gradually following the initial flow pulse and that abundance would increase until the pools began drying, with sensitive taxa only present during higher flow. In all, 69 families from 14 orders were collected in 128 samples. Significant relationships were not detected between low flow conditions and taxa richness (P>0.05). Principal component analysis showed that the macroinvertebrate communities did not change in response to the drying of pools. Significant differences were not observed between taxa richness, abundance nor tolerant taxa during varied periods of flow (P>0.05). Sensitive taxa were most abundant during high-flow periods with comparatively less abundance during no flow and drying periods. This study provides novel information on the flow-linked succession of macroinvertebrate communities in subtropical ephemeral streams and the results are important in informing the development of riverine indices and models used to manage subtropical environments.

Is the hyporheic zone a refuge for macroinvertebrates in drying perennial streams?

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Young ◽  
R. H. Norris ◽  
F. Sheldon
Keyword(s):  
Hyporheic Zone ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Community ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Stream Communities ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Streambed Drying

Drought and drying of perennial streams plays a central role in determining the structure of in-stream communities, decreasing taxa richness and abundance and changing trophic organisation. Further, flow cessation can increase spatial β-diversity of macroinvertebrate communities across disconnected sites. It has been hypothesised that the hyporheic zone may act as a refugium for benthic macroinvertebrates during low flow and flow cessation, but evidence remains equivocal. We explored hyporheic and surface benthic macroinvertebrate community changes associated with low flow and flow cessation conditions during a supra-seasonal drought on two normally perennial rivers: the Cotter and Queanbeyan Rivers (Canberra, ACT). Surface benthic and hyporheic samples were collected from these two rivers and four associated tributary streams across a drying gradient during dry conditions and after flow recovery to test whether macroinvertebrates in perennial streams utilise the hyporheic zone as a refugium and whether there is greater variability in the macroinvertebrate community at sites experiencing flow cessation compared with wetter sites. Low flow had no impact on macroinvertebrate taxa richness or density in either surface benthic or hyporheic habitats, whereas density and taxa richness declined during streambed drying, suggesting that the hyporheic zone did not provide a refugium for some taxa during these dry conditions. Spatial β-diversity peaked at dry sites, likely in response to the broad range of environmental conditions that may differ between refuges and sites, but decreased after flow recovery. Refuges in perennial streams appear more vulnerable to human disturbances during dry periods because a loss of suitable refuges can affect the ability of some macroinvertebrate taxa to recolonise after flow recovery.

Geochemistry of Red Mountain Creek, Colorado, under low-flow conditions, August 2002

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Runkel ◽  
Briant A. Kimball ◽  
Katherine Walton-Day ◽  
Philip L. Verplanck
Keyword(s):  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Conditions

Sources of Chlorophenolic Compounds to the Fraser River Estuary

1988 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Carey ◽  
J. H. Hart
Keyword(s):  
River Flow ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Fraser River ◽  
Pulp Mills ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Downstream Site ◽  
Upstream Site ◽  
The North ◽  
Main River

Abstract The identity and concentrations of chlorophenolic compounds in the Fraser River estuary were determined under conditions of high and low river flow at three sites: a site upstream from the trifurcation and at downstream sites for each main river arm. Major chlorophenolics present under both flow regimes were 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (2,3,4,6-TeCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), tetrachloroguaiacol (TeCG) and a compound tentatively identified as 3,4,5-trichloroguaiacol (3,4,5-TCG). Under high flow conditions, concentrations of the guaiacols were higher than any of the Chlorophenols and concentrations of all five chlorophenolics appeared to correlate. Under low flow conditions, concentrations of chloroguaiacols were higher than Chlorophenols at the upstream site and at the downstream site on the Main Arm, whereas at the downstream site on the North Arm, concentrations of 2,3,4,6-TeCP and PCP were higher than the chloroguaiacols in some samples. Overall, the results indicate that pulp mills upstream from the estuary are important sources of chlorophenolics to the estuary under all flow conditions. Additional episodic inputs of 2,3,4,6-TeCP and PCP from lumber mills occur along the North Arm. When these inputs occur, they can cause the concentrations of Chlorophenols in the North Arm to exceed provisional objectives. If chloroguaiacols are included as part of the objective, concentrations of total chlorophenolics in water entering the estuary can approach and exceed these objectives, especially under low flow conditions.

scholarly journals Forensic Investigation of Four Monitored Green Infrastructure Inlets

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1787
Author(s):  
Leena J. Shevade ◽  
Franco A. Montalto
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Stormwater Management ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Inflow Rate ◽  
Forensic Investigation ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
The Mean

Green infrastructure (GI) is viewed as a sustainable approach to stormwater management that is being rapidly implemented, outpacing the ability of researchers to compare the effectiveness of alternate design configurations. This paper investigated inflow data collected at four GI inlets. The performance of these four GI inlets, all of which were engineered with the same inlet lengths and shapes, was evaluated through field monitoring. A forensic interpretation of the observed inlet performance was conducted using conclusions regarding the role of inlet clogging and inflow rate as described in the previously published work. The mean inlet efficiency (meanPE), which represents the percentage of tributary area runoff that enters the inlet was 65% for the Nashville inlet, while at Happyland the NW inlet averaged 30%, the SW inlet 25%, and the SE inlet 10%, considering all recorded events during the monitoring periods. The analysis suggests that inlet clogging was the main reason for lower inlet efficiency at the SW and NW inlets, while for the SE inlet, performance was compromised by a reverse cross slope of the street. Spatial variability of rainfall, measurement uncertainty, uncertain tributary catchment area, and inlet depression characteristics are also correlated with inlet PE. The research suggests that placement of monitoring sensors should consider low flow conditions and a strategy to measure them. Additional research on the role of various maintenance protocols in inlet hydraulics is recommended.

Influence of climate change on low flow conditions. Case study: Laborec River, eastern Slovakia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka ◽  
Martina Zeleňáková ◽  
Peter Blištan ◽  
Dorota Simonová ◽  
Agnieszka Pilarska
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Conditions

scholarly journals Soil microbial inoculation during flood events shapes headwater stream microbial communities and diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Caillon ◽  
Katharina Besemer ◽  
Peter Peduzzi ◽  
Jakob Schelker
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
High Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Microbial Inoculation

AbstractFlood events are now recognized as potentially important occasions for the transfer of soil microbes to stream ecosystems. Yet, little is known about these “dynamic pulses of microbial life” for stream bacterial community composition (BCC) and diversity. In this study, we explored the potential alteration of stream BCC by soil inoculation during high flow events in six pre-alpine first order streams and the larger Oberer Seebach. During 1 year, we compared variations of BCC in soil water, stream water and in benthic biofilms at different flow conditions (low to intermediate flows versus high flow). Bacterial diversity was lowest in biofilms, followed by soils and highest in headwater streams and the Oberer Seebach. In headwater streams, bacterial diversity was significantly higher during high flow, as compared to low flow (Shannon diversity: 7.6 versus 7.9 at low versus high flow, respectively, p < 0.001). Approximately 70% of the bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from streams and stream biofilms were the same as in soil water, while in the latter one third of the OTUs were specific to high flow conditions. These soil high-flow OTUs were also found in streams and biofilms at other times of the year. These results demonstrate the relevance of floods in generating short and reoccurring inoculation events for flowing waters. Moreover, they show that soil microbial inoculation during high flow enhances microbial diversity and shapes fluvial BCC even during low flow. Hence, soil microbial inoculation during floods could act as a previously overlooked driver of microbial diversity in headwater streams.

scholarly journals Hydrological, Environmental and Taxonomical Heterogeneity during the Transition from Drying to Flowing Conditions in a Mediterranean Intermittent River

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 316
Author(s):  
Andy Banegas-Medina ◽  
Isis-Yelena Montes ◽  
Ourania Tzoraki ◽  
Luc Brendonck ◽  
Tom Pinceel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Ephemeral Streams ◽  
Biogeochemical Processes ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Intermittent Rivers ◽  
Terrestrial Biodiversity ◽  
Turn Over ◽  
Zero Flow ◽  
Intermittent River

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are increasingly studied because of their often-unique aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity, biogeochemical processes and associated ecosystem services. This study is the first to examine the hydrological, physicochemical and taxonomic variability during the dry-wet transition of an intermittent river in the Chilean Mediterranean Zone. Based on 30-years of river monitoring data and the TREHS tool, the hydrology of the river was characterised. Overall, the river shows a significant reduction in streamflow (−0.031 m3/s per year) and a substantial increase of zero flow days (+3.5 days per year). During the transition of hydrological states, variations were observed in the environmental conditions and invertebrate communities. During the drying phase, abundance, richness, and diversity were highest, while species turn-over was highest during base flow conditions. The disconnected pools and the flow resumption phases were characterised by high proportions of lentic taxa and non-insects, such as the endemic species of bivalves, gastropods, and crustaceans, highlighting the relevance of disconnected pools as refuges. Future climatic change scenarios are expected to impact further the hydrology of IRES, which could result in the loss of biodiversity. Biomonitoring and conservation programmes should acknowledge these important ecosystems.

scholarly journals Numerical hydrodynamic researches for justifying design of the Nizhny Novgorod low-head hydraulic system

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-3
Author(s):  
Anna Glotko ◽  
Vitalii Belikov ◽  
Natalia Borisova ◽  
Ekaterina Vasil`eva ◽  
Aleksey Rumjancev
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Methods ◽  
Hydraulic System ◽  
Problem Area ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Hydroelectric Power Station ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Low Head

Introduction. A problem area of the Volga river between the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station and the city of Nizhny Novgorod has been surveyed, where unfavourable conditions for navigation, power generation, and safe living in the downstream are formed as a result of the landing level. The only solution to the problem is construction of a low-head hydraulic system (NNGU) that will reduce intensity of relief re-formations in the downstream of the Nizhny Novgorod hydraulic system and stop lowering of the bottom and level marks in this area. Purpose of this research is to study processes that occur upstream and downstream from the site of the facility to identify hazardous trends and develop practical solutions to minimize negative impacts; as well as a review of mathematical models conducted in this area for improving navigation conditions. Materials and methods. Materials of previous researches on this subject, pre-design engineering surveys and layout drawings of the designed hydraulic system are used. The researches have been performed with numerical methods using Stream 2D software package that is based on the two-dimensional differential equation Saint-Venant system. Options for low-flow conditions are considered, taking into account passing of the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station, as well as rare floods. Results. Plans for distribution of velocity modules and vectors are created, which show that construction of the low-pressure hydraulic system results in decrease in slopes and velocities of water in the problem area of the Volga-Kama cascade, as a result of which intensity of bottom deformations decreases. Rare flow passage demonstrated that difference in pools is insignificant, while, at the same time, flow of water along the left-bank floodplain passes more than believed before. Calculations of low-flow conditions demonstrated a number of deficiencies in the design, which are associated with insufficient throughput and uneven distribution of flow rates in the discharge area of the waterfront. Conclusion The results demonstrated a practical importance of using mathematical simulation with numerical methods in a two-dimensional formulation, which allow us to consider processes in more detailed manner and change the hydraulic system design in a timely manner.

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