Drought effect on stream morphology and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in forested headwater streams

Hakala, James P.; Hartman, Kyle J.

doi:10.1023/b:hydr.0000027330.12182.24

Cited by 120 publications

(122 citation statements)

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“…In Appalachia, salmonids must cope with periodically poor feeding conditions (Cada et al 1987;Ensign et al 1990;Sweka 2003;Thome 2004) as well as occasional extreme environmental circumstances, such as drought and flooding (Carline and McCullough 2003;Hakala and Hartman 2004). The low productivity of Appalachian headwater watersheds, coupled with natural environmental variability, may affect the population dynamics and growth patterns of salmonids.…”

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confidence: 99%

Disproportionate Relative Importance of a Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as a Prey Source for Central Appalachian Brook Trout

et al. 2007

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Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and other salmonids in Appalachia typically inhabit headwater watersheds, where food resources may limit growth. We monitored the feeding trends of a brook trout population in central Appalachia over the course of 2 years to determine variation in feeding intensity and important prey items. One terrestrial beetle family, Scarabaeidae, provided a disproportionate amount of energy during the only time of year when brook trout were feeding substantially above maintenance ration. Scarab beetles contributed 39.6% of all energy consumed during May and June of both years, though the number of fish with one or more scarabaeids present in the stomach varied by month (22.2–51.7%). The species composition of scarab beetles consumed suggested that four species are of particular importance. Our findings imply that scarabaeids represent a considerably important prey taxon for brook trout in the region. Considering the foraging habits of the scarabaeid species in question, the phenomenon we witnessed probably occurs throughout Appalachia.

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Disproportionate Relative Importance of a Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as a Prey Source for Central Appalachian Brook Trout

et al. 2007

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“…The eggs develop over the winter months and hatch from late winter to early spring. However, the life-cycle of brook trout is heavily influenced by the degree and timing of temperature changes [11,20]. High stream temperatures cause physical stress including slowed metabolism and decreased growth rate, adverse effects on critical life-cycle stages such as spawning or migration triggers, and in extreme cases, mortality [7,[21][22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While temperature is often cited as the limiting factor for brook trout, the flow regime has considerable importance [33]. Alteration of the flow regime can result in changes in the geomorphology of the stream, the distribution of food producing areas as riffles and pools shift, reduced macroinvertebrate abundance and more limited access to spawning sites or thermal refugia [20,34,35]. Reductions in flow have a negative effect on the physical condition of both adult brook trout and young-of-year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adults may suffer higher mortality during the winter months following the further depletion of body mass due to the rigors of spawning. Poor fitness of spawning adults may result in lower quality or reduced abundance of eggs [20]. Velocity of water through the stream reach may affect sediment and scouring of the stream bed and banks, reducing the availability of nest sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…result in lower quality or reduced abundance of eggs [20]. Velocity of water through the stream reach may affect sediment and scouring of the stream bed and banks, reducing the availability of nest sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing Thermally Stressful Events in a Rhode Island Coldwater Fish Habitat Using the SWAT Model

Chambers

Pradhanang

Gold

2017

Water

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It has become increasingly important to recognize historical water quality trends so that the future impacts of climate change may be better understood. Climate studies have suggested that inland stream temperatures and average streamflow will increase over the next century in New England, thereby putting aquatic species sustained by coldwater habitats at risk. In this study we evaluated two different approaches for modeling historical streamflow and stream temperature in a Rhode Island, USA, watershed with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), using (i) original SWAT and (ii) SWAT plus a hydroclimatological model component that considers both hydrological inputs and air temperature. Based on daily calibration results with six years of measured streamflow and four years of stream temperature data, we examined occurrences of stressful conditions for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) using the hydroclimatological model. SWAT with the hydroclimatological component improved modestly during calibration (NSE of 0.93, R 2 of 0.95) compared to the original SWAT (NSE of 0.83, R 2 of 0.93). Between 1980-2009, the number of stressful events, a moment in time where high or low flows occur simultaneously with stream temperatures exceeding 21 • C, increased by 55% and average streamflow increased by 60%. This study supports using the hydroclimatological SWAT component and provides an example method for assessing stressful conditions in southern New England's coldwater habitats.

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Simulating riparian disturbance: Reach scale impacts on aquatic habitat in gravel bed streams

Davidson

Eaton

2015

Water Resour. Res.

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Large wood governs channel morphology, as well as the availability of in‐stream habitat, in many forested streams. In this paper, we use a stochastic, physically based model to simulate wood recruitment and in‐stream geomorphic processes, in order to explore the influence of disturbance history on the availability of aquatic habitat. Specifically, we consider the effects of fire on a range of stream sizes by varying the rate of tree toppling over time in a simulated forest characterized by a tree height of 30 m. We also consider the effects of forest harvesting with various riparian buffer sizes, by limiting the lateral extent of the riparian stand. Our results show that pulsed inputs of wood increase the availability and variability of physical habitat in the postfire period; reach‐averaged pool area and deposit area double in small streams, while side channels increase by over 50% in intermediate‐sized channels. By contrast, forest harvesting reduces the availability of habitat within the reach, though the effects diminish with increasing buffer size or stream width; in laterally stable streams the effects are minimal so long as buffer width is large enough for key pieces to be recruited to the reach. This research emphasizes the importance of natural disturbance in creating and maintaining habitat heterogeneity and shows that scenario‐based numerical modeling provides a useful tool for assessing the historical range of variability associated with natural disturbance, as well as changes in habitat relevant to fish. It can be also used to inform forest harvesting and management.

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Drought effect on stream morphology and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in forested headwater streams

Cited by 120 publications

References 60 publications

Disproportionate Relative Importance of a Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as a Prey Source for Central Appalachian Brook Trout

Disproportionate Relative Importance of a Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) as a Prey Source for Central Appalachian Brook Trout

Assessing Thermally Stressful Events in a Rhode Island Coldwater Fish Habitat Using the SWAT Model

Simulating riparian disturbance: Reach scale impacts on aquatic habitat in gravel bed streams

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