Evaluating macroinvertebrate community shifts in the confluence of freestone and limestone streams

Hellmann, Jennifer K.; Erikson, Jeffrey S.; Queenborough, Simon A.

doi:10.4081/jlimnol.2014.935

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Large confluence ratios were associated with larger differences in communities. This observation concurs with Rice et al () and the work of others focused at smaller spatial scales (Hellmann et al, ; Kiffney et al, ; Milesi & Melo, ; Perry & Schaeffer, ). Similarly, the TITAN analysis showed support for a threshold at the GH confluence where the river increases size from 72 to 118 km 2 with a CSR of 0.64.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Research on the influence of tributaries on network patterns has largely focused on localized small‐scale changes in mainstem river characteristics at the point where tributaries join mainstem rivers (Bruns et al, ; Clay, Muehlbauer, & Doyle, ; Hellmann, Erikson, & Queenborough, ; Kiffney, Greene, Hall, & Davies, ; Milesi & Melo, ; Perry & Schaeffer, ; but see Rice et al, ). The probability of a significant confluence effect is a function of tributary size relative to the mainstem river (confluence symmetry ratio [CSR]; Benda, Poff, et al, ; Rice, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of tributaries on the longitudinal patterns of benthic invertebrate communities

Jones

Schmidt

2018

River Research & Apps

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There has been little effort to understand how tributaries influence mainstem rivers at large scales beyond the immediate influence of the tributary and downstream of the mixing zone. Such knowledge is needed to create breaks in stream networks that can aid in the classification of stream valley segments and conservation studies that rely on the delineation of zones. We use benthic invertebrate assemblages to infer longitudinal gradients and discontinuities and relate these patterns to confluence symmetry ratio (CSR; the size ratio of the tributary basin to the mainstem basin upstream of the confluence). In addition, we briefly explore reach and catchment-scale environmental influences. We found evidence for both gradual and abrupt longitudinal changes in benthic invertebrate communities. There was not a smooth continuous gradient but a sawtooth pattern with an overarching trend. Two major discontinuities were found: one associated with a large CSR = 0.74 and reach scale factors including predominance of sand and an abundance of benthic organic matter that provided a unique habitat; and a second associated with a large CSR = 0.64 and a transition from coarse textured morainal deposits to glaciolacustrine deposits. There were synchronous additions of some benthic invertebrates (e. g., Eukiefferiella brehmi, Antocha, Hydropsyche morosa, and Oligochaeta) showing an affinity for downstream reaches, whereas others showed an affinity for headwater reaches (e.g., Simulium tuberosum, Baetis tricaudatus, and Micropsectra). Benthic invertebrate communities were driven by a combination of confluence symmetry ratio, landscape, and reach scale factors that can confound interpretation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of tributaries on the longitudinal patterns of benthic invertebrate communities

Jones

Schmidt

2018

River Research & Apps

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“…Contrasting stream types merging at confluences have the potential to create ecotones and these heterogeneous junctures are often hot spots for local scale α biodiversity (Osborne and Wiley 1992;Kiffney et al 2006;Milesi et al 2014;Hellmann et al 2015). Increasing to the basin scale, Finn et al (2011) documented that among site β biodiversity of benthic invertebrates was much greater among headwater than in mid-order streams at both population-genetic and community levels.…”

Section: R a F Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tributary effects in rivers: interactions of spatial scale, network structure, and landscape characteristics

Jones

Schmidt

2017

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Landscape characteristics in combination with the physical structure of branched stream networks define the environmental conditions available for lotic biota. From simple stream network “laws” can emerge a spatially explicit understanding of habitat heterogeneity. Based on geographic information system analyses, we explore how stream networks integrate spatial heterogeneity of the landscape and form new characteristics as stream segments accumulate into progressively larger drainages and how these changes in landscape characteristics relate to confluence symmetry ratio and drainage size. Simple expectations for stream networks include the following: (i) abrupt changes in longitudinal patterns are more probable among the numerous small and diverse headwater streams than in large, rare, and characteristically similar tributaries, (ii) the many small tributaries flowing into large mainstem channels cause individually small, yet collectively gradual, changes in longitudinal patterns. Such a spatial understanding of where change is likely to occur helps to reconcile gradual river continuum and abrupt discontinuum views of patterns in rivers and predict the locations of important confluences, ecological transitions, longitudinal gradients, and patterns of biodiversity in stream networks.

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“…It’s development and use would support further research of the ecology of stream confluences. Some examples include effects related to: (1) geographic differences (e.g., Benda, Andras, et al 2004); (2) urbanization and other land cover changes; (3) differences between mainstem and tributary channel gradients; (4) position in the stream network (e.g., Grenouillet et al 2004; Thornbrugh and Gido 2010); (5) influence of lithology (Hellman et al 2015); (6) influences of stressors and disturbance (e.g., Katano et al 2009; Boddy et al 2019); (7) influence of soil differences, and; (8) interaction between tributary size (discharge) and differences in mainstem and tributary watershed characteristics (e.g., Jones and Schmidt 2017). Some of the aforementioned topical examples have not been studied to our knowledge (Table 1), such as land cover change, and complementary studies for topics reported in the literature would likely help to advance a nascent field (Rice et al 2008; Jones and Schmidt 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Landscape Assessment and Associated Dataset of Stream Confluences for the Conterminous U.S.

Ebert

Wickham

Neale

et al. 2020

J American Water Resour Assoc

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Stream confluences are important components of fluvial networks. Hydraulic forces meeting at stream confluences often produce changes in streambed morphology and sediment distribution. These changes often increase habitat heterogeneity relative to upstream and downstream locations, which have led some to identify them as biological hotspots. Despite their potential ecological importance, there are relatively few empirical studies documenting ecological patterns upstream and downstream of confluences. We have produced a publicly available dataset of stream confluences and associated watershed attributes for the conterminous United States. The dataset includes 1,085,629 stream confluences and 383 attributes for each confluence organized into 15 dataset tables for both tributary and mainstem upstream catchments and watersheds. Themes in the dataset include hydrology (e.g., stream order), land cover, land cover change, geology (e.g., calcium content of underlying lithosphere), physical condition (e.g., precipitation), measures of ecological integrity, and stressors (e.g., impaired streams). Additionally, we used measures of ecological integrity to assess the condition of the stream confluences. Aside from a generally positive east‐to‐west gradient in ecological condition, we found that approximately one‐third of the confluences had markedly contrasting ecological conditions between mainstem and tributary, catchment and watershed, or both. The dataset should support many, multifaceted studies of stream confluence ecology.

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Evaluating macroinvertebrate community shifts in the confluence of freestone and limestone streams

Abstract: Aquatic macroinvertebrates are critical to ecosystem functioning through their regulation of many essential top-down and bottom-up ecosystem processes such as energy translocation

Cited by 6 publications

References 72 publications

Influence of tributaries on the longitudinal patterns of benthic invertebrate communities

Influence of tributaries on the longitudinal patterns of benthic invertebrate communities

Tributary effects in rivers: interactions of spatial scale, network structure, and landscape characteristics

A Landscape Assessment and Associated Dataset of Stream Confluences for the Conterminous U.S.

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