Geomorphological implications of engineering bed sediments by lotic animals

Statzner, Bernhard

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.03.022

Cited by 85 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 127 publications

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“…First, despite the innovative nature of this experiment in microcosms, it is a preliminary approach that deserves to be applied ex situ with more realistic stream flow conditions (e.g., flumes, larger sediment diameters; see such experimental designs in: Statzner et al, 2000;Pledger et al, 2014) or in situ, in both lentic and lotic systems. In streams, water flow can indeed hide the movement of particles due to bioturbation by invertebrates and small fish that have thus limited direct geomorphological implications (Statzner, 2012). Fine sediment displacements by foraging can also be harder due to water-working by the flow that consolidate and structure the bed surface.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fine sediment displacements by foraging can also be harder due to water-working by the flow that consolidate and structure the bed surface. However, benthic foraging fishes have also been reported to undo the water-worked imbricate structures (Pledger et al, 2014), thereby potentially counteracting the sediment consolidation by flow or other lotic organisms (e.g., plants, aquatic insects; Statzner, 2012). Stream flow might also influence foraging and swimming activities as fish often feed whilst facing upstream into the flow (Pledger et al, 2014), and consequently, the nature of SSD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the potential impacts of an increase in SSD by fish in the future are the increased erodibility of sediment surface and fine particles transport in rivers (Pledger et al, 2014). They could result simultaneously in waters with higher suspended solids and fine elements (e.g., organic detrital matter) concentrations, but lower fine sediment volumes (Statzner, 2012) in local places such as deposition areas. Fine sediment removal may subsequently affect negatively biological communities by reducing the establishment and presence of sessile or movement-limited insects (Pringle et al, 1993) and reducing bed biofilms (Statzner et al, 2000) that indirectly affect leaf decomposition processing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the growing interest in understanding the changes of physical environment induced by organisms (Statzner, 2012), bed sediment reworking by a variety of animal species acting as zoogeomorphic agents has been extensively studied in the bioturbation research field both for marine and freshwater environments (e.g., macroinvertebrates: Cade´e, 1979;Caradec et al, 2004;Heldman et al, 2011;Marmonier et al, 2012;Zhang et al, 2014;molluscs: Orvain and Sauriau, 2002;Gilbert et al, 2007; crayfish: Statzner et al, 2003a;Statzner and Peltret, 2006;Johnson et al, 2010;mammals: Jones et al, 1994). Among this fauna, many studies have focused on fish as actors of bed surface disturbance in streams (e.g., Flecker, 1996;Flecker and Taylor, 2004;Holtgrieve and Schindler, 2010), given their key role in the flux and transfer of particles and solutes in aquatic ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of temperature on surface sediment disturbance by freshwater fish: a microcosm experiment

Canal

Laffaille

Gilbert

et al. 2015

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Water temperature is a key parameter that regulates activities of ectotherms (e.g., fish) and has been projected to rise in the future in the context of climate change. Surface sediment disturbance (SSD) is an important function performed by fish that modifies benthic habitat properties and may thus influence ecosystem functioning. However, the link between SSD by fish and temperature remains unexplored. In this study, we experimentally assessed the influence of two contrasted temperatures (10 versus 20 xC) on SSD by three freshwater fish species in aquaria. After 10 days, the total surface disturbed by the species was approximately 2-3 times higher at warm than at cold temperature but the number and area of patches disturbed by the species were not significantly different. The stone loach Barbatula barbatula, a benthic fish species, had a higher SSD activity (i.e., total surface disturbed, number and size of patches disturbed) both at cold and warm temperatures than two cyprinid species, chub Squalius cephalus and sofie Parachondrostoma toxostoma. On average, SSD by B. barbatula resulted in approximately two and three more patches than the cyprinid species at 10 and 20 xC, respectively, and the mean patch area disturbed by B. barbatula was about two times larger than the ones disturbed by the cyprinid species. The total surface disturbed by the cyprinids at warm temperature was roughly equivalent to the surface disturbed by B. barbatula at cold temperature. Our results thus suggest that SSD by fish could increase in future warmed conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Influence of temperature on surface sediment disturbance by freshwater fish: a microcosm experiment

Canal

Laffaille

Gilbert

et al. 2015

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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“…So, it is interesting to understand the role of benthic animals in sediment resuspension, which will give us more profound cognition in aquatic biogeochemistry. Some fishes and macroinvertebrates have been verified to influence sediment resuspension, and diverse results have been reported because they have different modifications on sediment erodibility (Flecker, 1996;Scheffer et al, 2003;Orvain et al, 2006;Statzner, 2012;Lin and Wu, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of tubificid worms (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) in sediment resuspension: a microcosm study

Zhang

Shang

et al. 2014

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Sediment resuspension is an important internal lake process in regulating nutrient cycling and ecosystem structure. Tubificid worms are widely and abundantly distributed in freshwater ecosystems and are able to alter the sediment characteristics. This study was conducted to verify the hypothesis that the alteration of sediments by tubificids may substantially influence the sediment resuspension process. Specifically, we investigated the influence of Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Tubificidae) on sediment resuspension using an apparatus designed to simulate the sediment resuspension process in Lake Taihu (China). We examined L. hoffmeisteri according to its density (30 000 ind.m x2 ) in Lake Taihu and simulated the light ) wind processes present in Lake Taihu. Tubificids loosened the sediment through their feeding and defecation activities and increased the sediment water content. The appearance of tubificids increased the suspended solids (SS) in a 1.6 m water column under all three wind processes. During the sedimentation process, SS decreased rapidly in both the control and tubificid treatments. The total SS in the water column was significantly increased by tubificids and it changed significantly with time. In addition, the small size particles of the SS in the tubificid treatment were higher than that in the control. So, the appearance of tubificid worms (L. hoffmeisteri) enhanced sediment resuspension and raised the proportion of small size particles in SS.

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A mechanistic model linking insect (Hydropsychidae) silk nets to incipient sediment motion in gravel‐bedded streams

et al. 2014

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Plants and animals affect stream morphodynamics across a range of scales, yet including biological traits of organisms in geomorphic process models remains a fundamental challenge. For example, laboratory experiments have shown that silk nets built by caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) can increase the shear stress required to initiate bed motion by more than a factor of 2. The contributions of specific biological traits are not well understood, however. Here we develop a theoretical model for the effects of insect nets on the threshold of sediment motion, τ * crit , that accounts for the mechanical properties, geometry, and vertical distribution of insect silk, as well as interactions between insect species. To parameterize the model, we measure the tensile strength, diameter, and number of silk threads in nets built by two common species of caddisfly, Arctopsyche californica and Ceratopsyche oslari. We compare model predictions with new measurements of τ* crit in experiments where we varied grain size and caddisfly species composition. The model is consistent with experimental results for single species, which show that the increase in τ * crit above the abiotic control peaks at 40-70% for 10-22 mm sediments and declines with increasing grain size. For the polyculture experiments, however, the model underpredicts the measured increase in τ * crit when two caddisfly species are present in sediments of larger grain sizes. Overall, the model helps explain why the presence of caddisfly silk can substantially increase the forces needed to initiate sediment motion in gravel-bedded streams and also illustrates the challenge of parameterizing the behavior of multiple interacting species in a physical model.

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Geomorphological implications of engineering bed sediments by lotic animals

Cited by 85 publications

References 127 publications

Influence of temperature on surface sediment disturbance by freshwater fish: a microcosm experiment

Influence of temperature on surface sediment disturbance by freshwater fish: a microcosm experiment

The role of tubificid worms (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) in sediment resuspension: a microcosm study

A mechanistic model linking insect (Hydropsychidae) silk nets to incipient sediment motion in gravel‐bedded streams

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