Habitat effects on depth and velocity frequency distributions: Implications for modeling hydraulic variation and fish habitat suitability in streams

Rosenfeld, Jordan S.; Campbell, Kate M.; Leung, Elaine S.; Bernhardt, Joanna R.; Post, John R.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.03.007

Cited by 50 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In an analysis of natural stream channels, Rosenfeld et al . () demonstrated that reach‐scale estimates of habitat suitability were predicted more closely to observed values instream by describing the variation around mean depth and velocity hydraulic geometry values using gamma distributions instead of single reach‐average depth and velocity values.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY AND LONGITUDINAL PATTERNS OF HABITAT QUANTITY AND QUALITY FOR RAINBOW TROUT (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Laliberte

Rosenfeld

2013

River Research & Apps

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We developed predictions of habitat quantity and quality for three life stages of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, across a range of stream sizes characterized by mean annual discharge of 1 to 50 m3 s−1. The physical habitat template was created by nesting a reach‐scale two‐dimensional hydrodynamic model (River2D) within a downstream hydraulic geometry system using published coefficients for low‐gradient and high‐gradient watersheds. This provided both longitudinal and transverse estimates of depth and velocity profiles that, when combined with habitat suitability curves for the life stages, resulted in predictions of habitat quantity (weighted usable area) and habitat quality (the proportion of the stream profile that provided useable habitat) for rainbow trout along the stream continuum. Habitat quantity increased asymptotically for all life history stages but increased more rapidly in the low‐gradient watershed. Habitat quality decreased non‐linearly for young‐of‐the‐year and peaked at intermediate stream sizes for juveniles in both low‐gradient and high‐gradient watersheds. Adult habitat quality peaked in the high‐gradient watershed but increased asymptotically in the low‐gradient watershed, presumably due to lower mean velocities at larger stream sizes. Incorporation of transverse variation in depth and velocity in our physical habitat template provides a more realistic representation of habitat quantity and quality than do earlier assessments based on simple modal estimates of depth and velocity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY AND LONGITUDINAL PATTERNS OF HABITAT QUANTITY AND QUALITY FOR RAINBOW TROUT (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Laliberte

Rosenfeld

2013

River Research & Apps

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For organisms adapted to fast water with well‐defined minimum velocity thresholds (e.g. Wetmore, Mackay, & Newbury, ), habitat loss may occur more rapidly than expected based on rate of loss of total wetted area, because hydraulic geometry relationships differ among habitats, that is, area and depth of riffles tends to shrink much more quickly at low flows than do pools (Hakala & Hartman, ; Rolls et al., ; Rosenfeld, Campbell, Leung, Bernhardt, & Post, ). For example, during severe drought in a set of Appalachian brook trout streams Hakala and Hartman () observed a 54% reduction in riffle area compared to only a 2% reduction in pool habitat area.…”

Section: Likelihood Of Nonlinearity For Different Ecological Indicatomentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing flow–ecology relationships: Implications of nonlinear biological responses for water management

Rosenfeld

2017

Freshwater Biology

Self Cite

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Empirical relationships between stream flow and ecological responses (flow–ecology relationships) are essential for establishing environmental flows and evaluating tradeoffs between instream values and out‐of‐stream uses. Establishing the shape of flow–ecology relationships (i.e. slope, linearity versus nonlinearity) is particularly important to avoid crossing ecological thresholds in water management. This review focuses on ecological responses to discharge at low summer flows when out‐of‐stream water demand is often highest, and identifying ecological contexts where nonlinearities are most likely. Most physical attributes (temperature, dissolved oxygen, available habitat) and ecological responses (energy flow, fish survival, recruitment, community structure) show at least some evidence of nonlinear relationships with flow, although assumptions of linearity may be reasonable across limited discharge ranges which may include low flows. Nonlinearities are most likely in systems that are near existing thresholds (e.g. cold‐water transitional fish communities that are close to upper thermal tolerances). The probability of nonlinearities is likely to increase under future landuse and climate change scenarios, particularly in combination with other stressors, such as eutrophication, which may greatly accelerate temperature‐related decline in dissolved oxygen under climate warming. Managers need to anticipate changes in flow–ecology relationships and develop management systems that are robust to change. Field programmes to establish the slope and linearity of local flow–ecology relationships are essential for regional management, but developing generalisable flow–ecology relationships that are transferrable to regions with limited resources also needs to be a priority. Generalised relationships can be generated through meta‐analysis of empirical flow–ecology relationships, and may prove especially useful if they can capture how environmental and ecological context (channel size and morphology, landuse, flow regime, antecedent conditions, habitat or taxonomic guild) affect flow–ecology relationships. For instance, linking empirical data from flow–ecology relationships to available habitat predicted by physical habitat simulation models (e.g. PHABSIM) may provide a better mechanistic basis for modelling ecological responses, while providing much needed validation for habitat simulation approaches. This would also help bridge the gap between emerging holistic environmental flow modelling approaches and more traditional habitat simulation methods.

show abstract

“…Many hydro-morphological data such as depth, substrate, river flow, velocity and dissolved oxygen are easy to collect and moreover often freely available in databases. Water depth and current velocity are important factors for spawning habitat [33]. Moreover, the velocity/depth ratio may be the best determinant of habitat type and is the most distinct among habitat types [108].…”

Section: Input Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the type of model implemented, the variables included and the parameterization used strongly differ between different studies. For instance, Freeman et al [31], Ruetz and Jennings [32] and Rosenfeld et al [33] used depth, substrate and flow characteristics as input variables in order to assess the impact of altered flow regimes on the habitat suitability of juvenile fish. Kunz [34] used dissolved oxygen and nutrient compounds as input variables to develop a water quality model taking into account the impact of a tropical reservoir.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Nguyen

Everaert

Boets

et al. 2018

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:We critically analyzed a set of ecological models that are used to assess the impact of hydropower dams on water quality and habitat suitability for biological communities. After a literature search, we developed an integrated conceptual model that illustrates the linkages between the main input variables, model approaches, the output variables and biotic-abiotic interactions in the ecosystems related to hydropower dams. We found that variations in water flow and water depth coupled with increased nutrient availability are major variables that contribute to structural and functional ecosystem changes. We also found that ecological models are an important tool to assess the impact of hydropower dams. For instance, model simulation of different scenarios (e.g., with and without the dam, different operation methods) can analyze and predict the related ecosystem shifts. However, one of the remaining shortcomings of these models is the limited capacity to separate dam-related impacts from other anthropogenic influences (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). Moreover, collecting sufficient high-quality data to increase the statistical power remains a challenge. The severely altered conditions (e.g., generation of very deep lakes) also lead to difficulties for standardized data collection. We see future opportunities in the integration of models to improve the understanding of the different processes affected by hydropower dam development and operation, as well as the use of remote sensing methods for data collection.

show abstract

Habitat effects on depth and velocity frequency distributions: Implications for modeling hydraulic variation and fish habitat suitability in streams

Cited by 50 publications

References 37 publications

HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY AND LONGITUDINAL PATTERNS OF HABITAT QUANTITY AND QUALITY FOR RAINBOW TROUT (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY AND LONGITUDINAL PATTERNS OF HABITAT QUANTITY AND QUALITY FOR RAINBOW TROUT (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Developing flow–ecology relationships: Implications of nonlinear biological responses for water management

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About