Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Beyond the Benthos: The effects of stream restoration on habitat complexity and aquatic and riparian macroinvertebrate assemblages

Público Deposited

Contenido Descargable

Descargar PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/ww72bk16t

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Aquatic and riparian systems in the western United States have been highly modified by anthropogenic impacts since Euro-American settlement. Ecological restoration is a practice that has been widely conducted around the world to mitigate the degradation of these systems. The majority of stream restoration efforts have focused on improving in-stream physical habitat structures with the goal of increasing habitat heterogeneity. This focus is often based on the ecological theory that structurally complex habitats provide more niches and thus increase species richness, diversity, and abundance. This study aims to quantify how stream restoration actions in Meacham Creek (Umatilla County, Oregon) have affected habitat complexity, aquatic and riparian invertebrate communities, and stream function. To analyze the relationship between restoration, habitat complexity and aquatic invertebrate assemblages, surveys and invertebrate collection were performed in Meacham Creek in summer and fall of 2019. Restoration had a positive effect on stream and riparian habitat complexity. Restored stream reaches also had greater amounts of riparian and aquatic vegetation. In addition, restored reaches differed significantly in substrate composition and the ratio of terrestrial to aquatic area within bankfull. Habitat complexity had a positive impact on the taxa richness and diversity of drifting macroinvertebrate assemblages. However, no effect of habitat complexity was found on benthic invertebrate assemblages. The lack of response by benthic macroinvertebrates is consistent with other studies and indicates that they may not be the best choice of bioindicator in post-restoration monitoring schemes. To analyze the relationship between restoration, habitat complexity and invertebrate assemblages, surveys and invertebrate collection were performed in Meacham Creek in summer and fall of 2019. Habitat complexity was positively correlated with spider and web abundance. Vegetation cover (aquatic and riparian) was also positively correlated with spider and web abundance. Habitat complexity was negatively correlated with abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrate emergence. Finally, emerging invertebrate abundance and spider abundance were negatively correlated. The varied effects of restoration on habitat, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and riparian macroinvertebrates shows that further study is necessary to understand the relationship between restoration and stream function.
Contributor
License
Resource Type
Fecha de Emisión
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Committee Member
Academic Affiliation
Declaración de derechos
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • Thank you to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture for providing a fellowship to support this research.
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Embargo reason
  • Pending Publication
Embargo date range
  • 2021-06-10 to 2022-07-11

Relaciones

Parents:

This work has no parents.

En Collection:

Elementos

Miniatura Título Fecha de subida Visibilidad Acciones
file details LotzKelseyL2021.pdf 2021-06-10 Público Descargar