An Interregional Comparison of Channel Structure, Transient Storage and Riparian Canopy With Metabolism in Streams Draining Watersheds in Different Successional Stages.
Abstract
We related channel structure, transient storage and riparian canopy with net daily metabolism (NDM) in 32 first- through fourth-order streams in the southeastern and northwestern United States. Management histories of the watersheds resulted in a variety of forest successional stages. Channel structure and riparian canopy estimates were collected at 10 points along each 40-100m study reach. Transient storage was calculated as differences in areas under the curves for predicted and actual Cl- transport through the study reaches. NDM was estimated from single-station oxygen changes using the surface renewal model. Channel slope was significantly related to NDM in both the northwestern and southeastern streams, and we classified streams into high (>3%) and low gradient groups. NDM ranged from -150 mg O2 m-2 d-1 in the early successional, high gradient streams to -1590 mg O2 m-2 d-1 in the mid-successional, low gradient streams. NDM in the high gradient streams was significantly correlated with percent of the stream having fast moving water (r=-0.53), transient storage (r=0.38), riparian canopy (r=-0.36) and percent coarse substrates (r=0.29). NDM in the low gradient streams was significantly correlated with stream velocity (r=-0.39) and percent coarse substrates (r=0.32).
- Publication:
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AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005AGUSMNB33L..03H
- Keywords:
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- 0400 Biogeosciences;
- 1871 Surface water quality;
- 4845 Nutrients and nutrient cycling