River Research and Applications (River Res Appl)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Birkel, C., Soulsby, C., Ali, G. and Tetzlaff, D. (2013), ASSESSING THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF HYDROPOWER REGULATION ON THE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF A LARGE ATLANTIC SALMON RIVER SYSTEM. River Res. Applic.. doi: 10.1002/rra.2656

  Birkel, Soulsby, Ali, D. Tetzlaff
  River Research and Applications 04/2013;
• Article: Restoration of spawning habitats of brown trout (salmo trutta) in a regulated chalk stream

  Pulg, Barlaup, B.T, Sternecker, Trepl, Unfer
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  ABSTRACT: Gravel bed spawning grounds are essential for the reproduction of salmonids. Such spawning grounds have been severely degraded in many rivers of the world because of river regulation and erosive land use. To reduce its effects on salmonid reproduction rates, river managers have been restoring spawning grounds. However, measures of effectiveness are lacking for the restored spawning sites of brown trout (Salmo trutta). In this study, two methods were used to restore gravel bed spawning grounds in the Moosach River, a chalk stream in Southern Germany: the addition of gravel and the cleaning of colmated gravel. Seven test sites were monitored in the years 2004 to 2008, focussing on sediment conditions. Furthermore, brown trout egg survival and changes in the brown trout population structure were observed. Both gravel addition and gravel cleaning proved to be suitable for creating spawning grounds for brown trout. Brown trout reproduced successfully at all test sites. The relative number of young-of-the-year brown trout increased clearly after the restoration. Sediment on the test sites colmated during the 4years of the study. In the first 2years, highly suitable conditions were maintained, with a potential egg survival of more than 50%. Afterwards, the sites offered moderate conditions, indicating an egg survival of less than 50%. Conditions unsuitable for reproduction were expected to be reached 5 to 6years after restoration.
  River Research and Applications 02/2013; Volume 29(2):172-182.
• Article: Geomorphic controls on woody vegetation responses to flow alterations in a Mediterranean stream (central-western Spain)

  Bejarano MD, Sordo-Ward A, Marchamalo M, González del Tánago M
  River Research and Applications 02/2013;
• Article: Ecological functions of fish bypass channels in streams: migration corridor and habitat for rheophilic species

  Pander J, Mueller M, Geist J
  River Research and Applications 01/2013; 29:441-450.
• Article: Estimating Thermal Regimes of Bull Trout and Assessing the Potential Effects of Climate Warming on Critical Habitats.

  L.A. Jones, C.C. Muhlfeld, L.A. Marshall, B.L. McGlynn, J.L. Kershner
  River Research and Applications 01/2013;
• Article: Spatial and temporal changes in total suspended sediment concentrations in an oxbow lake after implementing agricultural landscape management practices

  Kröger, E. Dibble, J.B. Brandt, J.P. Fleming, T. Huenemann, T. Stubbs, J.D. Prevost, T. Tietjen, K.A. Littlejohn, S.C. Pierce & M. Spickard
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  ABSTRACT: The Wolf–Broad oxbow lake (417ha) was evaluated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and included on the Mississippi 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies for total suspended solids (TSS). A study was undertaken for 2years to evaluate and document changes to TSS (mgL�1) and overall lake turbidity (NTU) through best management practice implementation. These two objectives were analysed with routine monthly surface sampling events of turbidity (Eureka Manta 2, automated data sonde) as well as 20 random samples per sampling trip for TSS from June 2008 to June 2010. Results from a non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis analysis indicated a significant month-by-year effect on turbidity and TSS (chi-squared=76.08, p=0.001), but reach (chi-squared=2.45, p=0.784) and depth by reach (chi-squared=2.44, p=0.784) did not show significant effects on turbidity. There were no significant correlations between TSS concentrations and turbidity and 2days and 7days summed or mean rainfall for the duration of the evaluation. Spearman correlation analysis for TSS indicated significant correlations between TSS and mean two-day (r2=0.62, p=0.002) and seven-day (r2=0.51, p=0.014) wind speeds. All other variables used in the analysis did not show significant correlation with TSS (p>0.05). This suggests that wind conditions, rather than rainfall, predict the greatest variability in TSS and turbidity in Wolf Lake. These documented correlations between lake water column TSS, turbidity and wind highlight the difficulties of demonstrating success of management practices in the short temporal period between project initiation and completion. Unmanageable environmental conditions (wind speed and direction) and limited temporal monitoring scales (1 1/2years post-BMP implementation) limit the possibility of demonstrating successful water-quality improvement within a 303(d) listed waterbody such as Wolf Lake.
  River Research and Applications 01/2013; 29:56-64.
• Article: Potential impacts of small-scale hydroelectric power generation on downstream moving lampreys

  Bracken, F. & Lucas, M.C
  River Research and Applications 01/2013; 29:1-10.
• Article: The combined effects of flow regulation and an artificial flow release on a regulated river

  Jonathan D Tonkin, Russell G Death
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  ABSTRACT: Damming and regulating the flow of rivers is a widespread issue and can have a significant impact on resident biota. The Tongariro River, central North Island, New Zealand, has a flow regime that is regulated by two hydroelectric dams along its length, and it has been suggested that ‘flushing flows’ would assist benthic communities by removing ‘nuisance’ periphyton growth forms that typically occur in autumn. We assessed whether (i) damming has altered periphyton and macroinvertebrate communities downstream of the Rangipo Dam and (ii) whether the release of a flow pulse equivalent to 50 times the baseflow is sufficient to (a) move the substrate in the section of river downstream of this dam and (b) impact benthic periphyton and macroinvertebrate communities. Downstream macroinvertebrate communities were impacted by the presence of the dam, but periphyton was not. No movement of substrate occurred downstream of the dam as a result of the flow release, which was likely because of naturally high embeddedness and armouring of substrate. Periphyton biomass and macroinvertebrate density were not affected by the release indicating that larger releases would be required to have any effect on benthic communities downstream of this dam. This study highlights the importance of considering natural bed structure and sediment dynamics when using flow releases downstream of dams to control periphyton.
  River Research and Applications 01/2013;
• Article: Seasonally driven variation in spatial relationships between agricultural land use and in-stream nutrient concentrations

  Adam G. Yates, Robert B. Brua, Julie Corriveau, Joseph M. Culp, Patricia A. Chambers
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  ABSTRACT: GIS-based distance weighted models were applied to determine critical areas of agricultural influence in nine agriculturally-dominated, prairie subcatchments in southern Manitoba, Canada. Models were generated using a range of coefficients to represent nutrient overland and in-stream attenuation between agricultural source areas and stream sampling stations. Coefficients were also used to represent increased attenuation during overland travel through areas with natural vegetation. Water samples collected at intervals throughout the open water season were used to establish associations between areas of influence and in-stream total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in each season and under different flow conditions. Critical areas of influence varied seasonally with areas of influence expanding with individual rainfall events. Inclusion of natural vegetated areas on the landscape resulted in substantial increases in model power for only one scenario. Agriculture in areas within approximately 100 m of the stream channel appears to be the most critical driver of in-stream nutrient conditions during most seasons and under most flow conditions. BMPs, such as vegetated buffer strips, should be most effective in controlling nutrient losses to southern Manitoba streams when situated within stream corridor as opposed to upland areas which appear to have minimal impact on in-stream conditions in southern Manitoba.
  River Research and Applications 01/2013; In press.
• Article: Marchetti, ZY y Carrillo-Rivera, JJ. 2013. Initial geochemical evidence of groundwater discharge in the floodplain of the Parana River, Argentina; implications for its biological communities. River Research and Applications. published online: 4 Jan 2013; DOI:10.1002/rra.2629

  Marchetti, ZY y Carrillo-Rivera, JJ
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  ABSTRACT: In several ecosystems in the world, groundwater discharge should be considered because this input could be an important affluent of the aquatic environments and associated biological communities determining its functioning. However, due to the large quantity of surface water, the presence and the importance of groundwater have not been considered in the Parana River floodplain. This work aimed to identify groundwater discharge conditions in a sector of the middle of the floodplain of the Parana River by studying groundwater flow systems. Eight piezometers were installed in the study zone to record groundwater movement in the vertical plane weekly for two years. Water samples were collected in piezometers, domestic wells, the river and other water bodies to study the groundwater flow systems. Rising of the water level during piezometer installation and recording, suggested the study zone represents groundwater discharge conditions. Residence time proxy allowed an identification of local flows and intermediate flows. Local rainfall (in Santa Fe) showed an isotopic signature (δD and δ18O) similar to some local flows detected in the study zone suggesting local recharge. The chemical characteristics of an intermediate flow suggest that water would have travelled from a recharge area ~30 km from the study zone. Local rainfall and the intermediate flow have different isotopic signature. Results suggest the Willow forest is associated to recharge area of a local flow; Pluri-specific canopy forest is related to a transit area of a semi-intermediate flow; Tall grassland and marshy community colonize discharge areas of local and intermediate flows, respectively.
  River Research and Applications 01/2013;
• Article: INVERTEBRATE AND FISH ASSEMBLAGE RELATIONS TO DISSOLVED OXYGEN MINIMA IN LOWLAND STREAMS OF SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA

  B. G. Justus, S. V. Mize, J. Wallace, D. Kroes
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  ABSTRACT: Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in lowland streams are naturally lower than those in upland streams; however, in some regions where monitoring data are lacking, DO criteria originally established for upland streams have been applied to lowland streams. This study investigated the DO concentrations at which fish and invertebrate assemblages at 35 sites located on lowland streams in southwestern Louisiana began to demonstrate biological thresholds. Average threshold values for taxa richness, diversity and abundance metrics were 2.6 and 2.3 mg/L for the invertebrate and fish assemblages, respectively. These thresholds are approximately twice the DO concentration that some native fish species are capable of tolerating and are comparable with DO criteria that have been recently applied to some coastal streams in Louisiana and Texas. DO minima >2.5 mg/L were favoured for all but extremely tolerant taxa. Extremely tolerant taxa had respiratory adaptations that gave them a competitive advantage, and their success when DO minima were <2 mg/L could be related more to reductions in competition or predation than to DO concentration directly. DO generally had an inverse relation to the amount of agriculture in the buffer area; however, DO concentrations at sites with both low and high amounts of agriculture (including three least-disturbed sites) declined to <2.5 mg/L. Thus, although DO fell below a concentration that was identified as an approximate biological threshold, sources of this condition were sometimes natural (allochthonous material) and had little relation to anthropogenic activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  River Research and Applications 11/2012;
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  Available from: fs.fed.us

  Article: EFFECTS OF PASSAGE BARRIERS ON DEMOGRAPHICS AND STABILITY PROPERTIES OF A VIRTUAL TROUT POPULATION

  B. C. Harvey, S. F. Railsback
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  ABSTRACT: Habitat fragmentation is widely assumed to have negative effects on populations and communities, but some effects of fragmentation are subtle, difficult to measure and not always negative. For stream fish, barriers to upstream passage, such as waterfalls or culverts with perched outlets, are a common cause of fragmentation. We explored the effects of barriers on a virtual stream trout population occupying a network of reaches in the inSTREAM individual-based trout population model. The model includes daily habitat selection by individual fish, with barriers represented by assuming trout cannot move upstream past a barrier and move downstream over a barrier only if habitat above it offers low potential fitness. In 78-year simulations of a resident trout population occupying the stream network of a 25-km2 catchment, we varied barrier density and observed effects on population stability properties and demographics. Increasing barrier density decreased subpopulation persistence in first-order tributaries but not larger streams. Barriers at tributary mouths reduced the population's resistance to extreme flows, but additional barriers caused no further loss of resistance. Barriers reduced overall abundance and biomass at intermediate and high densities and caused a small but surprising increase in biomass at low density. In comparison with fish in the remainder of the network, fish in isolated first-order tributaries had higher survival early in life, smaller sizes at age and reproduced as smaller, younger individuals. Fish that passed over barriers contributed relatively little to downstream populations but, had they not moved, would have increased persistence and abundance of the tributaries they moved from. Relationships such as these would be very difficult to elucidate without a model representing individual behaviour. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  River Research and Applications 04/2012; 28(4):479 - 489.
• Source

  Available from: monitoringportaal.nl

  Article: Ecological strategies successfully predict the effects of river floodplain rehabilitation on breeding birds

  C. A. M. van Turnhout, R. S. E. W. Leuven, A. J. Hendriks, G. Kurstjens, A. van Strien, R. P. B. Foppen, H. Siepel
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  ABSTRACT: To improve the ecological functioning of riverine ecosystems, large-scale floodplain rehabilitation has been carried out in the Rhine–Meuse Delta since the 1990s. This paper evaluates changes in abundance of 93 breeding bird species over a period of 10 years in response to rehabilitation, by comparing population changes in 75 rehabilitated sites with 124 non-rehabilitated reference sites. Such quantitative, multi-species, large-scale and long-term evaluations of floodplain rehabilitation on biodiversity are still scarce, particularly studies that focus on the terrestrial component. We try to understand the effects by relating population trends to ecological and life-history traits and strategies of breeding birds. More specifically, we try to answer the question whether rehabilitation of vegetation succession or hydro-geomorphological river processes is the key driver behind recent population changes in rehabilitated sites. Populations of 35 species have significantly performed better in rehabilitated sites compared to non-rehabilitated floodplains, whereas only 8 have responded negatively to rehabilitation. Differences in effects between species are best explained by the trait selection of nest location. Reproductive investment and migratory behaviour were less strong predictors. Based on these three traits we defined eight life-history strategies that successfully captured a substantial amount of variation in rehabilitation effects. We conclude that spontaneous vegetation succession and initial excavations are currently more important drivers of population changes than rehabilitation of hydrodynamics. The latter are strongly constrained by river regulation. If rehabilitation of hydro-geomorphological processes remains incomplete in future, artificial cyclic floodplain rejuvenation will be necessary for sustainable conservation of characteristic river birds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  River Research and Applications 02/2012; 28(3):269 - 282.
• Article: Flow structure through pool‐riffle sequences and a conceptual model for their sustainability in gravel‐bed rivers

  D. Caamaño, P. Goodwin, J. M. Buffington
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  ABSTRACT: Detailed field measurements and simulations of three-dimensional flow structure were used to develop a conceptual model to explain the sustainability of self-formed pool-riffle sequences in gravel-bed rivers. The analysis was conducted at the Red River Wildlife Management Area in Idaho, USA, and enabled characterization of the flow structure through two consecutive pool-riffle sequences, including: identification of jet concentration and dissipation zones, and the development of local turbulence features (i.e. vertical and horizontal eddies) under different flow conditions. Three-dimensional hydraulic simulations were used to evaluate how the flow structure varies across a range of flow conditions and with different degrees of sediment aggradation within the upstream pool. The analysis demonstrated a significant influence of the residual pool depth on the flow structure, with reduced residual depth causing a shift in the orientation of the jet and a reduction in the influence of vertical eddies and the size and intensity of horizontal eddies. The proposed conceptual model seeks to explain the sustainability of pools in terms of the flow structure in pool-riffle morphology and how this flow structure will change as a result of altered external forcing, such as upstream sediment delivery or changes in bank stability. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  River Research and Applications 02/2012; 28(3):377 - 389.
• Source

  Available from: siu.edu

  Article: Evaluation of δD and δ18O as natural markers of invertebrate source environment and dispersal in the middle Mississippi River‐floodplain ecosystem

  D. J. Myers, G. W. Whitledge, M. R. Whiles
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  ABSTRACT: Movement of invertebrates among large rivers, tributaries, and floodplain lakes or dispersal of adult aquatic insects from riverine or floodplain habitats may provide important subsidies to food webs in receiving habitats. Intensive sampling at habitat interfaces and artificial labelling are two approaches to assess freshwater invertebrate dispersal, but these are difficult to implement at a landscape scale. Natural chemical tracers have been used to track dispersal of fishes and marine invertebrates, but the potential applicability of stable isotope ratios as natural tracers of invertebrate dispersal in freshwater environments has not been assessed. We evaluated stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (δD and δ18O) as natural markers of source environment and dispersal of macroinvertebrates in the middle Mississippi River, tributaries and floodplain wetlands. Water and invertebrates were collected from 12 sites during 2007–2008. Water δD and δ18O differed among the river, its tributaries, and floodplain wetlands and were strongly correlated with invertebrate δD and δ18O. Variability in invertebrate δ18O rendered it ineffective as an indicator of invertebrate source environment. Mean δD of Mississippi River invertebrates differed from δD of invertebrates from floodplain wetlands; δD distinguished invertebrates from these two environments with >80% accuracy. Neither δD nor δ18O of aquatic insects changed following emergence from their natal site. Preservation method (ethanol or freezing) did not affect invertebrate δD or δ18O. Invertebrate δD may be a useful natural tracer of natal environment and dispersal in the Mississippi River-floodplain ecosystem and other freshwater systems where spatial variation in water δD is present. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  River Research and Applications 01/2012; 28(2):135 - 142.
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  Available from: fs.fed.us

  Article: Dynamic flow modelling of riverine amphibian habitat with application to regulated flow management

  S. M. Yarnell, A. J. Lind, J. F. Mount
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  ABSTRACT: In regulated rivers, relicensing of hydropower projects can provide an opportunity to change flow regimes and reduce negative effects on sensitive aquatic biota. The volume of flow, timing and ramping rate of spring spills, and magnitude of aseasonal pulsed flows have potentially negative effects on the early life stages of amphibians, such as the Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii). Two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling is one method to evaluate potential effects of flow variation on frog egg masses and tadpoles. We explored the usefulness of this technique by modeling habitat suitability under several pulsed flow scenarios in two river reaches in northern California, USA. We conducted analyses beyond simple weighted usable area calculations, such as quantifying the risk of scour or stranding, in order to quantify potential loss under different flow scenarios. The modeling results provided information on potential susceptibility to flow fluctuations as well as the influence of channel morphology on habitat suitability. Under each flow scenario, low percentages of suitable habitat remained suitable or were ‘buffered’ from the pulse, creating high potential for scour of egg masses or tadpoles. However, due to differences in channel morphologies, the wide, shallow study site provided 2-3 times the buffering capacity of the entrenched study site.Additional analyses suggested that limited buffering capacity and lack of connectivity between suitable egg mass and tadpole habitats may explain why some hydraulically suitable habitats are unoccupied. This type of model-based analysis would be useful for managing foothill yellow-legged frogs or similar aquatic species in regulated river systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  River Research and Applications 01/2012; 28(2):177 - 191.
• Article: WEIR POOL SURCHARGE AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN ALGAL BIOFILM COMMUNITY DIVERSITY IN THE LOWER RIVER MURRAY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

  NJ Souter, M. Walter, L. Wen
  River Research and Applications 01/2012; 28:1853-1857.
• Article: Reference conditions for fish microhabitat use in foothill streams: A case study on undisrupted carpathian streams

  L. Pekárik, J. Kovsvco, M. vSvátora
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  ABSTRACT: Foothill rivers characterized by a relatively high slope are frequently used for hydropower purposes or are highly regulated. These river sections are inhabited by many rheophilic species that are endangered by habitat degradation. Restoration/rehabilitation projects and fishway constructions could increase species favourable status, but relevant ecological requirements for several fish species are missing. We present a first insight into a complex microhabitat use of all species (excluding rare species) occurring within the model foothill stream and provide a comprehensive view on the most important microhabitat variables that influence the distribution of fish species within the model area. For two species, Balkan spined loach (Sabanejewia balcanica) and Carpathian barbel (Barbus carpathicus), we present the first description of such microhabitat use. The model we present (canonical correspondence analysis) significantly explains 64.5% ( p < 0.01) of the variability, where water depth more than 40 cm, refuge stones and microhabitats in the bank area are the most influential microhabitat variables. Moreover, three species groups are apparent from the graphical expression of our proposed model, where species from the upper sites form the first group, young-of-the-year, Balkan spined loach and common minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) form the second group and abundant species inhabiting foothill river sections form the third group. In general, we assume that the preferences of a species for a given microhabitat are not only a function of, e.g. environmental variables or species length frequencies, but also strongly depend on the co-occurring species.
  River Research and Applications 01/2012; 28:369 –376.
• Article: Genotoxicity in Chironomus kiiensis (Chironomidae: Diptera) after exposure to polluted sediments from rivers of north peninsular Malaysia: implication for ecotoxicological monitoring

  S.A. Al‐Shami, C.S. Md Rawi, M. Nor, S. Azizah, A.H. Ahmad, M. Ishadi, N. Adibah, H. Dieng
  River Research and Applications 01/2012;