Merlyn A. Brusven

Allochthonous input of organic matter from different riparian habitats of an agriculturally impacted stream

Lapwai Creek, an agriculturally impacted stream in northern Idaho, was examined to determine longitudinal patterns of particulate allochthonous input from different riparian vegetation types. The stream, characterized by extensive removal of mature vegetation, was classified as having four riparian vegetation types: herbaceous, herbaceous-shrub mix, shrubs, and deciduous trees. Litterfall from each vegetation type was measured monthly for two years at eight locations along Lapwai Creek using 0.1-m2 baskets. Litterfall was lowest for herbaceous habitats and highest for deciduous tree habitats. Annual litterfall was low in the headwaters, which flow through an open meadow and deep canyon, and increased from the canyon-floodplain transition downstream to the first fifth-order site. Annual litterfall decreased markedly at the last two fifth-order stream sections. Differences in annual input rates between section 6 and sections 7 and 8, all of which are fifth order, can be attributed to removal of climax riparian vegetation. Estimates of actual and potential annual allochthonous income for each site suggest that current detrital inputs to Lapwai Creek are less than could be achieved if greater quantities of climax vegetation were still present. Lower rates of allochthonous inputs to Lapwai Creek may result in a system with detrital dynamics and macroinvertebrate communities different from that of comparable undisturbed streams of this region.

Changes in Solar Input, Water Temperature, Periphyton Accumulation, and Allochthonous Input and Storage after Canopy Removal along Two Small Salmon Streams in Southeast Alaska

Abstract Changes in solar radiation, water temperature, periphyton accumulation, and allochthonous inputs and storage were measured after we removed patches of deciduous, second-growth riparian vegetation bordering two small streams in southeast Alaska that produce coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. Solar radiation and leaf litter input were measured at the water surface at random locations dispersed through six alternating closed- and open-canopy stream sections. Water temperature, periphyton, and stored organic samples were collected near the downstream end of each section. Solar radiation intensity was measured with digital daylight integrators and pyronometers, periphyton biomass and chlorophyll a were measured on red clay tile substrates, allochthonous input was measured with leaf litter baskets, and benthic organic matter was measured with a Hess sampler. Average intensity of solar radiation that reached the water surface of open-canopy sections was significantly higher than in closed-canopy sections...

The role of aquatic moss on community composition and drift of fish-food organisms

Macroinvertebrate density, biomass and drift were studied from moss-covered and moss-free channels in the South Fork Salmon River, Idaho. Insect densities were compared for 10 different substrate types and locations involving moss (Fontinalis neo-mexicana), sand, pebbles and cobbles. An ANOVA test demonstrated that insect densities varied significantly with substrate type (P < 0.05), and that total insect density in moss clumps differed significantly from densities in mineral substrates. Insect densities were 4–18 times greater in moss clumps than in mineral substrates under and adjacent to moss; sands under moss supported the lowest densities. During most tests, densities in pebble and cobble substrates adjacent to moss clumps were not significantly different from those found in similar substrates in the moss-free channel. The 20% moss-covered channel had 1.6 to 7.2 greater insect density and 1.4 to 6.1 greater biomass than did the moss-free channel for the tests conducted. Generally, midges (Chironomidae) made up over 50% of the insect community; annelids were the principal non-insect invertebrates.In spite of greater insect density and biomass in a moss-covered than in the moss-free channel, we did not demonstrate universally increased drift of the immature stages from the moss-covered channel, at least during daylight hours. As a consequence, we infer that salmonid fishes, feeding primarily on drifting insects during the daytime, may not derive increased caloric benefit from moss habitats until the insects emerge as adults.

Classification and spatial mapping of riparian habitat with applications toward management of streams impacted by nonpoint source pollution

Management of riparian habitats has been recognized for its importance in reducing instream effects of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. By serving as a buffer, well structured riparian habitats can reduce nonpoint source impacts by filtering surface runoff from field to stream. A system has been developed where key characteristics of riparian habitat, vegetation type, height, width, riparian and shoreline bank slope, and land use are classified as discrete categorical units. This classification system recognizes seven riparian vegetation types, which are determined by dominant plant type. Riparian and shoreline bank slope, in addition to riparian width and height, each consist of five categories. Classification by discrete units allows for ready digitizing of information for production of spatial maps using a geographic information system (GIS). The classification system was tested for field efficiency on Tom Beall Creek watershed, an agriculturally impacted third-order stream in the Clearwater River drainage, Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA. The classification system was simple to use during field applications and provided a good inventory of riparian habitat. After successful field tests, spatial maps were produced for each component using the Professional Map Analysis Package (pMAP), a GIS program. With pMAP, a map describing general riparian habitat condition was produced by combining the maps of components of riparian habitat, and the condition map was integrated with a map of soil erosion potential in order to determine areas along the stream that are susceptible to nonpoint source pollution inputs. Integration of spatial maps of riparian classification and watershed characteristics has great potential as a tool for aiding in making management decisions for mitigating off-site impacts of agricultural nonpoint source pollution.

The Effects of Reduced Stream Discharge on Insect Drift and Stranding of Near Shore Insects

The effects of seasonally reduced stream discharge on insect drift and stranding were studied in two experimental channels on the Grande Ronde River, Oregon. Five experiments were conducted (spring, summer and fall, 1980 and spring and fall, 1981) at three test flows (0.57, 0.28 and 0.03 m3/sec). Insect samples were taken with a modified Hess sampler and standard drift nets. Reduced stream discharge caused catastrophic drift in the test channel with drift peaking at night. Simulium sp. and Baetis tricaudatus were the principal drift components. Evidence of stranded insects in the dewatered zone was greatest in the fall, least in the spring.

Effects of Canopy Removal on Invertebrates and Diet of Juvenile Coho Salmon in a Small Stream in Southeast Alaska

Abstract We assessed changes in availability and consumption of invertebrates by juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in a small stream in southeast Alaska where patches of dense second-growth riparian vegetation bordering the stream had been removed. Benthic invertebrate populations were assessed during summer 1988 and 1989 with a Hess sampler. Aerial invertebrates were sampled during summer 1989 with wire-mesh sticky traps hung just above the water surface and with floating clear-plastic pan traps. Invertebrate drift was assessed during summer 1989 with nets placed at the downstream end of closed- and open-canopy stream sections. Diets of age-0 and age-1 coho salmon were sampled by flushing stomach contents of fish collected from closed- and open-canopy stream sections. Abundance and biomass of benthic invertebrates were larger in open- than in closed-canopy stream sections and were primarily dipterans, ephemeropterans, and plecopterans. More insects were caught on sticky traps in open than in clos...

Storage and decomposition of particulate organic matter along the longitudinal gradient of an agriculturally-impacted stream

An agriculturally-impacted stream in northern Idaho was examined over a two-year period to determine seasonal and longitudinal patterns of the storage and decomposition of particulate organic matter. Biomass of benthic organic matter (BOM) was considerably less than values reported in the literature for comparable, undisturbed streams. Coarse, fine, and total benthic particulate organic matter were not correlated with parameters pertaining to stream size (e.g., stream order), but were correlated with sample site and amount of litterfall. The association of BOM with site and litterfall suggests that storage of particulate organic matter is a function of local characteristics rather than stream size. Low biomass of stored organic matter is a response to the low input of terrestrially-derived organic matter resulting from removal of climax vegetation.Leaf packs of alder, Alnus sp., were placed in the stream seasonally for 30 and 60 d. While there were significant differences for months, there was no significant difference among sites for leaf packs exposed for 30 d. Significant differences were observed among both sites and months for leaf packs exposed for 60 d; however, differences among sites accounted for only 5% of the variance. The absence of differences in decomposition of organic matter along the gradient of Lapwai Creek, despite heterogeneity of the drainage basin and availability of organic matter, may be in response to the overall low biomass of stored benthic organic matter. This study demonstrates that agricultural activity can substantially influence instream heterotrophic processes through reduced availability of organic matter and can shape community structure and ecosystem dynamics of streams flowing through agricultural drainage basins.

Response of Juvenile Salmonids to Riparian and Instream Cover Modifications in Small Streams Flowing through Second-Growth Forests of Southeast Alaska

Abstract We manipulated the canopy of second-growth red alder Alnus rubra and instream cover to assess the effects on abundance of juvenile salmonids in small streams of Prince of Wales Island, southeast Alaska, in 1988 and 1989. Sections of red alder canopy were removed to compare responses of salmonids to open- and closed-canopy sections. At the start of the study, all potential instream cover was removed from the study pools. Alder brush bundles were then placed in half the pools to test the response of juvenile salmonids to the addition of instream cover. Abundance of age-0 coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch decreased in both open- and closed-canopy sections during both summers, but abundance decreased at a higher rate in closed-canopy sections. More age-0 Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma were found in open-canopy sections than in closed-canopy during both summers. Numbers of age-1 and older coho salmon and Dolly Varden were relatively constant during both summers, and there was no significant difference i...

Diversity and community comparison indices: Assessing macroinvertebrate recovery following a gasoline spill

Abstract Diversity and community comparison indices were evaluated to determine their utility in quantifying macroinvertebrate response to a catastrophic gasoline spill into Wolf Lodge Creek, Idaho, U.S.A. The Shannon and Brillouin diversity indices, and the following community comparison indices were analyzed: (1) Jaccards coefficient of similarity; (2) Renkonens percentage similarity; (3) Bray-Curtis index; (4) Morisitas similarity index; (5) simplified Morisita index; (6) Canberra metric index; and (7) average χ 2 index. The Bray-Curtis and average χ 2 community comparison indices were more effective in quantifying differences in macroinvertebrate composition between gas-impacted and reference areas of Wolf Lodge Creek following the spill. In addition, these indices tracked the progressive spatial recolonization of macroinvertebrates during the 16 month recovery period. All other indices tested failed to adequately quantify macroinvertebrate community response to the gasoline spill.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Logged and Unlogged Low-Order Southeast Alaskan Streams

The benthic macroinvertebrate communities of three low-order streams in southeast Alaska exhibiting pre- and post logging conditions were examined. The logged watersheds had the highest densities and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates, while an unlogged coniferous climax forest watershed had the lowest. Benthic macroinvertebrate community composition was similar for key species among the three streams. Collector-gatherers were generally the most abundant functional group comprising up to 80% of the insect community; predator-engulfers were the second most abundant functional group. Salmonid fishes greatly altered the macroinvertebrate community composition during spawning because of mass disturbance of the streambed. Gravels disturbed during spawning were most rapidly recolonized by mayflies and stoneflies, especially Alloperla spp.