| ID |
2633 |
| Citation |
Rex J F. and Petticrew E.L. (2006) Pacific salmon and sediment flocculation: nutrient cycling and intergravel habitat quality. In: Sediment Dynamics and the Hydromorphology of Fluvial Systems, edited by Rowan J.S., Duck R.W. and Werritty A., pp. 442–449: IAHS Publication 306, IAHS Press, Wallingford, U.K. |
| Organization |
University of Northern British Columbia; University of Plymouth |
| URL |
http://www.unbc.ca/sites/default/files/assets/ellen_petticrew/petticrew_and_rex1.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Salmon derived sediment flocs form during post-spawning die-off when organic matter from salmon carcasses combines with fine inorganic suspended sediments. These flocs deliver salmon derived nutrients to the stream bed where they enter the stream’s trophic network. To assess the influence of these mixed origin sediments on salmon stream benthic habitat, a re-circulating flume was constructed and seeded with gravel of a similar size to that from regional natal salmon streams. Flume conditions for water depth, velocity, and suspended sediment were also similar to regional natal salmon streams. Following the addition of salmon organic matter, intergravel habitat quality was observed to change in three ways: (i) the proportion of silts (10–63 _m) increased, (ii) the carbon to nitrogen ratio decreased, and (iii) the biological oxygen demand of sediments increased. These preliminary results provide direct evidence that salmon derived organic matter influences the composition of inorganic sediments in, and the habitat quality of, the streambed. British Columbia; flocculation; intergravel habitat; nutrient cycling; Pacific salmon; sedimentation |
| Information Type |
Article |
| Regional Watershed |
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| Sub-watershed if known |
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| Aquifer # |
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| Comments |
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| Project status |
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| Contact Name |
John F. Rex |
| Contact Email |
[email protected] |
