DOCSLIB.ORG

Coastal Marsh Productivity a Bibliography

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Coastal Marsh Productivity a Bibliography I V Biological Services Program FWS/QBS-77/3 OCTOBER 1977 COASTAL MARSH PRODUCTIVITY A BIBLIOGRAPHY "'40 .. , ,. .... ..... "'"~"':''-( / Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior The Biological Services Program was established within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to supply scientific information and methodologies on key environmental issues that impact fish and wildlife resources and their supporting ecosystems. The mission of the program is as follows: * To strengthen the Fish and Wildlife Service in its role as a primary source of information on national fish and wild­ life resources, particularly in respect to environmental impact assessment. a To gather, analyze, and present information that will aid decisionmakers in the identification and resolution of problems associated with major changes in land and water use. e To provide better ecological information and evaluation for Department of the Interior development programs, such as those relating to energy development. Information developed by the Biological Services Program is intended for use in the planning and decisionmaking process to prevent or minimize the impact of development on fish and wildlife. Research activities and technical assistance services are based on an analysis of the issues a determination of the decisionmakers involved and their information needs, and an evaluation of the state of the art to identify information gaps and to determine priorities. This is a strategy that will ensure that the products produced and disseminated are timely and useful. Projects have been initiated in the following areas: coal extraction and conversion; power plants; geothermal, mineral and oil shale develop­ ment; water resource analysis, including stream alterations and western water allocation; coastal ecosystems and Outer Continental Shelf develop­ ment; and systems inventory, including National Wetland Inventory, habitat classification and analysis, and information transfer. The Biological Services Program consists of the Office of Biological Services in Washington, D.C., which is responsible for overall planning and management; National Teams, which provide the Program's central scientific and technical expertise and arrange for contracting biological services studies with states, universities, consulting firms, and others; Regional Staff, who provide a link to problems at the operating level; and staff at certain Fish and Wildlife Service research facilities, who conduct inhouse research studies. FWSIOBS-7713 October 1977 COASTAL MARSH PRODUCTIVITY A BIBLIOGRAPHY Prepared by Gulf South Research Institute 8000 GSRI Avenue Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 Project Leader - J. D. Bdgur GSRI Project No. 216-836-11 Contract No. 14-16-0008-2113 OBS Project Officer - H. S. Rienstra National Coastal Ecosystems Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Space Technology Laboratories NSTL Station, Mississippi 39529 Performed for the Coastal Ecosystem Project Office of Biological Services Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DISCLAIMER The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Biological Services, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Depart­ ment of the Interior, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorse­ ment or recommendation for use by the federal government. PREFACE The coastal mars'ies of the United States are viewed herein as an eco­ system, even though many of the articles listed in this bibliography are specific to only a narrow aspect of the ecosystem. The value of the marshes is shown in many ways: habitat for wildlife species, producer of nutrients, nursery areas, and protected rearin areas for juveniles. The report consists oF an introduction prepared primarily by Dr. Armando A. de la Cruz and a bibliography compiled by Gulf South Research Institute. The bibliography consists of five major sections: Marshes and Marsh Vegeta­ tion; Primary Productivity of Marsh Plants; Detritus in the Food Cnain; Marsh Estuaries as Fish Havens and; Marshes as Habitat and Feeding Grounds for Wildlife. Each of the major sections is divided into subsections that fall into a logical pattern so that a reader may work his way progressively through the materials, seeing a story unfold. References were obtained by utilizing the abundant resources of Louisiana State University. In each case the relevant article or book was obtained and an abstract was written in terms of the specific interests of the study. As much pertinent substance as was practical was abstracted from each source with the goal that the bibliography would contain infor­ mation, rather than serving merely as a reference source. The literature survey, abstracting, and report preparation were con­ ducted by the Resources Planning and Management Division of Gulf South Research Institute, under contract with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project leader was Jacques D. Baqur. Workinq under his direction were Gene A. Stephens, Harriet A. Davis, Barbara L. Woods, and Larry M. Hubbard. The initials of the person responsible for each annotation are desianated in parentheses at the end of the abstract. In thQse cases, where the author's abstract suited the purpose of the bibliography, the reader will find the abbreviation "A.A." in parentheses. Comments concerninn the biblionraohy and requests for copies may be addressed to: Information Transfer Specialist National Coastal Ecosystemr Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Space Technology Laboratories NSTL Station, Mississippi 39529 iii COASTAL MARSH ECOSYSTEMS PRODUCTIVITY IN COASTAL MARSHES A marsh means many things to many people depending on the point of view of the individual. To some it is an evil smelling eyesore, a treacherous bog infested with mosquitoes. 7o others it represents a piece of valuable real estate with great aesthetic value. To many others, hunters and naturalists, it is a haven for a variety of wildlife. And recently, to a growing body of scientists, it represents a dynamic system of unique biological, geological and ecological interest and importance (Matthiessen 1962). Regardless of how a marsh is described, the fact remains that it is one of the most productive types of natural ecosystems in the world. Marsh vascularvegetation, such as grasses, rushes, and sedges, produces an enormous amount of organic material that enables marshes to equal or exceed the productivity of most terrestrial communities of comparable size, even some of the most intensively managed cropland. A great quantity of litera­ ture, of both a scientific and non-scientific nature, has been published during the last decade on the subject of tidal marshes. Much of this literature extols the biological productivity of the marsh environment and emphasizes the important role this type of environment plays in the fertility of estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems. The high fertility of tidal marshes is due basically to physical phenomena and biological processes unique to marsh estuaries (Odum 1961). Nutrient-rich estuarine waters periodically bathe these intertidal zones. Dissolved organic nutrients (e.g., phosphates and nitrates) and detrital material3 enter the marsh-estuary from inflowing rivers. The saltwater wedge pushed along the estuary bottom by the iicoming tide brings in other nutrients of near-shore marine orinin. Currents and tides circulate and recirculate fresh and salt water, thus distributing, and to a certain extent trapping, dissolved and suspended matter. Deposition of suspended materials and flocculation of dissolved substances fertilize the marsh substrate. The plant life of the marsh, which flourishes in the nutrient­ rich waters, is thus geared to year-round high production. This plant life includes vascular vegetation (grass, rush, and sedge), benthic algae (diatoms), epiphytic and mud-encrusting algae, and submerged grasses on intertidal sediments. Vascular plants growing in marshes periodically die and enter the aquatic food chain in the form of particulate detritus, which is laden with bacteria and other microorganisms. During low tides, runoff waters and interstitial water seeping out of the mud transport high concentrations of dissolved subs tances such as silica, phosphate, bicarbonate, and ammonia. The estuarine waters are therefore enriched in return by the high produc­ tion processes on the marshes. PREVIOUS, PACE BJi The productivity of plants, referred to as primary production, is the plant rate at which the energy of sunlight is captured and used to build Primary tissues upon which all consumer organisms are ultimately dependent. may be determined by measuring changes in oxygen, carbon productivity or pH, or available raw materials; by using radioactive tracers; dioxide, pro­ by determining chlorophyll content and assimilation ratio. Primary of vascular plants in marshes is usually measured by the harvest duction during method, in which estimates are made of the increase in plant biomass of the growing season (Keefe 1972). The procedure involves the harvesting of this plant samples periodically during the growing season. Modifications as method take into consideration life history and phenology of the plant, well as sampling procedures. These modifications have enabled investigators to arrive at more reliable productivity values (de la Cruz 1977). The amount of information on the primary productivity of tidal coastal marshlands has increased steadily
Load more

Recommended publications
  • BMP #: Constructed Wetlands
    Structural BMP Criteria BMP #: Constructed Wetlands Constructed Wetlands are shallow marsh sys- tems planted with emergent vegetation that are designed to treat stormwater runoff. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2001 Key Design Elements Potential Applications z Adequate drainage area (usually 5 to 10 acres Residential Subdivision: YES minimum) Commercial: YES Ultra Urban: LIMITED Industrial: YES z Maintenance of permanent water surface Retrofit: YES Highway/Road: YES z Multiple vegetative growth zones through vary- ing depths Stormwater Functions z Robust and diverse vegetation Volume Reduction: Low z Relatively impermeable soils or engineered liner Recharge: Low Peak Rate Control: High z Sediment collection and removal Water Quality: High z Adjustable permanent pool and dewatering Pollutant Removal mechanism Total Suspended Solids: x Nutrients: x Metals: x Pathogens: x Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Manual 1 Section 5 - Structural BMPs Figure 1. Demonstration Constructed Wetlands in Arizona (http://ag.arizona.edu/AZWATER/arroyo/094wet.html) Description Constructed Wetlands are shallow marsh systems planted with emergent vegetation that are designed to treat stormwater runoff. While they are one of the best BMPs for pollutant removal, Constructed Wetlands (CWs) can also mitigate peak rates and even reduce runoff volume to a certain degree. They also can provide considerable aesthetic and wildlife benefits. CWs use a relatively large amount of space and require an adequate source of inflow to maintain the perma- nent water surface. Variations Constructed Wetlands can be designed as either an online or offline facilities. They can also be used effectively in series with other flow/sediment reducing BMPs that reduce the sediment load and equalize incoming flows to the CW.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparison of Swamp Forest and Phragmites Australis
    COMPARISON OF SWAMP FOREST AND PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS COMMUNITIES AT MENTOR MARSH, MENTOR, OHIO A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Jenica Poznik, B. S. ***** The Ohio State University 2003 Master's Examination Committee: Approved by Dr. Craig Davis, Advisor Dr. Peter Curtis Dr. Jeffery Reutter School of Natural Resources ABSTRACT Two intermixed plant communities within a single wetland were studied. The plant community of Mentor Marsh changed over a period of years beginning in the late 1950’s from an ash-elm-maple swamp forest to a wetland dominated by Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel. Causes cited for the dieback of the forest include salt intrusion from a salt fill near the marsh, influence of nutrient runoff from the upland community, and initially higher water levels in the marsh. The area studied contains a mixture of swamp forest and P. australis-dominated communities. Canopy cover was examined as a factor limiting the dominance of P. australis within the marsh. It was found that canopy openness below 7% posed a limitation to the dominance of P. australis where a continuous tree canopy was present. P. australis was also shown to reduce diversity at sites were it dominated, and canopy openness did not fully explain this reduction in diversity. Canopy cover, disturbance history, and other environmental factors play a role in the community composition and diversity. Possible factors to consider in restoring the marsh are discussed. KEYWORDS: Phragmites australis, invasive species, canopy cover, Mentor Marsh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A project like this is only possible in a community, and more people have contributed to me than I can remember.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of Approaches for Mapping Tidal Wetlands of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays
    remote sensing Article Evaluation of Approaches for Mapping Tidal Wetlands of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays Brian T. Lamb 1,2,* , Maria A. Tzortziou 1,3 and Kyle C. McDonald 1,2,4 1 Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; [email protected] (M.A.T.); [email protected] (K.C.M.) 2 Earth and Environmental Sciences Program, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA 3 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA 4 Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 1 July 2019; Accepted: 3 October 2019; Published: 12 October 2019 Abstract: The spatial extent and vegetation characteristics of tidal wetlands and their change are among the biggest unknowns and largest sources of uncertainty in modeling ecosystem processes and services at the land-ocean interface. Using a combination of moderate-high spatial resolution ( 30 meters) optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery, we evaluated several ≤ approaches for mapping and characterization of wetlands of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Sentinel-1A, Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR), PALSAR-2, Sentinel-2A, and Landsat 8 imagery were used to map wetlands, with an emphasis on mapping tidal marshes, inundation extents, and functional vegetation classes (persistent vs. non-persistent). We performed initial characterizations at three target wetlands study sites with distinct geomorphologies, hydrologic characteristics, and vegetation communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Meadow Pond Final Report 1-28-10
    Comparison of Restoration Techniques to Reduce Dominance of Phragmites australis at Meadow Pond, Hampton New Hampshire FINAL REPORT January 28, 2010 David M. Burdick1,2 Christopher R. Peter1 Gregg E. Moore1,3 Geoff Wilson4 1 - Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 2 – Natural Resources and the Environment, UNH 3 – Department of Biological Sciences, UNH 4 – Northeast Wetland Restoration, Berwick ME 03901 Submitted to: New Hampshire Coastal Program New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 50 International Drive Pease Tradeport Portsmouth, NH 03801 UNH Burdick et al. 2010 Executive Summary The northern portion of Meadow Pond Marsh remained choked with an invasive exotic variety of Phragmites australis (common reed) in 2002, despite tidal restoration in 1995. Our project goal was to implement several construction techniques to reduce the dominance of Phragmites and then examine the ecological responses of the system (as a whole as well as each experimental treatment) to inform future restoration actions at Meadow Pond. The construction treatments were: creeks, creeks and pools, sediment excavation with a large pool including native marsh plantings. Creek construction increased tides at all treatments so that more tides flooded the marsh and the highest spring tides increased to 30 cm. Soil salinity increased at all treatment areas following restoration, but also increased at control areas, so greater soil salinity could not be attributed to the treatments. Decreases in Phragmites cover were not statistically significant, but treatment areas did show significant increases in native vegetation following restoration. Fish habitat was also increased by creek and pool construction and excavation, so that pool fish density increased from 1 to 40 m-2.
    [Show full text]
  • Sea Level Driven Marsh Expansion in a Coupled Model of Marsh Erosion and Migration
    W&M ScholarWorks VIMS Articles Virginia Institute of Marine Science 5-14-2016 Sea level driven marsh expansion in a coupled model of marsh erosion and migration Matthew L. Kirwan Virginia Institute of Marine Science DC Walters W. G. Reay Virginia Institute of Marine Science JA Carr Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsarticles Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Kirwan, Matthew L.; Walters, DC; Reay, W. G.; and Carr, JA, "Sea level driven marsh expansion in a coupled model of marsh erosion and migration" (2016). VIMS Articles. 1418. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsarticles/1418 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in VIMS Articles by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PUBLICATIONS Geophysical Research Letters RESEARCH LETTER Sea level driven marsh expansion in a coupled 10.1002/2016GL068507 model of marsh erosion and migration Key Points: Matthew L. Kirwan1, David C. Walters1, William G. Reay1, and Joel A. Carr2 • Accelerated sea level rise leads to marsh expansion along gently 1Department of Physical Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, sloping, unhardened coasts 2 • Loss of marsh and natural flood Virginia, USA, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Laurel, Maryland, USA protection is inevitable where barriers limit migration into uplands • Fluxes of organisms and sediment Abstract Coastal wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, where ecosystem services across adjacent ecosystems lead to such as flood protection depend nonlinearly on wetland size and are threatened by sea level rise and coastal increase in system resilience development.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Wetland Mapping Standard
    FGDC Working Draft Wetland Mapping Standard FGDC Wetland Subcommittee and Wetland Mapping Standard Workgroup Submitted by: Margarete Heber Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Date: March 26, 2007 Federal Geographic Data Committee Wetland Mapping Standard Table of Contents 1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background.......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objective.............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Scope.................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Applicability ........................................................................................................ 4 1.5 FGDC Standards and Other Related Practices..................................................... 4 1.6 Standard Development Procedures and Representation ...................................... 5 1.7 Maintenance Authority ........................................................................................ 5 2 FGDC requirements and Quality components............................................................ 6 2.1 Source Imagery .................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Classification.......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Early Holocene Wetland Succession at Lake Flixton (UK) and Its Implications for Mesolithic Settlement
    Vegetation History and Archaeobotany https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-019-00714-9 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Early Holocene wetland succession at Lake Flixton (UK) and its implications for Mesolithic settlement Barry Taylor1 Received: 29 May 2018 / Accepted: 23 January 2019 © The Author(s) 2019 Abstract This paper reports on new research into the timing and nature of post-glacial environmental change at Lake Flixton (North Yorkshire, UK). Previous investigations indicate a succession of wetland environments during the early Holocene, ultimately infilling the basin by ca 7,000 cal BP. The expansion of wetland environments, along with early Holocene woodland devel- opment, has been linked to changes in the human occupation of this landscape during the Mesolithic (ca 11,300–6,000 cal BP). However, our understanding of the timing and nature of environmental change within the palaeolake is poor, making it difficult to correlate to known patterns of Mesolithic activity. This paper provides a new record for both the chronology and character of environmental change within Lake Flixton, and discusses the implications for the Mesolithic occupation of the surrounding landscape. Keywords Mesolithic · Early Holocene · Plant macrofossils · Environmental change · Lake Flixton · Star Carr Introduction to the final Palaeolithic, terminal Palaeolithic and the early and late Mesolithic have also been recorded (Fig. 2) (Con- Since the late 1940s evidence for intensive phases of early neller and Schadla-Hall 2003). Early Mesolithic activity (ca prehistoric activity has been recorded around Lake Flix- 11,300–9,500 cal BP) was particularly intensive. Recent work ton in the eastern Vale of Pickering (North Yorkshire, UK) at Star Carr has shown that the site was occupied for ca (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • NATIONAL WETLANDS INVENTORY and the NATIONAL WETLANDS RESEARCH CENTER PROJECT REPORT FOR: GALVESTON BAY INTRODUCTION the U.S. Fi
    NATIONAL WETLANDS INVENTORY AND THE NATIONAL WETLANDS RESEARCH CENTER PROJECT REPORT FOR: GALVESTON BAY INTRODUCTION The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory is producing maps showing the location and classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. The Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States by Cowardin et al. is the classification system used to define and classify wetlands. Upland classification will utilize the system put forth in., A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System For Use With Remote Sensor Data. by James R. Anderson, Ernest E. Hardy, John T. Roach, and Richard E. Witmer. Photo interpretation conventions, hydric soils-lists and wetland plants lists are also available to enhance the use and application of the classification system. The purpose of the report to users is threefold: (1) to provide localized information regarding the production of NWI maps, including field reconnaissance with a discussion of imagery and interpretation; (2) to provide a descriptive crosswalk from wetland codes on the map to common names and representative plant species; and (3) to explain local geography, climate, and wetland communities. II. FIELD RECONNAISSANCE Field reconnaissance of the work area is an integral part for the accurate interpretation of aerial photography. Photographic signatures are compared to the wetland's appearance in the field by observing vegetation, soil and topography. Thus information is weighted for seasonality and conditions existing at the time of photography and at ground truthing. Project Area The project area is located in the southeastern portion of Texas along the coast. Ground truthing covered specific quadrangles of each 1:100,000 including Houston NE, Houston SE, Houston NW, and Houston SW (See Appendix A, Locator Map).
    [Show full text]
  • Constructed Wetlands
    VA DEQ STORMWATER DESIGN SPECIFICATION NO. 13 CONSTRUCTED WETLAND VIRGINIA DEQ STORMWATER DESIGN SPECIFICATION No. 13 CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS VERSION 1.9 March 1, 2011 SECTION 1: DESCRIPTION Constructed wetlands, sometimes called stormwater wetlands, are shallow depressions that receive stormwater inputs for water quality treatment. Wetlands are typically less than 1 foot deep (although they have greater depths at the forebay and in micropools) and possess variable microtopography to promote dense and diverse wetland cover (Figure 13.1). Runoff from each new storm displaces runoff from previous storms, and the long residence time allows multiple pollutant removal processes to operate. The wetland environment provides an ideal environment for gravitational settling, biological uptake, and microbial activity. Constructed wetlands are the final element in the roof-to-stream runoff reduction sequence. They should only be considered for use after all other upland runoff reduction opportunities have been exhausted and there is still a remaining water quality or Channel Protection Volume to manage. Version 1.9, March 1, 2011 Page 1 of 30 VA DEQ STORMWATER DESIGN SPECIFICATION NO. 13 CONSTRUCTED WETLAND SECTION 2: PERFORMANCE The overall stormwater functions of constructed wetlands are summarized in Table 13.1. Table 13.1. Summary of Stormwater Functions Provided by Constructed Wetlands Stormwater Function Level 1 Design Level 2 Design Annual Runoff Volume Reduction (RR) 0% 0% Total Phosphorus (TP) EMC 50% 75% Reduction1 by BMP Treatment Process Total Phosphorus (TP) Mass Load 50% 75% Removal 1 Total Nitrogen (TN) EMC Reduction by 25% 55% BMP Treatment Process Total Nitrogen (TN) Mass Load 25% 55% Removal Yes.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Nats News No. 301 Newsletter of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc
    Field Nats News 301 Page 1 Field Nats News No. 301 Newsletter of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc. 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn Vic 3130 Editor: Joan Broadberry 03 9846 1218 Telephone 03 9877 9860 Founding editor: Dr Noel Schleiger P.O. Box 13, Blackburn 3130 www.fncv.org.au Understanding Reg. No. A0033611X Our Natural World Newsletter email: [email protected] (Office email: [email protected]) Patron: The Honourable Linda Dessau, AC Governor of Victoria Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 9.30 am - 4 pm. October 2019 NOTE EARLIER DEADLINE From the President It is nice to see some Spring sunshine although I have yet to see many invertebrates The deadline for FNN 302 will be moving about the garden. On the other hand there have been many small protoctists 10 am on Monday 30th September as to observe. Wendy Gare recently provided me with moss and water samples from the editor is hoping to go to Annuello. her garden pond in Blackburn and once again I have been delighted to see the ex- FNN will go to the printers on the 8th traordinary biodiversity of “infusoria” in a small urban pond. Microscopical exami- with collation on Tuesday 15th October nation revealed numerous amoeboids, ciliates, flagellates and a host of small arthro- pods and annelids including mites, copepods, fly larvae and tiny freshwater oligo- chaetes. Gastrotrichs, nematodes, rotifers, tardigrades and diatoms were also well Contents represented. Some of the protozoan organisms from Wendy’s pond are pictured be- low. There were also many spirochaete bacteria swimming about.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of a Low Head Dam on a Dominant Detritivore and Detrital Processing in a Headwater Stream
    EFFECTS OF A LOW HEAD DAM ON A DOMINANT DETRITIVORE AND DETRITAL PROCESSING IN A HEADWATER STREAM. A Thesis by BRETT MATTHEW TORNWALL Submitted to the Graduate School Appalachian State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May 2011 Department of Biology EFFECTS OF A LOW HEAD DAM ON A DOMINANT DETRITIVORE AND DETRITAL PROCESSING IN A HEADWATER STREAM. A Thesis By BRETT MATTHEW TORNWALL May 2011 APPROVED BY: ____________________________________ Robert Creed Chairperson, Thesis Committee ____________________________________ Michael Gangloff Member, Thesis Committee ____________________________________ Michael Madritch Member, Thesis Committee ____________________________________ Steven Seagle Chairperson, Department of Biology ____________________________________ Edelma D. Huntley Dean, Research and Graduate Studies Copyright by Brett Matthew Tornwall 2011 All Rights Reserved FOREWARD The research detailed in this thesis will be submitted to Oikos, an international peer-reviewed journal owned by John Wiley and Sons Inc. and published by the John Wiley and Sons Inc. Press. The thesis has been prepared according to the guidelines of this journal. ABSTRACT EFFECTS OF A LOW HEAD DAM ON A DOMINANT DETRITIVORE AND DETRITAL PROCESSING IN A HEADWATER STREAM. (May 2011) Brett Matthew Tornwall, B.S., University of Florida M.S., Appalachian State University Chairperson: Robert Creed The caddisfly Pycnopsyche gentilis is a dominant detritivore in southern Appalachian streams. A dam on Sims Creek selectively removes P. gentilis from downstream reaches. I evaluated the breakdown of yellow birch leaves in the presence and absence of P. gentilis using a leaf pack breakdown experiment. Leaf packs were placed in reaches above the dam where P. gentilis is present and below the dam where it is essentially absent.
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Reef Food Web ×
    This website would like to remind you: Your browser (Apple Safari 4) is out of date. Update your browser for more × security, comfort and the best experience on this site. Illustration MEDIA SPOTLIGHT Coral Reef Food Web Journey Through the Trophic Levels of a Food Web For the complete illustrations with media resources, visit: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/media/coral-reef-food-web/ A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem. Each living thing in an ecosystem is part of multiple food chains. Each food chain is one possible path that energy and nutrients may take as they move through the ecosystem. Not all energy is transferred from one trophic level to another. Energy is used by organisms at each trophic level, meaning that only part of the energy available at one trophic level is passed on to the next level. All of the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a food web. Similarly, a single organism can serve more than one role in a food web. For example, a queen conch can be both a consumer and a detritivore, or decomposer. Food webs consist of different organism groupings called trophic levels. In this example of a coral reef, there are producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers make up the first trophic level. A producer, or autotroph, is an organism that can produce its own energy and nutrients, usually through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Consumers are organisms that depend on producers or other consumers to get their food, energy, and nutrition. There are many different types of consumers.
    [Show full text]