Effects of wind farm construction on concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon and suspended sediment from peat catchments at Braes of Doune, central Scotland

This paper assesses the impacts of disturbance associated with the construction of a wind farm on fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and suspended sediment from a blanket peat catchment in central Scotland during the period immediately following completion of construction. Six streams draining the site were sampled on six dates from October 2006, when construction was completed, and an additional three control streams to the west of the site were sampled on the same dates. Turbidity and stage were recorded semi-continuously in the two largest streams (one disturbed and one control), which were also sampled during storm events. Absorbance (400 nm) and DOC concentrations were determined on all samples, and suspended sediment was determined on the event samples. Absorbance and DOC were closely correlated in both the disturbed and undisturbed streams, with slightly greater absorbance per unit DOC in the disturbed streams. DOC concentrations in disturbed tributaries were always greater than those in undisturbed streams, with mean differences ranging from 2 to around 5 mg L-1. DOC and stage were positively correlated during events with maximum concentrations in excess of 30 mg L-1 at peak flow. Suspended sediment concentrations were markedly elevated in the disturbed stream with maximum concentrations at peak flow some 4-5 times greater than in the control. The colour of the sediment suggested that it was highly organic in nature at peak flow, and suspended particulate organic carbon represented a further loss of C from the site. Using flow-weighted mean DOC concentrations calculated for the storms monitored in autumn 2007, dissolved carbon losses can be estimated for the catchments of the disturbed and control streams. From these data the additional DOC loss related to disturbance associated with the wind farm is estimated at 5 g m-2

Characterization of Hydraulic Habitat and Retention Characteristics Across Different Channel Types; Introducing a New Field-based Technique

Understanding the interactions between physical habitat and aquatic biodiversity has become a key research objective in river management. River research and management practitioners are increasingly seeking new methodologies and techniques for characterizing physical habitat heterogeneity. The physical biotope has been widely employed as the standard mesoscale unit in river surveys. However, few surveys have quantified the combined physical heterogeneity at the meso- and microscale scale via a single technique. This paper describes a new field methodology for assessing variations in hydraulic habitat and retention across different channel types (e.g. step-pool, bedrock, plane-bed and pool-riffle). Hydraulic habitat and retention was measured by timing 100 flow tracers across a 100-m stream length, and recording the types of trapping structures. The pattern of flow tracers and retention varied significantly between channel types and structures. Rocks (boulders and cobbles) were more important retentive structures than eddies and snags (woody material and vegetation). The results indicate the importance of a diverse hydraulic environment, woody material and channel substrate character in increasing physical heterogeneity within a stream reach. The findings suggest that the field methodology may be an effective tool to assess differences in physical heterogeneity pre and post river restoration activities

The spatial dynamics of vertical migration by Microcystis aeruginosa in a eutrophic shallow lake: A case study using high spatial resolution time-series airborne remote sensing

Abstract: Time-series airborne remote sensing was used to monitor diurnal changes in the spatial distribution of a bloom of the potentially toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in the shallow eutrophic waters of Barton Broad, United Kingdom. High spatial resolution images from the Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI-2) were acquired over Barton Broad on 29 August 2005 at 09:30 h, 12:00 h, and 16:00 h Greenwich mean time. Semiempirical water-leaving radiance algorithms were derived for the quantification of chlorophyll a (R2 = 0.96) and C-phycocyanin (R2 = 0.95) and applied to the CASI-2 imagery to generate dynamic, spatially resolving maps of the M. aeruginosa bloom. The development of the bloom may have been fostered by a combination of the recent improvements in the ambient light environment of Barton Broad, allied to the acute depletion of bioavailable nutrient pools, and stable hydrodynamic conditions. The vertical distribution of M. aeruginosa was highly transient; buoyant colonies formed early morning and late afternoon near-surface aggregations across the lake during periods of nonturbulent mixing (wind speed <4 m s-1). However, the extent of these near-surface aggregations was highly spatially variable, and nearshore morphometry appeared to be crucial in creating localized regions of nonturbulent water in which pronounced and persistent near-surface aggregations were observed. The formation of these near-surface scums would have been vital in alleviating light starvation in the turbid waters of Barton Broad. The calm water refuges in which persistent near-surface accumulations occurred may have been an important factor in determining the persistence of the bloom

Linkages between Reach-scale Physical Habitat and Invertebrate Assemblages in Upland Streams

Determining the influence of physical habitat on biological structure in minimally disturbed settings is important if the effects of alterations to physical habitat are to be understood. This study tested whether reach-scale differences in physical habitat influence macroinvertebrate community composition at 24 sites in the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland. Stream reaches were classified into channel types based on a geomorphic typology (i.e. step-pool, bedrock, plane-bed and pool-riffle). PERMANOVA indicated an overall significant relationship between the geomorphic typology and macroinvertebrate species-level composition, and among all combinations of channel types (such as step-pool and pool-riffle, step-pool and bedrock). Most channel types were dominated by high abundances of Baetis rhodani, Rhithrogena semicolorata and Leuctra inermis, which are ubiquitous in unpolluted gravel-bedded Scottish streams. However, reflecting significant differences in abundance of commoner taxa between types, indicator value (IndVal) analysis revealed that pool-riffle reaches were characterised by elmids (Limnius sp. and Oulimnius sp.) and Caenis rivulorum, and step-pool reaches by Alainites muticus, B. rhodani, L. inermis and Brachyptera risi. Geomorphic typing of rivers provides a useful basis for the initial assessment of ecological status whereas abundance-based biological data processed at the appropriate taxonomic resolution should be sensitive to physical-habitat modifications

Assessing the performance of morphologically based river typing in Scotland using a geomorphological and ecological approach

Traditionally, the interactions between geomorphic character and aquatic biodiversity have been widely acknowledged, but poorly quantified. However, the coupling of these disciplines is currently rising up legislative and political agendas, such as the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU WFD). The Directive requires Member States to classify rivers into types based on their natural morphology and geomorphic processes, and to link the biota to river types existing under natural conditions. Typing now forms the basis for evaluating environmental sensitivity to river engineering and determining reference conditions for river restoration. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has adapted the Montgomery and Buffington (1997) channel typology developed in the Pacific Northwest of the USA for use in Scotland. The modified typology identifies eleven distinct channel types (e.g. bedrock, plane-bed, wandering and meandering). In this study, 43 reference condition sites in the upper River Dee catchment in the Cairngorms, Scotland were chosen to determine the geomorphic validity of the proposed typology, and assess whether channel types support a distinct macroinvertebrate community. Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster Analysis failed to clearly identify eleven channel types based on catchment controls or on physical habitat characteristics. Four clusters were observed based on catchment drivers and six on physical habitat. Boundaries appear to be fuzzy, relating to a collective number of interacting environmental variables, geological discontinuities, and the geographic complexity of a river system. Multivariate ordinations and Analysis of Similarity indicated that macroinvertebrate communities only differed significantly between bedrock and step-pool reaches. A redundancy analysis showed differences in macroinvertebrate abundances among channel types were related to hydraulic, catchment drivers, physical habitat and physico-chemical variables. The results of the study have important implications for the use of geomorphic typologies in predicting aquatic biota.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceNatural Environment Research Council (NERC) : Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)GBUnited Kingdo

IRBAS: An online database to collate, analyze, and synthesize data on the biodiversity and ecology of intermittent rivers worldwide

International audienceKey questions dominating contemporary ecological research and management concern interactions between biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and ecosystem services provision in the face of global change. This is particularly salient for freshwater biodiversity and in the context of river drying and flow-regime change. Rivers that stop flowing and dry, herein intermittent rivers, are globally prevalent and dynamic ecosystems on which the body of research is expanding rapidly, consistent with the era of big data. However, the data encapsulated by this work remain largely fragmented, limiting our ability to answer the key questions beyond a case-by-case basis. To this end, the Intermittent River Biodiversity Analysis and Synthesis (IRBAS; http://irbas.cesab.org) project has collated, analyzed, and synthesized data from across the world on the biodiversity and environmental characteristics of intermittent rivers. The IRBAS database integrates and provides free access to these data, contributing to the growing, and global, knowledge base on these ubiquitous and important river systems, for both theoretical and applied advancement. The IRBAS database currently houses over 2000 data samples collected from six countries across three continents, primarily describing aquatic invertebrate taxa inhabiting intermittent rivers during flowing hydrological phases. As such, there is room to expand the biogeographic and taxonomic coverage, for example, through addition of data collected during nonflowing and dry hydrological phases. We encourage contributions and provide guidance on how to contribute and access data. Ultimately, the IRBAS database serves as a portal, storage, standardization, and discovery tool, enabling collation, synthesis, and analysis of data to elucidate patterns in river biodiversity and guide management. Contribution creates high visibility for datasets, facilitating collaboration.The IRBAS database will grow in content as the study of intermittent rivers continues and data retrieval will allow for networking, meta-analyses, and testing of generalizations across multiple systems, regions, and taxa

The impacts of natural flood management approaches on in-channel sediment quality

Natural Flood Management (NFM) techniques aim to reduce downstream flooding by storing and slowing the flow of stormwater to river channels. These techniques include a range of measures, including setback stormwater outfalls and the physical restoration of channels and floodplains, to improve the natural functioning of catchments. An additional benefit of NFM measures is the potential reduction in sediment and pollutant delivery to the channel. Urban development releases a variety of heavy metal and nutrient pollutants that enter rivers through stormwater outfalls with adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. In this study, the influence of channel modification and quality of the river habitat on the sediment quality surrounding stormwater outfalls was assessed. Sediment samples were taken at several outfalls within the Johnson Creek catchment, Oregon, USA, and analysed for a variety of urban pollutants. The level of river habitat quality and modification at each site were assessed using a semi-quantitative scoring methodology. Significant increases in pollutant levels were observed at outfalls, with a greater and more variable increase at direct compared to setback outfalls. Removal efficiency of certain pollutants was found to be significantly correlated to the level of habitat quality or modification (for Fe, Ba, Sn, Mg, P, K) indicating that more natural reaches had greater potential for pollutant removal. The findings highlight the multiple benefits associated with NFM and river restoration approaches in relation to sediment quality and pollutant content

Analyzing riparian zone ecosystem services bundles to instruct river management

The ecosystem service framework is now well accepted for focussing management strategies to preserve and restore ecosystems. Its implementation remains challenging, however, due to the environment’s complexity and dynamics that interfere with ecosystems’ ability to provide the services. Here, we question whether we can show where and how to intervene in riparian corridors to restore specific ecosystem services without endangering others. Specific hypotheses in this context are for the spatial aggregation of ecosystem services delivered by riparian corridors with respect to naturalness (1), to the existence of bundles of ecosystem services (2), and finally for the scale sensitivity of this congruence (3). Within a Geographical Information System framework, we analyse the capacity of riparian corridors to provide ecosystem services over three river basins in the Bresse region (France) based on high-resolution data of the riparian corridor hydromorphology and land use. Specifically, we compare the capacity to provide two services: in-stream water purification and riparian retention of nutrients that are critical goals for river management and rehabilitation strategies. We observe little spatial association and high spatial variability for the two emphasized ecosystem services. Surprisingly, no congruence of ecosystem services with riparian corridor naturalness is present. The absence of associations between ecosystem services and their spatial variability will oblige environmental managers to identify underpinning environmental processes and patterns at local scales. In conclusion, we plead for fine-grained multifunctional assessment of ecosystems’ capacity to deliver services, especially in environments such as river corridors that exhibit high environmental heterogeneity

Ecological effects of the feeding and construction activities of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Scotland : implications for reintroduction

Beavers have been described as a “keystone species” and “ecosystem engineers”, and in this dual role have great potential to physically modify their environment through tree-felling, foraging and construction activities. The resultant change in habitat heterogeneity can affect the flora and fauna that share the habitat with them. There has been recent interest in reintroducing the Eurasian beaver to the United Kingdom after an absence of over 400 years. To date, no research (aside from this thesis) has focussed on beaver ecology and behaviour in Scotland. This study has investigated the ecological effects of a small number of beavers in two enclosed but semi-natural Scottish sites at Bamff in Perthshire. The research conducted over a three-year period, with particular emphasis on the effects of tree-felling, foraging and construction activities. Trees were felled for both dietary and construction purposes, with felling rates being influenced by habitat availability, quality and the degree of habitat modification required. Highest rates were evident during the initial colonisation period of marginal sites (c. >300 trees / beaver / calendar year), and lowest rates in later years of occupation of more optimal sites (c. 55 – 70 trees / beaver / calendar year). Preferences were generally for willow and aspen trees, with conifers almost entirely avoided, and smaller trees preferred over larger ones. Proximity of trees to waterbodies was also an important factor, with nearer trees favoured, and generally most felling occurred within 50 m of water. Such behaviour followed the principles of optimal central place foraging. These preferences were less predictable however when intense construction activity was undertaken, with larger trees preferred and generic preferences for deciduous trees apparently invalid. In such cases, close proximity to the construction site was of prime importance. Increased cover of herbaceous plant species was observed in beaver-created canopy gaps in riparian woodland, whilst macrophyte diversity within waterbodies increased slightly in areas of herbaceous grazing. The diversity of terrestrial ground invertebrates was highest in areas of heavy tree-felling, and invertebrate richness and abundance was greatest in areas of herbaceous grazing under an intact tree-canopy. Furthermore, the abundance, diversity and richness of macroinvertebrate communities were increased by beaver-generated woody debris in ponds and streams. Overall, 30% of all macroinvertebrate species collected were found only in beaver-affected areas, due to the refugia and food supply provided by beaver dams, caches and lodges, as well as hydrological effects of these structures. These results are discussed with reference to future plans to return the beaver to Scotland. The habitat usage and modification of riparian ecosystems in northern Britain is likely to be similar to that found in this study, and the results are believed to be relevant, applicable and transferable to many areas of Scotland.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceScottish Natural Heritage (CASE studentship)GBUnited Kingdo

Flood energy dissipation in anabranching channels

This study examines the character of developing anabranched channel networks on the River Wear, north England using metre-scale aerial LiDAR. DSM-DTM interpretation reveals a well-developed vegetation structure and a locally diverse terrain, dominated by an interlinked channel network split by low elevation depositional areas with the gross morphology of the reach resembling that of a strongly active meandering / wandering channel suggesting that an anabranching network may develop within systems that were initially active meandering and wandering, evolving in line with floodplain vegetative succession. Utilisation of the LiDAR DEM in the hydrological component of the CAESAR-Lisflood (version 1.4) morpho-dynamic model has generated local hydraulic variable estimates through the anabranched reaches for a range of flows. These data clearly demonstrate how elevated flows are transferred out of the primary channel and distributed along the interconnected secondary channel network, creating a diverse set of hydraulic environments. Areas between the channels rapidly become inundated as flows increase, dissipating flow energy. Shear stress estimates throughout the study site reveal a generally reduced ability to mobilise sediments and erode channel margins, in comparison to a single-thread reach immediately downstream. Anabranched secondary channels appear to operate in disequilibrium and act predominantly as aggradational zones, although with some evidence of scour at channel bifurcation and confluence points. It would appear that the topographic character of anabranching sites efficiently manages flood flow energy, activating secondary channels and low elevation areas to distribute flood flows. These findings contrast with the hydraulic data from an adjacent single-thread reach, characterised by flood flows concentrated in-channel creating a high erosive potential. We propose that anabranching rivers could play an important role in natural flood and sediment management in many UK river systems