Spatial variability in the hyporheic zone refugium of temporary streams

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Stubbington, R. ORCID: 0000-0001-8475-5109, Wood, P.J. and Reid, I., 2011. Spatial variability in the hyporheic zone refugium of temporary streams. Aquatic Sciences - Research Across Boundaries, 73 (4), pp. 499-511.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00027-011-0203-x

Abstract

A key ecological role hypothesized for the hyporheic zone is as a refugium that promotes survival of benthic invertebrates during adverse conditions in the surface stream. Many studies have investigated use of the hyporheic refugium during hydrological extremes (spates and streambed drying), and recent research has linked an increase in the abundance of benthic invertebrates within hyporheic sediments to increasing biotic interactions during flow recession in a temporary stream. This study examined spatial variability in the refugial capacity of the hyporheic zone in two groundwater-dominated streams which flow permanence varied over small areas. Two non- insect taxa, Gammarus pulex and Polycelis spp. Were common to both streams and were investigated in detail. Hydrological conditions in both streams comprised a four- month period of flow recession and low flows, accompanied by reductions in water depth and wetted width. Consequent declines in submerged benthic habitat availability were associated with increases in population densities of mobile benthic taxa, in particular G. pulex.

Item Type:

Journal article

Description:

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com

Publication Title:

Aquatic Sciences - Research Across Boundaries

Creators:

Stubbington, R., Wood, P.J. and Reid, I.

Publisher:

Springer

Date:

2011