A Comparison of Methods Used to Estimate River Rock Surface Areas

Dudley, Judith L.; Arthurs, William J.; Hall, Timothy J.

doi:10.1080/02705060.2001.9663810

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…The surface area of each item (anthropogenic litter or rock) was approximated by wrapping the item in tin foil and weighing the resultant foil pieces (1 g: 0.0214 m 2 ; Dudley et al., 2001). The surface area of flexible materials or items with complex shapes (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic litter is a novel habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban rivers

et al. 2020

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Anthropogenic litter (solid manufactured waste) is an understudied but pervasive element of river systems worldwide. Its physical structure generally differs from natural substrates, such as gravel and cobbles (hereafter rocks). Consequently, anthropogenic litter could influence ecological communities in urban rivers by providing novel habitats. This study compares the macroinvertebrates recorded on anthropogenic litter with those on rocks to test whether the different substrates support distinct communities. Macroinvertebrates were collected from individual rocks and anthropogenic litter, predominantly plastic, metal, and glass, in three U.K. rivers. Macroinvertebrate communities on anthropogenic litter were consistently more diverse than those found on rocks, reflecting its greater surface complexity, but the density of macroinvertebrates was similar among substrates. The community composition also varied between substrates, with five taxa only recorded on anthropogenic litter. Community differences largely reflected greater abundances of common taxa on anthropogenic litter, which were relatively insensitive to environmental quality. Plastic and fabric anthropogenic litter communities were the most dissimilar to those on rocks, probably due to their flexibility, which could replicate the physical structure of aquatic macrophytes. Our findings indicate that anthropogenic litter supports a distinct and diverse community of macroinvertebrates in urban rivers, which are otherwise relatively homogenous in habitat structure. Removal of anthropogenic litter from urban rivers may not be beneficial for local biodiversity. Understanding the functional habitats provided by anthropogenic litter could help better manage urban rivers to replace habitat lost through urbanisation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic litter is a novel habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban rivers

et al. 2020

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“…Filters were wrapped in aluminum foil, kept on dry ice until returned to the laboratory, and stored frozen until analysis. Substrate sample area of the top of the rock was estimated by measuring the maximum length and width of each rock sampled to the nearest 1 mm using digital calipers (Dudley et al 2001). The resulting area estimate (length x width) is positively related to rock surface area measurements derived from estimates using aluminum foil methods (e.g., Aloi 1990).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal patterns of periphyton chlorophyll a related to pulp and paper mill discharges in four us receiving streams

Flinders

Minshall

Hall

et al. 2009

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Nutrients in pulp and paper mill effluent (PPME) have been implicated in increased periphyton chlorophyll a (chl a) downstream of discharges. These findings are largely based on short-term studies conducted in artificial stream channels or mesocosms and often in oligotrophic systems, and it is unclear if long-term chl a patterns in higher-nutrient systems would show similar response. We conducted a long-term study of 4 receiving waters (Codorus Creek, Pennsylvania; the Leaf River, Mississippi; and the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, Oregon) in which periphyton samples and associated data on water quality (nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, pH, color, and conductivity) and 2 physical habitat variables (depth and current velocity) were collected over an 8-y period from multiple sites upstream and downstream of PPME discharges. Study streams represented different ecoregions, warm- and coldwater systems, gradients of in-stream effluent concentration (<1-33%), and mill process types. General Linear Models examining the main and interaction effects of site, season, and year on periphyton chl a for each of the 4 streams showed periphyton chl a downstream of the PPME discharge in Codorus Creek and the McKenzie River was greater at some, but not all upstream sites, suggesting these differences may be due to factors other than PPME. Mean periphyton chl a ranged from <1 to 285 mg/m2 across streams, with relatively consistent site patterns across seasons and years. Overall, chl a in the spring and summer was greater than in the fall in Codorus Creek and on sand substrates in the Leaf River, with overall differences across years seen on rare occasions in the Leaf and Willamette rivers. Regression models examining environmental-chl a relationships explained 45.4% and 30.2% of variation in periphyton chl a in the McKenzie River and Codorus Creek, respectively, and <10% in the Leaf and Willamette rivers. Physical variables (stream depth and current velocity) were the most important model variables in the McKenzie River, while total nitrogen and color were of greatest importance in Codorus Creek. The findings of this study demonstrate the inherent variability of chl a standing crops, highlight the complexity of lotic periphyton communities, and reiterate the importance of long-term, multi-season studies in elucidating spatial and temporal patterns.

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“…The surface area of each rock was estimated by weighing the aluminum foil required to cover the surface of the rock in a single layer. The mass of the aluminum foil was used in a weight-to-area function derived from a linear regression which estimates surface area of the rock based off the mass of aluminum foil (y = 0.0025x + 0.030, r 2 = 0.99, p<0.001; Dudley et al, 2001). Periphyton biomass was quantified in two ways, chlorophyll-a (mg m -2 ), and ash-free dry mass (g m -2 ).…”

Section: Laboratory Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water chemistry and periphyton biomass in the Rideau River: Have conditions changed after 24 years?

et al. 2022

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Over the past three decades, the Rideau River (Ontario, Canada) watershed has experienced a land-use change from rural and agricultural land towards urban land, and the introduction and expansion of invasive species. This study examined spatial and temporal patterns of periphyton biomass (chlorophyll-a and ash-free dry mass) collected from riffle zones in 1995 and 2019 along a 66-km stretch of the Rideau River. This study also examined long-term changes in water nutrient and chloride concentrations collected through the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network between 2000 and 2018. Declines in total nitrogen between 2000 and 2018 occurred in areas that have not experienced urbanization since the 2000s. In contrast, declines in total phosphorus and increases in chloride between 2000 and 2018 occurred at midstream and downstream sites that have undergone urbanization during the same time period. Conductivity also showed an increase with distance downstream similarly in both 1995 and 2019. Average total phosphorus and total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations were lower in 2019 compared to 1995 but did not increase with distance downstream as seen in many river systems, including the Rideau River, in earlier years. Periphyton biomass did not change along the length of the river between 1995 and 2019, despite the declines in nutrient concentrations. These findings highlight the persistence of riverine periphyton in a multi-use watershed experiencing ongoing anthropogenic changes.

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A Comparison of Methods Used to Estimate River Rock Surface Areas

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

Anthropogenic litter is a novel habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban rivers

Anthropogenic litter is a novel habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates in urban rivers

Spatial and temporal patterns of periphyton chlorophyll a related to pulp and paper mill discharges in four us receiving streams

Water chemistry and periphyton biomass in the Rideau River: Have conditions changed after 24 years?

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