Modular Experimental Riffle–Pool Stream System

Abstract

We describe a modular method for building a large, outdoor experimental stream system that has great flexibility for research projects in fish ecology, behavior, conservation, or management. The system has been in use for more than a decade at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station (Kingston, Oklahoma) and has been used with modification at four other research facilities in the Midwest. Here, we document the system in detail, including specifications for construction of the original system and modifications or improvements at other sites. The system uses commercially available, customized fiberglass round tank and trough units that can be configured in many different ways to create flowing pool and riffle habitats. The system appears to be a good mimic of small natural streams based on system flow rates, establishment of natural substrates and cover, stream chemistry relative to that of a natural creek, and fish behaviors. At least 39 fish species have been used successfully in 1-14-month experiments in these systems and approximately half have reproduced. The system offers great flexibility of design to experimenters, is cost effective, and may be of interest at other facilities that research basic biology, conservation, or management of stream fishes.

Potential effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on benthic autotrophs and consumers in stream ecosystems: a test using experimental stream mesocosms

“…Likewise, many of the biotic properties of the mesocosms that could be affected by CO 2 limitation (e.g., chlorophyll-a and benthic invertebrates) also fell within the range of conditions observed in a natural system ( Table 1). As with other experimental stream mesocosms that have provided realistic conditions to test a variety of ecosystem, community, and population-level questions in stream ecology (e.g., Matthews et al, 2006), we believe the mesocosms used in this study provided a set of reasonably realistic conditions for testing the effects of eCO 2 on ecosystem processes and functions occurring at local scales within small, sand-bottom temperate streams.…”

Direct and indirect effects of central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) on mesocosm recovery following a flood: can macroconsumers affect denitrification?

“…Each mesocosm consisted of a 2.54-m 2 circular pool (mean depth = 0.5 m) downstream of a 0.84-m 2 rectangular riffle (mean depth = 0.15 m) (see Matthews et al 2006 for details of mesocosm design). Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes (1 m 3 2.5 cm inner diameter) were placed vertically in the substratum of each pool with the open bottom of the tube ,0.5 m below the surface of the substratum to measure hyporheic dissolved O 2 (DO).…”

Evidence for asymmetric competition among headwater stream vertebrates

“…We fully acknowledge that darter and salamander distributions within a drainage may also be limited by stream flow/depth and other abiotic variables, and further research is warranted to tease apart which mechanism (i.e., competition or habitat) drives their distributions. Alternatively, no interactions (e.g., competitive or aggressive) between Coosa darters and salamanders may exist, and the weight loss is directly related to the darters' sensitivity to captivity; however, several other darter species (Etheostoma grahami [Girard], Etheostoma radiosum [Hubbs and Black], Etheostoma spectabile [Agassiz], Percina copelandi [Jordan], Ammocrypta beani Jordan, and Ammocrypta vivax Hay) have been successfully maintained and even reproduced in closed, recirculation systems (Matthews et al, 2006;Spaeth, 2008). Therefore, the loss of weight could likely be attributed to asymmetric competition with black-bellied salamanders.…”