Periphyton removal flows determined by sediment entrainment thresholds

Arman Haddadchi, Anika Kuczynski, Joanna T. Hoyle, Cathy Kilroy, Doug J. Booker and Murray Hicks

Ecological Modelling, 2020, vol. 434, issue C

Abstract: Periphyton (benthic algae) forms the base of the lotic food web but, under particular conditions, can grow to nuisance levels. River managers need to understand under what conditions the rivers might develop nuisance periphyton biomass in order to set water quality and quantity limits and support healthy ecosystems. Factors that promote periphyton growth (e.g., light, temperature, nutrients) and the frequency of flows that remove periphyton (the periphyton removal flow) have long been recognized as primary controls on periphyton abundance. Predicting differences in periphyton removal flows (PRFs) between rivers has remained a challenge. The main objective of this study is to investigate how bed sediment mobility affects periphyton removal and whether it can be used to better predict PRFs at unmonitored sites with acceptable levels of certainty.

Keywords: Rivers; Benthic algae; Effective flow; Sediment mobility; Stream power (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:434:y:2020:i:c:s0304380020303331

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109263

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