Macroscale controls determine the recovery of river ecosystem productivity following flood disturbances
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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Abstract
River ecosystems rely on varied flows, including regular floods, to provide food and habitat for aquatic organisms. However, flows of freshwater are becoming increasingly managed for irrigation, industry, and other human activities, and the frequency of floods is changing. Our study used time-series data of photosynthesis from 143 rivers across the United States and developed a modeling framework to examine how algae, the base of most riverine food webs, recovered following scouring disturbance during floods. We found that algae in wider rivers recovered more quickly following disturbance (e.g., removal from the bottom) but that the flow thresholds at which algae is disturbed are likely more strongly influenced by site-specific characteristics.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Macroscale controls determine the recovery of river ecosystem productivity following flood disturbances |
| Series title | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
| DOI | 10.1073/pnas.2307065121 |
| Volume | 121 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Year Published | 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Contributing office(s) | Southwest Biological Science Center, WMA - Earth System Processes Division |
| Description | e2307065121 |
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