The Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis_A Conceptual Model and Research Framework
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Transcript of The Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis_A Conceptual Model and Research Framework
The Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis:A Conceptual Model and Research FrameworkA Conceptual Model and Research Framework
Prof. James H. ThorpProf. James H. ThorpKansas Biological Survey and
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, KS USA
Missouri River inthe eastern Great Plains
“Jayhawk”: indigenousto tall grass prairies
Murray River,Australia
Prof. Martin Thoms*Univ. of Canberra, Australia
fluvial geomorphologist*[alias: Tarmac Thoms“]
Prof. Michael Delong*Winona State Univ., USA
community/ecosystem ecologist*[alias: “Koala Mike”]
Vic Hughes*Univ. of Canberra
ecogeomorphologist*[alias “The Steak”]
Seminar based on:Seminar based on:• 2003 seminar in Albury by Thorp• 2006 RRA public. by Thorp, Thoms & Delong• late summer (?) 2007 book by TT&D
[blatant advertisement!]
www.utexas.edu/.../grg/adams/quebtour/fjord2.jpg
Sagenay River, Quebec
Snake River & Grand TetonsWyoming, USAAnsel Adams, 1942
•• hydrogeomorphichydrogeomorphic patch modelpatch model•• research framework: HPD for rivers research framework: HPD for rivers •• 17 testable, model tenets17 testable, model tenets
RiverineRiverine Ecosystem SynthesisEcosystem Synthesis (RES):
3 River Perspectives in 3 River Perspectives in 100+100+ Years Years www.discoverlife.org
Longitudinally Ordered Zones Longitudinally Ordered Zones (1900(1900--1980)1980)• Fixed, non-repeating zones in predictable locations
ClinalClinal Perspective Perspective (1980 (1980 -- ))• Continuous gradient and predictable locations • River Continuum Concept (RCC)
WWF photo
HydrogeomorphicHydrogeomorphic Patches Patches (~ this decade)(~ this decade)• Non-continuous and repeatable patches• Location of patches only partially predictable• Reach-to-valley scale hydrogeomorphic patches
termed “functional process zones” (FPZs)• Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis (RES)
brown trout (Salmo trutta)
Illinois DNR
barbel (Barbus barbus)
www.europareservat.de
grayling (Thymallus thymallus)
www.europareservat.de
bream (Abramis brarna)
www.europareservat.de
• fixed, non-repeating zones in predictable locations• biotically designated & secondarily linked to hydrogeomorphology• linear perspective with somewhat abrupt transitions
Longitudinally Ordered ZonesLongitudinally Ordered Zones
ClinalClinal PerspectivePerspective
Vannote et al. 1980. The river continuum concept.Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 37:130-137.
Continuous gradient of physicalconditions from headwaters toa river’s mouth(overall trends interrupted onlyslightly and temporarily bytribs and geological features )
Linear model
Continuous biotic adjustments in community structure(except where temporarilyreset, such as by tributaries)
• basis: hydrogeomorphic patches
• scale: between valley and reach
• features: vary in hydrologicalpatterns, geomorphic nature,and dimensional complexity
• boundaries: defined statisticallyusing common techniques influvial geomorphology
• frequency: FPZs are repeatable
• position predictability: decreaseswith increasing spatial scale(especially above ecoregion)
• ecological responses: a site’slongitudinal position is lessimportant to ecosystemstructure and function thanthe type of FPZ in that area
Functional Process Zones (Functional Process Zones (FPZsFPZs))
Functional Process Zones
example of an FPZ appearing repeatedlybut not necessarily predictably
Temporal scales of hydrologyREGIME (>100 years)
HISTORY (1-100 years)
PULSE (<1 year)400
0
800
1200
1600
1973 1975 19791977 1981 1983
Flow
Year
200400
600
800
1000
1200
J F M A M J J A OS N D
Flow
Month
1900 1950 20000
400
800
1200
1600
2000
Flow
Year
Slide from Martin Thomson Murray-Darling system
Arkansas River: Research, Monitoring & Management
Current Monitoring StrategyCurrent Monitoring Strategy• stratified random whole river (rare)• modified for reservoir presence• stratified random w/in political lines• clustered at boundary edges
Hydrogeomorphic Hydrogeomorphic MonitoringMonitoring• strata size unequal but same # of sites• shown w/ physiographic provinces• ideally based hydrogeomorphic patches• using FPZs, more sites would be shown
Background map from MSN Encarta
• framework for studying the entire river network using HPD• spatial and temporal components are important• small to large scale patterns and processes• includes all 4 river dimensions
• a true synthesis: based on publications from 1980-presentmixed with our original ideas
• conceptual model applicable to pristine and working rivers(for the latter, see our book)
• synthesis is heuristic and model designed to be testable
• 17 model tenets (more are possible) ….
RiverineRiverine Ecosystem SynthesisEcosystem Synthesis(a summary)(a summary)
• Tenet 1: Hydrogeomorphic Patches• Tenet 2: Importance of FPZ Over Clinal Position• Tenet 3: Ecological Nodes• Tenet 4: Hydrologic Retention
• Tenet 5: Hierarchical Habitat Template• Tenet 6: Deterministic vs Stochastic Factors• Tenet 7: Quasi-Equilibrium• Tenet 8: Trophic Complexity• Tenet 9: Succession
• Tenet 10: Primary Productivity Within FPZs• Tenet 11: Riverscape Food Web Pathways• Tenet 12: Floodscape Food Web Pathways• Tenet 13: Nutrient Spiraling• Tenet 14: Dynamic Hydrology• Tenet 15: Flood-Linked Evolution• Tenet 16: Connectivity• Tenet 17: Landscape Patterns of FPZs
Subject Categories of our 17 Model Tenets (from journal article Subject Categories of our 17 Model Tenets (from journal article and book)and book)Distribution of Species (4)Distribution of Species (4)
Community Regulation (5)Community Regulation (5)
Ecosystem and Ecosystem and Riverine Riverine Landscape Processes (8)Landscape Processes (8)
*
*
*
Model Tenet 2: Model Tenet 2: Importance of FPZ Over Importance of FPZ Over ClinalClinal PositionPosition
Community diversity and the distributions of species and ecotypesfrom headwaters to a river’s mouth primarily reflect the nature ofthe functional process zone rather than a clinal position along thelongitudinal dimension of the river network.
Missouri River
Clinal (RCC)Perspective
Problems with This View ofFunctional Feeding Groups:• based on insects (e.g, ignores fish)• not supported by stable isotope data• ignores organisms in slackwaters
RES Perspective:• diversity of ecotypes tied to position
in and complexity of the FPZ
• ecotypes more similar to those insimilar FPZ than in adjacentpatches upstream or downstream
• lateral complexity brings in ecotypesfrom other areas (stream orders)
• food sources differ from RCC & thusecotypes not always as predicted
www.d.umn.edu/~seawww/depth/rivers/02.html
Model Tenet 4: Model Tenet 4: Hydrologic RetentionHydrologic Retention
Overall community complexity varies directly:
• with the diversity of hydrologic habitats in afunctional process zone, and
• with hydrologic retention until other abioticenvironmental conditions (e.g., oxygen,temperature, substrate type, and nutrientavailability) become restrictive.
• Emphasizes lateral vs longitudinal dimension
Upper Mississippi River
Examples of Examples of Slackwaters Slackwaters (retention(retentionzones) in Great Plains Riverszones) in Great Plains Rivers
slackwaters
temporarysand bar island
agricultural field riparian zone
Kansas RiverKansas River
Current Velocity (m/s)0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Rot
ifer
Den
sity
(#/L
)
0
10
20
30
40
50 Rotifer Density in the Kansas River (July only) Linear Regression
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Cru
stac
ean
Den
sity
(#/L
)
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5 Crustacean Density in the Kansas River (July - Sept) Linear Regression
B
A
y = -55.016x + 34.19R2 = 0.4725
y = -0.36x + 0.19R2 = 0.1778
Thorp, J.H. and S. Mantovani. (2005) Zooplankton in turbid and hydrologicallydynamic, prairie rivers. Freshwater Biol.
Facts:Facts:1.1. Globally, most large rivers are heterotrophic (P/R < 1);Globally, most large rivers are heterotrophic (P/R < 1);2.2. Therefore, some amount of Therefore, some amount of allochthonousallochthonous C is needed.C is needed.
HeterotrophyParadox
Question:Question: ““How can river autotrophic production be theHow can river autotrophic production be themost important source of C to food webs ???most important source of C to food webs ???””
Clinal Clinal Perspective onPerspective onFood ResourcesFood Resources
terrestrial CPOMin forested headwaters
instream production(macrophytes & benthic algae)in mid-order streams
In large rivers: FPOM from upstream (original RCC)or floodscape (Junk et al. 1989 and1989 revision of the RCC)
Model Tenet 11: Riverscape Food Web Pathways
Summary #11 (a): Majority of metazoan productivityderived from instream algae, with some seasonaland locational exceptions.
Summary #11 (b): Decomposer pathway based on bothallochthonous and autochthonous organic matterin a microbial-viral loop primarily produces P/R < 1.
caddisflycaddisfly caddisfliescaddisflies & native mussel& native mussel
caddisfliescaddisflies
beetle, beetle, caddisflycaddisfly, mayfly, , mayfly, midge & exotic musselmidge & exotic mussel
mayfly, amphipod,mayfly, amphipod,isopod & snailsisopod & snails
snailsnail
Carbon SourcesCarbon Sources C:N Ratios
Terrestrial Carbon Terrestrial Carbon (in general)(in general) > 12Aquatic Carbon Aquatic Carbon (in general)(in general) < 12
***C:N ratios indicate a primarily autochthonousorigin for living and detrital POM (summer study).
Fine Transported Organic Matter (Fine TOM)Fine Transported Organic Matter (Fine TOM)FTOM living (phytoplankton) 6.55FTOM detritus (dead algae & terrestrial C) 9.76
UltraUltra--fine Transported Organic Matter *fine Transported Organic Matter *UTOM living (phytoplankton) 6.56UTOM detritus (probably mostly dead algae) 6.87
Delong and Thorp. 2006. Oecologia
TerrestrialMacrophytes TOMD TOMA
CheumatopsychePotamyia
HydrobiidaePleuroceraAsellusTricorythodes
Pycnosyche DreissenaStenelmisStenonemaChironomidae
OligochaetaUnionoideaPhysellaGammarus
BenthicAlgae
Hydropsyche
<10% 10 – 25% 26 – 40% 41 – 60% >61%
cDOM
AllochthonousCarbon
Carbon Loss: Downstream
Export
Carbon Loss:Respiration
[Recycling WithinMicrobial Loop]
Aquatic DecomposerAquatic DecomposerFood PathwayFood Pathway
HeterotrophicBacteria & Fungi
Heterotrophic FlagellatesCiliates
Rotifers “Microbial-Viral Loop”
Viruses
Supported by Supported by current isotopecurrent isotopedata worldwidedata worldwide
RequiresRequiresfuture studiesfuture studies
**
AlgalAlgal--GrazerGrazerFood PathwayFood Pathway
AutotrophicAutochthonous
Carbon
Herbivores
InvertebrateCarnivores
PlanktivorousFish
Piscivorous Fish &Other Vertebrates
InvertivorousFish
Carbon Loss to:- respiration,- microbial loop-invertebrate
decomposers-downstream
transport
MetazoanMetazoandetritivoresdetritivores
RCC & FPCRCC & FPCemphasisemphasis
Pristine Pristine Lotic Lotic Ecosystems Are Becoming Increasingly RareEcosystems Are Becoming Increasingly Rare
3 Gorges Dam, China
Hoover Dam, USA
Upper Mississippi lowhead dam
Ohio River lowhead dam
Examples of Effects of Examples of Effects of ChannelizationChannelizationon Model Tenets of the RESon Model Tenets of the RES
Examples of Effects of Examples of Effects of ChannelizationChannelizationon Model Tenets of the RESon Model Tenets of the RES
• destruction of basic nature of the FPZ
• loss of hydrologic retention areasand homogenization of the river
• reduce potential importance ofdeterministic factors and quasi-equilibrium
• shift in type and importance of autotrophs
• disruption of succession processes
• loss of connection with floodscape
• increased nutrient spiraling length
• elimination of species requiring slackwatersin the riverscape and floodscape… etc.
A Goal in A Goal in LoticLotic Ecology:Ecology:““Conceptual CohesivenessConceptual Cohesiveness””
Riverine Ecosystem SynthesisA challenging journey
into the future!
[of Lotic Ecology]
Photo from:www.solstation.com/life.htm
One earth,
Many rivers,
One global river society….
International Society for River ScienceInternational Society for River ScienceFor information on ISRScontact me here in Canberra or Alburyor write me at [email protected]