TY - JOUR
T1 - Interactions between geomorphology and ecosystem processes in travertine streams
T2 - Implications for decommissioning a dam on Fossil Creek, Arizona
AU - Marks, Jane C.
AU - Parnell, Roderic
AU - Carter, Cody
AU - Dinger, Eric C.
AU - Haden, G. Allen
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants from the US National Science Foundation (DEB), the Ecological Restoration Institute and the Merriam Powell Center for Environmental Research at Northern Arizona University, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Heritage program. We thank Bruce Hungate for comments on the manuscript, Michael Urban for the invitation to submit this paper, and the three reviewers who provided constructive feedback.
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006/7/30
Y1 - 2006/7/30
N2 - Travertine deposits of calcium carbonate can dominate channel geomorphology in streams where travertine deposition creates a distinct morphology characterized by travertine terraces, steep waterfalls, and large pools. Algae and microorganisms can facilitate travertine deposition, but how travertine affects material and energy flow in stream ecosystems is less well understood. Nearly a century of flow diversion for hydropower production has decimated the natural travertine formations in Fossil Creek, Arizona. The dam will be decommissioned in 2005. Returning carbonate-rich spring water to the natural stream channel should promote travertine deposition. How will the recovery of travertine affect the ecology of the creek? To address this question, we compared primary production, decomposition, and the abundance and diversity of invertebrates and fish in travertine and riffle/run reaches of Fossil Creek, Arizona. We found that travertine supports higher primary productivity, faster rates of leaf litter decomposition, and higher species richness of the native invertebrate assemblage. Observations from snorkeling in the stream indicate that fish density is also higher in the travertine reach. We postulate that restoring travertine to Fossil Creek will increase stream productivity, rates of litter processing, and energy flow up the food web. Higher aquatic productivity could fundamentally shift the nature of the stream from a sink to a source of energy for the surrounding terrestrial landscape.
AB - Travertine deposits of calcium carbonate can dominate channel geomorphology in streams where travertine deposition creates a distinct morphology characterized by travertine terraces, steep waterfalls, and large pools. Algae and microorganisms can facilitate travertine deposition, but how travertine affects material and energy flow in stream ecosystems is less well understood. Nearly a century of flow diversion for hydropower production has decimated the natural travertine formations in Fossil Creek, Arizona. The dam will be decommissioned in 2005. Returning carbonate-rich spring water to the natural stream channel should promote travertine deposition. How will the recovery of travertine affect the ecology of the creek? To address this question, we compared primary production, decomposition, and the abundance and diversity of invertebrates and fish in travertine and riffle/run reaches of Fossil Creek, Arizona. We found that travertine supports higher primary productivity, faster rates of leaf litter decomposition, and higher species richness of the native invertebrate assemblage. Observations from snorkeling in the stream indicate that fish density is also higher in the travertine reach. We postulate that restoring travertine to Fossil Creek will increase stream productivity, rates of litter processing, and energy flow up the food web. Higher aquatic productivity could fundamentally shift the nature of the stream from a sink to a source of energy for the surrounding terrestrial landscape.
KW - Dam removal
KW - Decommissioning
KW - Litter decomposition
KW - Primary productivity
KW - Stream restoration
KW - Travertine
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U2 - 10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.01.008
DO - 10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.01.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33745204872
SN - 0169-555X
VL - 77
SP - 299
EP - 307
JO - Geomorphology
JF - Geomorphology
IS - 3-4
ER -