Graduation Date
Fall 2017
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Biology
Committee Chair Name
Michael Camann
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Alison O'Dowd
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Peggy Wilzbach
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Kristine Brenneman
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Aquatic insects, Intermittent streams, Benthic macroinvertebrates, Mattole River, Headwater streams, Climate change
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Intermittent streams are common throughout the world and comprise 60% or more of total river lengths in the conterminous United States. Despite their prevalence, intermittent streams are understudied, particularly first-order headwater streams, which are vital for maintaining the function, health and biotic diversity of river networks. In June 2016, I sampled five intermittent and five perennial headwater streams in the Mattole River watershed in northwestern coastal California, USA, to compare benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) assemblages between intermittent and perennial streams. BMI samples were collected using a 500µm mesh D-net at eight randomly located riffles along a 150-m reach, and then composited, on each of the 10 streams. Chemical (e.g. pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and flow) and physical (e.g. bed substrate composition, bank-full width, and slope) data were measured at each stream reach. BMI samples were identified using Standard Taxonomic Effort (STE). Major difference in assemblages among stream type were not detected except for a few individual taxa, families, and orders. Observed differences likely resulting from taxonomic differences in life history timing. The proportion of shredders was detectably lower in intermittent streams. Further studies with a temporal factor are needed to validate these findings.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
London, Mason S., "A comparison of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages between perennial and intermittent headwater streams of the Mattole River in northern California, USA" (2017). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 78.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/78
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Entomology Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Hydrology Commons, Integrative Biology Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons