2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/24/2018 | 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM | MACROINVERTEBRATES OF BEAVER-ALTERED STREAMS IN NORTHEASTERN UTAH | 420 A
MACROINVERTEBRATES OF BEAVER-ALTERED STREAMS IN NORTHEASTERN UTAH
Beavers are important ecosystem engineers, heavily altering streams with dams. However, much of what is known about stream ecology does not include the influence of beaver, as they were trapped to virtual extirpation by the year 1900 and have only recently recovered. One foundational question is how the addition of beaver ponds influences macroinvertebrate communities, especially in western North America. This study compared the macroinvertebrate communities of unaltered stream reaches and of beaver ponds in three beaver-altered tributaries to the Logan River in northeastern Utah. Species richness, density, biomass, functional feeding group prevalence, and mobility group prevalence were quantified for each habitat. Although communities varied by stream, unaltered reaches housed mainly Ephemeropterans, with high numbers of Elmidae larvae, and Simuliids. Beaver ponds were dominated by Chironomids, and Dytiscid beetles were present. Species richness and macroinvertebrate density were higher in unaltered reaches compared to beaver ponds. We use these beaver-driven differences in macroinvertebrate communities to provide insight to fish bioenergetics and population dynamics in beaver-altered habitats. Thus, our results can inform fisheries management and stream restoration efforts, and present a holistic perspective of stream communities.
- Community
- Functional Feeding Groups
- Food Webs
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Presenters/Authors
Susan Washko
(), University of Arizona, swashko@email.arizona.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Trisha Atwood
(), Utah State University, trisha.atwood@usu.edu;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
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Nonfinancial -