2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
5/26/2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | RESPONSES OF BENTHIC COMMUNITIES AND BROWN TROUT POPULATIONS TO IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT: A LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT | Virtual Platform
RESPONSES OF BENTHIC COMMUNITIES AND BROWN TROUT POPULATIONS TO IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT: A LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT
Although numerous studies have documented biological recovery from improved water quality or habitat, few studies have compared the relative success of remediation and restoration. Monitoring in the Upper Arkansas River (Colorado) over the past three decades provided a unique opportunity to assess the relative effectiveness of water quality remediation and habitat restoration. Remediation activities resulted in dramatic reductions in bioavailable metal concentrations, which significantly improved benthic communities and fish populations. Habitat restoration significantly increased trout density and biomass; however, in contrast to the responses to improved water quality, we observed few changes in benthic community composition after restoration. Additionally, while restoration increased trout populations, prey-subsidy availability and consumption were reduced. Variation in the responses between water quality and habitat improvements may be due to different mechanisms that influenced recovery. For example, because high metal concentrations historically degraded most biological compartments, effective remediation improved most biological metrics. In contrast, habitat restoration increased trout populations but prey-subsidies were altered, suggesting potential feedback among ecological processes. Differences between remediation and restoration responses, coupled with interactive effects of these treatments, underlies the complexity of predicting and setting goals for stream recovery.
- Ecological dynamics
- Contaminants
- Resource subsidies
Presentation:
This presentation has not yet been uploaded.
Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Christopher Kotalik
(), Colorado State University, cjkotalik@gmail.com;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
William Clements
(), Colorado State University, William.Clements@colostate.edu ;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Eric Richer
(), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, eric.richer@state.co.us ;
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -