Klaar, Megan (2010) The Development of Geomorphic and Hydraulic Complexity Within Streams and its Influence on Fish Communities Following Glacial Recession in Glacier Bay, Alaska. PhD thesis, University of Birmingham.
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Abstract
Studies of landscape development via primary successional processes are an important area of research for understanding how landscapes evolve into stable,
diverse ecosystems. This research sought to assess how geomorphic and hydraulic complexity alter as streams develop following glacial recession. Investigations
revealed that younger streams were dominated by fast flowing geomorphic units such as rapids and riffles with little hydraulic or landscape diversity. As stream age
increased, however, slower flowing habitat units such as glides and pools became more dominant, resulting in increased geomorphic, hydraulic and riverscape diversity.
Determination of these changes in hydromorphic complexity which occur as streams develop, twinned with an assessment of the role of coarse woody debris in creating such complexity at the reach and microscale levels revealed the importance of coarse woody debris in driving these changes. Coarse woody debris was found to influence the development of biocomplexity and interaction between stream terrestrial and floodplain environments. These changes in geomorphic and hydraulic complexity result in the creation and maintenance of instream habitat which biota such as juvenile
Pacific salmonids may utilise.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
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Additional Information: | A thesis submitted to the University of Birmingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This research project was jointly supervised and funded by the University of Worcester. |
Uncontrolled Discrete Keywords: | landscape evolution, ecosystems, streams, glacial recession, fish communities, geomorphic complexity, hydraulic complexity |
Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
Divisions: | College of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences > School of Science and the Environment |
Depositing User: | Ian Maddock |
Date Deposited: | 11 Jun 2010 05:10 |
Last Modified: | 08 Jun 2021 09:24 |
URI: | https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/id/eprint/850 |
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