HR: 16:00h
AN: B44B-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Interactions between fine sediment infiltration, interstitial flow and salmonid embryo survival in contrasting gravel-bed rivers
AU: * Sear, D A
EM: D.Sear@soton.ac.uk
AF: School of Geography, University of Southampton Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ United Kingdom
AU: Greig, S M
EM: stuart.greig@sepa.gov.org
AF: Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Clearwater House, Heriot Watt Research Park, Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP United Kingdom
AU: Carling, P A
EM: P.A.Carling@soton.ac.uk
AF: School of Geography, University of Southampton Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ United Kingdom
AB: Fine sediment infiltration into salmon spawning gravels is widely recognised as a factor limiting recuitments and productivity. Considerable effort has been focussed on developing empircal and theoretical links between fine sediment and the survival of salmonid embryos. This paper presents the results of a field research programme undertaken in four contrasting salmonid spawning streams. At each site measurement of fine sediment accumulation within artifical redds was made simultaneously with dissolved oxygen, intragravel flow rate and water temperature. At the end of the study egg survival was determined from within each redd. The results demonstrate a complex relationship between egg survival and common metrics of fine sediment accumulation. A conceptual model is developed that demonstrates the composite of factors determining egg survival at a given site. It is suggested that at least within the study streams, use of simple sediment metrics is of limited use in determining spawning habitat quality.
UR: http://www.geog.soton.ac.uk/research/maff/DEFRA_Final.pdf
DE: 1815 Erosion and sedimentation
DE: 1824 Geomorphology (1625)
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly