HR: 14:30h
AN: NB13A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Wood in New Zealand's Native Forest Streams. Recent Advances
AU: * Mark, M A
EM: m.meleason@niwa.co.nz
AF: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited, P.O. Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand
AU: Davies-Colley, R
EM: r.davies-colley@niwa.co.nz
AF: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited, P.O. Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand
AB: We conducted a series of research projects to investigate the importance of wood in native forested streams of New Zealand. We examined abundance and geomorphic role of wood in 18 pristine native forest streams (channel width: 3-6 m) throughout New Zealand. Forest type and geographic location had no discernable influence on wood abundance, possibly reflecting the confounding influences of local features (e.g., tree fall regime) and methodology (`snap-shot' survey of a dynamic system). Number (18-66 per 100 m) and dead wood volume (85-470 m³ ha^-1) of stream logs were at the high end of the international range. Living trees contributed up to 25% of total wood, and tree ferns were strongly represented (up to 11% of volume). The largest 10% of pieces contributed 75% of the total volume. The importance of the large wood pieces (>10 m³) was explored further with surveys within that watershed containing the site with the greatest wood volume. The largest pieces were rare but seemed relatively uniformly distributed. To explore the biological consequences of stream wood, we studied use of wood-related micro-habitat by the crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons White). Our findings suggest that wood is an important component of New Zealand's forested stream ecosystems.
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly