HR: 1330h
AN: NB33I-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Diversion dam reduces decomposition, fungal biomass, and macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity: Implications for dam removal
AU: * Muehlbauer, J D
EM: jm343@dana.ucc.nau.edu
AF: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University PO Box 5640, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 United States
AU: Lovett, J M
EM: jl396@dana.ucc.nau.edu
AF: Department of Anthropology, Northern Arizona University PO Box 15200, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 United States
AU: Jones, K L
EM: kjones1@email.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Dept. of Environmental Science, Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Plichta, J R
EM: jplichta@email.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona, Dept. of Environmental Science, Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Patrick, M M
AF: Sinagua High School, 3950 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 United States
AU: Delaney, I A
AF: Sinagua High School, 3950 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 United States
AU: Bennett, S E
AF: Sinagua High School, 3950 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 United States
AU: Norman, P A
AF: University of Colorado, Dept. of Music, Boulder, CO 80309 United States
AU: Flaccus, K K
AF: Sinagua High School, 3950 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 United States
AU: Vlieg, J A
AF: Sinagua High School, 3950 E. Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 United States
AU: LeRoy, C J
EM: cjl2@dana.ucc.nau.edu
AF: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University PO Box 5640, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 United States
AU: Marks, J C
EM: jane.marks@nau.edu
AF: Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University PO Box 5640, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 United States
AB: Dam decommissioning projects are rarely accompanied by adequate baseline data needed to test if the effects of dams are reversible. Although the effects of dams on aquatic species have been well-documented, there are few studies that document the effects of dams on ecosystem processes. In this study we examine how in-stream leaf litter processing rates and associated fungal and macroinvertebrate populations are affected by a dam in Fossil Creek, Arizona, which will be decommissioned in 2005. We found significantly faster decomposition rates above the dam accompanied by higher fungal biomass, invertebrate abundances and invertebrate diversity compared to below the dam. We predict that return of full flows will increase decomposition, fungal biomass, and secondary productivity in areas where flow is currently reduced. This study shows how diversion dams can inhibit ecosystem processes and provides data for testing the restoration potential of dam decommissioning on decomposition and decomposer communities.
DE: 9901 NABS Student Award - Basic Research
DE: 9902 NABS Student Award Applied Research
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly