HR: 10:30h
AN: NB52B-01 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Quantifying Hydrologic Parameters in Basin-Scale Ecosystem Research: the Adirondack Story
AU: * Romanowicz, E A
EM: romanoea@plattsburgh.edu
AF: Plattsburgh State University, Lake Champlain Research Institute 101 Broad St, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 United States
AU: Mihuc, T B
EM: mihuctb@plattsburgh.edu
AF: Plattsburgh State University, Lake Champlain Research Institute 101 Broad St, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 United States
AU: Woodcock, T
EM: woodcot@plattsburgh.edu
AF: Plattsburgh State University, Lake Champlain Research Institute 101 Broad St, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 United States
AB: How does one quantify hydrologic processes related to open channel flow and basin drainage at spatial and temporal scales suitable for ecosystem research? This is a very important question as more and more research brings together the disciplines of hydrology and ecology. Differences in the types of parameters measured, spatial and temporal variations of these parameters and the nature of field procedures between hydrological and ecological research results in different scales of study. Linkages between hydrology, geomorphology and ecology are easily identified. Ecological communities in streams are affected in part by the following stream characteristics: depth, water velocity, ponding and water quality. These stream characteristics are affected by processes or characteristics occurring at very different scales (e.g. bedrock, soils, soil depth, stream bed material, channel morphology, vegetation, topography, and climate). How do we apply these different processes and scales to extrapolate hydrologic data from specific points to a basin scale? As part of an NSF funded research project (DEB 022165) to study the effects of land use policy on hydrologic, ecologic and water quality indicators of watershed integrity we instrumented 22 basins in the eastern Adirondack Mountains (New York) to monitor water stage, water temperature and air temperature. Stage recorders with temperature sensors were installed in stilling wells adjacent to natural stream channels. Stage-discharge rating curves were developed for each site to estimate stream discharge as a function of stage. Streams in the Adirondacks tend to very flashy due to low infiltration capacity in the drainage basins. Consequently, streams respond quickly to storm events, making it difficult to quantify discharges at peak flows. The rating curves are better at predicting base flow discharge, however, there is insufficient data to estimate peak discharge from stage data. In this presentation we will discuss the issue of different spatial and temporal scales in hydrology and ecology. We will address specifically how one may extrapolate hydrologic data from open channel flow and basins to study ecological connections at different scales.
DE: 1800 HYDROLOGY
DE: 1824 Geomorphology (1625)
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly