Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Constraints on the recovery of invertebrate assemblages in a regulated snowmelt river during a tributary-sourced environmental flow regime

Andrew J. Brooks A C , Matthew Russell A , Robyn Bevitt A and Matthew Dasey A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A New South Wales Office of Water, PO Box 53, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.

B Present address: Department of Environment and Conservation, Lot 124 Bashford St, Jurien Bay, WA 6516, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: andrew.brooks@water.nsw.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 62(12) 1407-1420 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF11128
Submitted: 8 June 2011  Accepted: 31 August 2011   Published: 25 October 2011

Abstract

The impacts of river regulation on aquatic biota have been extensively studied, but long-term assessments of the restoration of biota by environmental flows and the principal mechanisms of recovery have rarely occurred. We assessed whether the provision of an environmental flow regime (EFR) via the decommissioning of an aqueduct on a tributary stream altered downstream macroinvertebrate assemblages in the highly regulated Snowy River, Australia. Macroinvertebrate assemblages of the Snowy River, reference and control sites remained distinct despite the provision of environmental flows. Invertebrate assemblages detrimentally affected by regulation probably remained impaired due to either constraints on colonisation from the tributary stream (dispersal constraints) or unsuitable local environmental conditions in the Snowy River caused by flow regulation (e.g. high levels of fine sediments, elevated temperature regime) suppressing new colonists or recovery of extant populations. Our study showed that restoration may be ineffective if EFRs are too small to ameliorate local environmental factors constraining the recovery of affected biota. Other barriers to recovery, such as dispersal constraints, also need to be overcome. Successful restoration of regulated rivers using environmental flows requires an understanding of the mechanisms and pathways of recovery, together with identification and amelioration of any potential barriers to recovery.

Additional keywords: dispersal, fine sediment, river restoration, Snowy River.


References

Anderson, M. J., and Willis, T. J. (2003). Canonical analysis of principal coordinates: a useful method of constrained ordination for ecology. Ecology 84, 511–525.
Canonical analysis of principal coordinates: a useful method of constrained ordination for ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Angradi, T. R. (1999). Fine sediment and macroinvertebrate assemblages in Appalachian streams: a field experiment with biomonitoring applications. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 18, 49–66.
Fine sediment and macroinvertebrate assemblages in Appalachian streams: a field experiment with biomonitoring applications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armitage, P. D., and Pardo, I. (1995). Impact assessment of regulation at the reach level using macroinvertebrate information from mesohabitats. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 10, 147–158.
Impact assessment of regulation at the reach level using macroinvertebrate information from mesohabitats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Arthington, A. H., and Pusey, B. J. (2003). Flow restoration and protection in Australian rivers. River Research and Applications 19, 377–395.
Flow restoration and protection in Australian rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Baker, D. W., Bledsoe, B. P., Albano, C. M., and Poff, N. L. (2011). Downstream effects of diversion dams on sediment and hydraulic conditions of Rocky Mountain streams. River Research and Applications 27, 388–401.
Downstream effects of diversion dams on sediment and hydraulic conditions of Rocky Mountain streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bevitt, R., and Jones, H. (2008). Water quality in the Snowy River before and after the first environmental flow regime. Snowy River Recovery: Snowy River Flow Response Monitoring. Department of Water and Energy, Sydney.

Biggs, B. J. F., and Hickey, C. W. (1994). Periphyton responses to a hydraulic gradient in a regulated river in New Zealand. Freshwater Biology 32, 49–59.
Periphyton responses to a hydraulic gradient in a regulated river in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Biggs, B. J. F., Vladimar, N. I., and Snelder, T. H. (2005). Linking scales of flow variability to lotic ecosystem structure and function. River Research and Applications 21, 283–298.
Linking scales of flow variability to lotic ecosystem structure and function.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bond, N. R., and Lake, P. S. (2003). Local habitat restoration in streams: Constraints on the effectiveness of restoration for stream biota. Ecological Management & Restoration 4, 193–198.
Local habitat restoration in streams: Constraints on the effectiveness of restoration for stream biota.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boon, P. (1988). The impact of river regulation on invertebrate communities in the UK. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 2, 389–409.
The impact of river regulation on invertebrate communities in the UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boulton, A. J. (2003). Parallels and contrasts in the effects of drought on stream macroinvertebrate assemblages. Freshwater Biology 48, 1173–1185.
Parallels and contrasts in the effects of drought on stream macroinvertebrate assemblages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boulton, A. J., and Lake, P. S. (1992). The ecology of two intermittent streams in Victoria, Australia. II. Comparisons of faunal composition between habitats, rivers and years. Freshwater Biology 27, 99–121.
The ecology of two intermittent streams in Victoria, Australia. II. Comparisons of faunal composition between habitats, rivers and years.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brooks, S. (1994). An efficient and quantitative aquatic benthos sampler for use in diverse habitats with variable flow regimes. Hydrobiologia 281, 123–128.
An efficient and quantitative aquatic benthos sampler for use in diverse habitats with variable flow regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bunn, S. E., and Arthington, A. H. (2002). Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Environmental Management 30, 492–507.
Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell, I. C., McKaige, M. E., and Lake, P. S. (1986). The fauna of Australian high mountain streams: ecology, zoogeography and evolution. In ‘Flora and Fauna of Alpine Australasia, Ages and Origins’. (Ed. B. A. Barlow.) pp. 83–104. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Chessman, B. C., and Royal, M. J. (2004). Bioassessment without reference sites: use of environmental filters to predict natural assemblages of river macroinvertebrates. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23, 599–615.
Bioassessment without reference sites: use of environmental filters to predict natural assemblages of river macroinvertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chester, H., and Norris, R. (2006). Dams and flow in the Cotter River, Australia: effects on instream trophic structure and benthic metabolism. Hydrobiologia 572, 275–286.
Dams and flow in the Cotter River, Australia: effects on instream trophic structure and benthic metabolism.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Clarke, K. R. (1993). Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18, 117–143.
Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Clarke, K. R., and Gorley, R. N. (2006). ‘PRIMER ver. 6. User Manual/Tutorial.’ (PRIMER-E: Plymouth, UK.)

Davey, G. W., Doeg, T. J., and Blyth, J. D. (1987). Changes in benthic sediment in the Thomson River, southeastern Australia, during construction of the Thomson Dam. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 1, 71–84.
Changes in benthic sediment in the Thomson River, southeastern Australia, during construction of the Thomson Dam.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Davies, P. M., Walshe, T., and Cook, B. (2004). Managing high in-stream temperatures using riparian vegetation. River and Riparian Land Management Technical Guideline No. 5, Land and Water Australia, Canberra.

Dewson, Z. S., James, A. B. W., and Death, R. G. (2007). A review of the consequences of decreased flow for instream habitat and macroinvertebrates. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 26, 401–415.
A review of the consequences of decreased flow for instream habitat and macroinvertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Downes, B. J. (2010). Back to the future: little-used tools and principles of scientific inference can help disentangle effects of multiple stressors on freshwater ecosystems. Freshwater Biology 55(Suppl. 1), 60–79.
Back to the future: little-used tools and principles of scientific inference can help disentangle effects of multiple stressors on freshwater ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Downes, B. J., and Lancaster, J. (2010). Does dispersal control population densities in advection-dominated systems? A fresh look at critical assumptions and a direct test. Journal of Animal Ecology 79, 235–248.
Does dispersal control population densities in advection-dominated systems? A fresh look at critical assumptions and a direct test.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Downes, B. J., Barmuta, L. A., Fairweather, P. G., Faith, D. P., Keough, M. J., Lake, P. S., Mapstone, B. D., and Quinn, G. P. (2002). ‘Monitoring Ecological Impacts: Concepts and Practice in Flowing Waters.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Elliott, J. M. (2008). The ecology of riffle beetles (Coleoptera: Elmidae). Freshwater Reviews 1, 189–203.

Erskine, W. D., Terrazzolo, N., and Warner, R. F. (1999). River rehabilitation from the hydrogeomorphic impacts of a large hydro-electric power project: Snowy River, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 15, 3–24.
River rehabilitation from the hydrogeomorphic impacts of a large hydro-electric power project: Snowy River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gregory, J. S., Beesley, S. S., and Van Kirk, R. W. (2000). Effect of springtime water temperature on the time of emergence and size of Pteronarcys californica in the Henry’s Fork catchment, Idaho, U.S.A. Freshwater Biology 45, 75–83.
Effect of springtime water temperature on the time of emergence and size of Pteronarcys californica in the Henry’s Fork catchment, Idaho, U.S.A.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Growns, I. O., and Growns, J. E. (2001). Ecological effects of flow regulation on macroinvertebrate and periphytic diatom assemblages in the Hawkesbury–Nepean River, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 17, 275–293.
Ecological effects of flow regulation on macroinvertebrate and periphytic diatom assemblages in the Hawkesbury–Nepean River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Growns, I., Reinfelds, I., Williams, S., and Coade, G. (2009). Longitudinal effects of a water supply reservoir (Tallowa Dam) on downstream water quality, substrate and riffle macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Shoalhaven River, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 594–606.
Longitudinal effects of a water supply reservoir (Tallowa Dam) on downstream water quality, substrate and riffle macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Shoalhaven River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXnsVensrY%3D&md5=9fd132cc2b9df9fd05c0f1d5ff92bbfeCAS |

Hogg, I. D., and Williams, D. D. (1996). Response of stream invertebrates to a global-warming thermal regime: an ecosystem-level manipulation. Ecology 77, 395–407.
Response of stream invertebrates to a global-warming thermal regime: an ecosystem-level manipulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Humphries, P., Davies, P. E., and Mulcahy, M. E. (1996). Macroinvertebrate assemblages of littoral habitats in the Macquarie and Mersey Rivers, Tasmania: implications for the management of regulated rivers. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 12, 99–122.
Macroinvertebrate assemblages of littoral habitats in the Macquarie and Mersey Rivers, Tasmania: implications for the management of regulated rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

James, A. B. W., Dewson, Z. S., and Death, R. G. (2008). Do stream macroinvertebrates use instream refugia in response to severe short-term flow reduction in New Zealand streams? Freshwater Biology 53, 1316–1334.
Do stream macroinvertebrates use instream refugia in response to severe short-term flow reduction in New Zealand streams?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Katano, I., Negishi, J. N., Minagawa, T., Doi, H., Kawaguchi, Y., and Kayaba, Y. (2009). Longitudinal macroinvertebrate organisation over contrasting discontinuities: effects of a dam and a tributary. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 28, 331–351.
Longitudinal macroinvertebrate organisation over contrasting discontinuities: effects of a dam and a tributary.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lake, P. S., and Marchant, R. (1990). Australian upland streams: ecological degradation and possible restoration. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia 16, 79–91.

Lake, P. S., Bond, N., and Reich, P. (2007). Linking ecological theory with stream restoration. Freshwater Biology 52, 597–615.
Linking ecological theory with stream restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lind, P. R., Robson, B. J., and Mitchell, B. D. (2007). Multiple lines of evidence for the beneficial effects of sustaining environmental flows in two lowland rivers in Victoria, Australia. River Research and Applications 23, 933–946.
Multiple lines of evidence for the beneficial effects of sustaining environmental flows in two lowland rivers in Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Magilligan, F. J., and Nislow, K. H. (2005). Changes in hydrologic regime by dams. Geomorphology 71, 61–78.
Changes in hydrologic regime by dams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marchant, R. (1989a). A subsampler for samples of benthic invertebrates. Bulletin of the Australian Society for Limnology 12, 49–52.

Marchant, R. (1989b). Changes in benthic invertebrate communities of the Thomson River, southeastern Australia, after dam construction. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 4, 71–89.
Changes in benthic invertebrate communities of the Thomson River, southeastern Australia, after dam construction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marchant, R., and Hehir, G. (2002). The use of AUSRIVAS predictive models to assess the response of lotic macroinvertebrates to dams in south-east Australia. Freshwater Biology 47, 1033–1050.
The use of AUSRIVAS predictive models to assess the response of lotic macroinvertebrates to dams in south-east Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Matthaei, C. D., Guggelberger, C., and Huber, H. (2003). Local disturbance history affects patchiness of benthic river algae. Freshwater Biology 48, 1514–1526.
Local disturbance history affects patchiness of benthic river algae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mérigoux, S., and Dolédec, S. (2004). Hydraulic requirements of stream communities: a case study on invertebrates. Freshwater Biology 49, 600–613.
Hydraulic requirements of stream communities: a case study on invertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Miller, S. W., Wooster, D., and Li, J. (2007). Resistance and resilience of macroinvertebrates to irrigation water withdrawals. Freshwater Biology 52, 2494–2510.
Resistance and resilience of macroinvertebrates to irrigation water withdrawals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Munn, M. D., and Brusven, M. A. (1991). Benthic macroinvertebrate communities in nonregulated and regulated waters of the Clearwater River, Idaho, USA. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 6, 1–11.
Benthic macroinvertebrate communities in nonregulated and regulated waters of the Clearwater River, Idaho, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nichols, S., Norris, R., Maher, W., and Thoms, M. (2006). Ecological effects of serial impoundment on the Cotter River, Australia. Hydrobiologia 572, 255–273.
Ecological effects of serial impoundment on the Cotter River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtVWlurfN&md5=fa06fb9d7c1d9209a3e3a6760973d3f1CAS |

Olden, J. D., and Naiman, R. J. (2010). Incorporating thermal regimes into environmental flows assessments: modifying dam operations to restore freshwater ecosystem integrity. Freshwater Biology 55, 86–107.
Incorporating thermal regimes into environmental flows assessments: modifying dam operations to restore freshwater ecosystem integrity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Oldmeadow, D., Lancaster, J., and Rice, S. P. (2010). Drift and settlement of stream insects in a complex hydraulic environment. Freshwater Biology 55, 1020–1035.
Drift and settlement of stream insects in a complex hydraulic environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pardo, I., Campbell, I. C., and Brittain, J. E. (1998). Influence of dam operation on mayfly assemblage structure and life histories in two south-eastern Australian streams. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 14, 285–295.
Influence of dam operation on mayfly assemblage structure and life histories in two south-eastern Australian streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Petts, G., Armitage, P., and Castella, E. (1993). Physical habitat changes and macroinvertebrate response to river regulation: the River Rede, UK. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 8, 167–178.
Physical habitat changes and macroinvertebrate response to river regulation: the River Rede, UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Poff, N. L., and Zimmerman, J. K. H. (2010). Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform science and management of environmental flows. Freshwater Biology 55, 194–205.
Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform science and management of environmental flows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Poff, N. L., Allan, J. D., Bain, M. B., Karr, J. R., Prestegaard, K. L., Richter, B. D., Sparks, R. E., and Stromberg, J. C. (1997). The natural flow regime – a paradigm for river conservation and restoration. Bioscience 47, 769–784.
The natural flow regime – a paradigm for river conservation and restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pringle, C. (2003). What is hydrologic connectivity and why is it ecologically important? Hydrological Processes 17, 2685–2689.
What is hydrologic connectivity and why is it ecologically important?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Quinn, G. P., and Keough, M. J. (2002). ‘Experimental Design and Analysis for Biologists.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Rader, R. B., and Belish, T. A. (1999). Influence of mild to severe flow alterations on invertebrates in three mountain streams. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 15, 353–363.
Influence of mild to severe flow alterations on invertebrates in three mountain streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rader, R. B., Voelz, N. J., and Ward, J. V. (2008). Post-flood recovery of a macroinvertebrate community in a regulated river: resilience of an anthropogenically altered ecosystem. Restoration Ecology 16, 24–33.
Post-flood recovery of a macroinvertebrate community in a regulated river: resilience of an anthropogenically altered ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reinfelds, I., and Williams, S. (2008). Hydraulic modelling to estimate threshold discharges for sediment entrainment in the Snowy River, Australia. Snowy River Recovery: Snowy River Flow Response Monitoring, Department of Water and Energy, Sydney.

Rice, S. P., Greenwood, M. T., and Joyce, C. B. (2001). Tributaries, sediment sources and the longitudinal organisation of macroinvertebrate fauna along river systems. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58, 824–840.
Tributaries, sediment sources and the longitudinal organisation of macroinvertebrate fauna along river systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rice, S. P., Ferguson, R. I., and Hoey, T. B. (2006). Tributary control of physical heterogeneity and biological diversity at river confluences. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 63, 2553–2566.
Tributary control of physical heterogeneity and biological diversity at river confluences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Robson, B. J., Chester, E. T., and Austin, C. M. (2011). Why life history information matters: drought refuges and macroinvertebrate persistence in non-perennial streams subject to a drier climate. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 801–810.
Why life history information matters: drought refuges and macroinvertebrate persistence in non-perennial streams subject to a drier climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXpt1Gjsrs%3D&md5=6977fa652ca3c8adefe787afba19dedaCAS |

Robson, B. J., Mitchell, B. D., and Chester, E. T. (2011). An outcome based model for predicting recovery pathways in restored ecosystems: the recovery cascade model. Ecological Engineering 37, 1379–1386.
An outcome based model for predicting recovery pathways in restored ecosystems: the recovery cascade model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Scullion, J., Parish, C. A., Morgan, N., and Edwards, R. W. (1982). Comparison of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna and substratum composition in riffles and pools in the impounded River Elan and the unregulated River Wye, mid-Wales. Freshwater Biology 12, 579–595.
Comparison of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna and substratum composition in riffles and pools in the impounded River Elan and the unregulated River Wye, mid-Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Souchon, Y., Sabaton, C., Deibel, R., Reiser, D., Kershner, J., Gard, M., Katopodis, C., Leonard, P., Poff, N.L., Miller, W.J., and Lamb, B.L. (2008). Detecting biological responses to flow management: missed opportunities; future directions. River Research and Applications 24, 506–518.
Detecting biological responses to flow management: missed opportunities; future directions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stanford, J. A., and Ward, J. V. (2001). Revisiting the serial discontinuity concept. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 17, 303–310.
Revisiting the serial discontinuity concept.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stanley, E. H., Fisher, S. G., and Grimm, N. B. (1997). Ecosystem expansion and contraction in streams. Bioscience 47, 427–435.
Ecosystem expansion and contraction in streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stanley, E. H., Luebke, M. A., Doyle, M. W., and Marshall, D. W. (2002). Short-term changes in channel form and macroinvertebrate communities following a low-head dam removal. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 21, 172–187.
Short-term changes in channel form and macroinvertebrate communities following a low-head dam removal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yarnell, S. M., Viers, J. H., and Mount, J. F. (2010). Ecology and management of the spring snowmelt recession. Bioscience 60, 114–127.
Ecology and management of the spring snowmelt recession.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |