Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States
The recent introduction of large geospatial databases and virtual measurement devices for streams of the United States have the potential to greatly improve stream classification systems as well as answer fundamental questions about river morphology. The physical condition of over 800 streams of the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Freshwater Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2020.1861119 |
| _version_ | 1798034073277431808 |
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| author | David C. Houghton |
| author_facet | David C. Houghton |
| author_sort | David C. Houghton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The recent introduction of large geospatial databases and virtual measurement devices for streams of the United States have the potential to greatly improve stream classification systems as well as answer fundamental questions about river morphology. The physical condition of over 800 streams of the adjoining Upper Midwest and Temperate Plains ecoregions of the northcentral US were analyzed using principle components analysis of 10 selected site variables. Delineation was along three axes, with the first axis corresponding to differences in base flow, temperature, and soil permeability; the second corresponding to stream gradient, depth to bedrock and water table, and composite topographic index; and the third corresponding to stream sinuosity. Separation of streams into the two ecoregions was distinct, and primarily along axis 1. Adding a secondary matrix of 10 anthropogenic and geographic predictor variables produced a similar ecoregional separation, with latitude, percent of non-native plants, and overall intact habitat corresponding with axis 1. Natural and anthropogenic differences in streams of these two ecoregions appear inexorably linked, a situation probably common throughout the developed world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:39:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd1fb23ae39c4071b84505ead85a82dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0270-5060 2156-6941 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:39:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Freshwater Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd1fb23ae39c4071b84505ead85a82dc2022-12-22T04:04:17ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Freshwater Ecology0270-50602156-69412021-12-0136111210.1080/02705060.2020.18611191861119Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United StatesDavid C. Houghton0Department of Biology, Hillsdale CollegeThe recent introduction of large geospatial databases and virtual measurement devices for streams of the United States have the potential to greatly improve stream classification systems as well as answer fundamental questions about river morphology. The physical condition of over 800 streams of the adjoining Upper Midwest and Temperate Plains ecoregions of the northcentral US were analyzed using principle components analysis of 10 selected site variables. Delineation was along three axes, with the first axis corresponding to differences in base flow, temperature, and soil permeability; the second corresponding to stream gradient, depth to bedrock and water table, and composite topographic index; and the third corresponding to stream sinuosity. Separation of streams into the two ecoregions was distinct, and primarily along axis 1. Adding a secondary matrix of 10 anthropogenic and geographic predictor variables produced a similar ecoregional separation, with latitude, percent of non-native plants, and overall intact habitat corresponding with axis 1. Natural and anthropogenic differences in streams of these two ecoregions appear inexorably linked, a situation probably common throughout the developed world.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2020.1861119streamland usebase flowtemperaturegradient watershed |
| spellingShingle | David C. Houghton Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States Journal of Freshwater Ecology stream land use base flow temperature gradient watershed |
| title | Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States |
| title_full | Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States |
| title_short | Assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral United States |
| title_sort | assessment of physical condition and anthropogenic disturbance of streams of the northcentral united states |
| topic | stream land use base flow temperature gradient watershed |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2020.1861119 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidchoughton assessmentofphysicalconditionandanthropogenicdisturbanceofstreamsofthenorthcentralunitedstates |