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How is a stream impacted by burial? Examining the spatial variation within urban buried streams in Cincinnati, OH
Citation:
Hintz, C., T. Newcomer-Johnson, K. Fritz, AND I. Buffam. How is a stream impacted by burial? Examining the spatial variation within urban buried streams in Cincinnati, OH. Annual Meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science, Detroit, Michigan, May 20 - 24, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
The study examines the impacts of stream burial (or piping) at fine spatial scales to characterize longitudinal changes in periphyton biomass, gross primary production, and ecosystem metabolism in two urban streams in Cincinnati, OH.
Description:
While the effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems have been well-documented, little is known regarding the impact of burying streams within culverts. Our project aims to explore the ecological impacts of stream burial at a fine spatial scale. Two culverted urban streams in Cincinnati, OH, USA were evaluated over 8 months to achieve this aim, with measurements made along a spatial gradient above, within, and below the culverts. Monthly periphyton samples were collected from artificial substrate, and monthly deployments of dissolved oxygen and temperature loggers were used to evaluate rates of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). Preliminary results demonstrate that ash-free dry mass (AFDM) of periphyton was lower in buried reaches than in open upstream and downstream reaches, as expected. GPP was supported at lower levels within buried reaches and continued to decrease with distance downstream within the buried reach. ER was supported at lower levels within buried reaches as well, but showed little within-culvert spatial variation. The differing responses of GPP and ER can lead to patches of low stream dissolved oxygen, particularly at the downstream end of culverts and during periods of low flow.
