Effects of mechanical macrophyte control on suspended sediment concentrations in streams |
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Authors: | MJC Greer AS Hicks SK Crow GP Closs |
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Institution: | 1. Environment Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealandmichael.greer@ecan.govt.nz;3. Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Napier, New Zealand;4. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Christchurch, New Zealand;5. Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | Suspended sediment (SS) is an important pollutant in freshwater ecosystems and can be detrimental to fish communities. Although macrophytes mediate sediment deposition, little effort has been put into determining how their removal affects sediment resuspension. The present study examined the immediate and long-term impacts of mechanical macrophyte removal on SS concentrations in streams. The results of this study suggest that bed disturbance during mechanical excavation of macrophytes significantly increases SS in the short term, and concentrations were found to increase by as much as 15,687 mg L–1 immediately after macrophyte removal. Significant long-term (77 day) increases in SS were also observed, indicating that without macrophytes, disturbed material is continually resuspended after excavation by fluvial processes. These results demonstrate that macrophyte removal can result in SS levels that have previously been shown to harm fish, and indicate that this activity may be more detrimental to fish than previously thought. |
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Keywords: | Anthropogenic disturbance aquatic weeds catchment management macrophytes plant management suspended sediment |
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