Coastal habitat and biological community response to dam removal on the Elwha River

摘要: Habitat diversity and heterogeneity play a fundamental role in structuring ecological communities. Dam emplacement removal can fundamentally alter habitat characteristics, which turn affect associated biological Beginning the early 1900s, Elwha Glines Canyon dams Washington, USA, withheld an estimated 30 million tonnes of sediment from river, coastal, nearshore habitats. During staged these dams—the largest dam project history—over 14 were released former reservoirs. Our interdisciplinary study coastal habitats—the first its kind—shows how physical changes to river delta estuary habitats during linked responses Sediment resulted over meter sedimentation 400 m expansion mouth landform. These increased amount supratidal intertidal habitat, but also reduced influx seawater into pre-removal complex. The effects geomorphic hydrologic cascaded systems, reducing abundance macroinvertebrates fish shifting community composition brackish freshwater-dominated species. Vegetation did not significantly change on delta, pioneer vegetation removal, coinciding with addition newly available habitat. Understanding respond large-scale human stressors—and some cases those stressors—is increasingly important as uses restoration activities increase habitats. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.