Modeled hydrologic metrics show links between hydrology and the functional composition of stream assemblages.

摘要: Flow alteration is widespread in streams, but current understanding of the effects differences flow characteristics on stream biological communities incomplete. We tested hypotheses about effect variation hydrology by using generalized additive models to relate watershed information values different metrics at gauged sites. accounted for 54-80% spatial metric among then used these predict 842 ungauged sites mid-Atlantic United States that were sampled fish, macroinvertebrates, and environmental covariates. Fish macroinvertebrate assemblages characterized terms a suite quantified aspects community composition, diversity, functional traits expected be associated with characteristics. related modeled series stressor-response models. Our analyses identified both drying base instability as explaining 30-50% observed variability fish invertebrate composition. Variations composition variations prevalence dispersal invertebrates trophic guilds fish. The results demonstrate we can use statistical hydrologic conditions bioassessment sites, which, turn, estimate relationships between This analysis provides an approach quantify readily available biomonitoring data.