Littoral and shoreline wood in mid‐continent great rivers (USA)

摘要: Woody debris has several important roles in running water. Less is known about the ecology of wood great rivers than smaller and streams. We used a probability survey to estimate abundance littoral shoreline along following mid-continent United States summer 2004–2006: Missouri River, Upper Mississippi Ohio River. counted pieces >0.3 m diameter from zone between bank full level out into river 10 m. categorized according its origin function as “beached” (transported upriver but not providing aquatic habitat), “wet” (origin unknown habitat; includes snags), or “anchored” (attached at current location habitat). 5900 447 sites across rivers. Approximately 56 percent were beached, 30 wet, 14 anchored. Overall, mean was 2.6 100 m−1 (approximately 3.0 m3 100 m−1). Abundance (pieces per unit distance river) much lower been reported for many streams There more River (3.3 100 m−1) elsewhere (≤2.4 The on decreased significantly 2004 2005 periods due high flows. Longitudinal patterns weak. less anchored wet shorelines protected by revetment (e.g., rip rap). generally where riparian land use characterized forest rather agriculture developed. Mean forested, un-revetted approximately four (= 80 km−1 river). This what amounts least disturbed conditions relevant bioassessment management. Published 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.