Riparian Seedling Establishment Defined by Sediment Mobilization and Water Availability In a Gravel Bed River

Stream hydrograph and morphology are the main drivers of riparian white alder distribution. White alder seeds are preferentially deposited on stream bars where stream morphology and flow result in eddies. This thesis predicts the establishment success of riparian seedlings as a function of root growth during the “establishment period” delineated by the seed deposition date, and date of sediment mobilization. Seeds must be deposited during the final spring recession so they are not remobilized by the flow. Following germination, roots must not necessarily maintain a connection with the water table, but must grow deeper than the depth of scour during the following fall/winter. The length of the establishment period depends on the date of the last stream recession, and the date stream flow increases to mobilize sediment. This analysis shows few years where seedling establishment can occur because winter flows are rarely low enough to avoid stream scouring.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Jablkowski, Patrick

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Johnson, Edward

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Freeman, Andrea
• Post, John
• Yueng, Edward
• Martin, Yvonne

• Ecology
• Hydrology

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27666

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/3444