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Effects of discharge and substrate characteristics on FPOM retention

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

I released chloride and corn pollen into artificial streams to study the effects of discharge, substrate size, leaf packs, and pools on the retention and transport of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM). I found that doubling discharge significantly decreased both hydraulic and FPOM retention (measured as pollen uptake length). However, quadrupling discharge returned both hydraulic and FPOM retention to original or higher values. There was a strong positive relationship between FPOM depositional velocity and discharge (r² = 0.846, p < 0.0001), and between FPOM depositional velocity and turbulence (r² = 0.831, p < 0.0001). Depositional velocity for all experiments was considerably less than predicted by the “fall-velocity model”. Substrate size controlled hydraulic retention through the size of interstitial spaces in the bed and FPOM retention through substrate-created turbulence. Small gravel substrate had the largest transient storage zone relative to stream cross-sectional area. Large gravel substrate had the highest depositional velocity of pollen and the most turbulence. Cobble had the least hydraulic and FPOM retention. Adding leaf packs significantly decreased hydraulic and FPOM retention. However, the number of leaf packs made little difference. Adding pools significantly increased hydraulic retention and FROM depositional velocity.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biology
Department dc:contributor.department
Biology
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1996

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Ward, Brian Richard
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Webster, Jackson R.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Benfield, Fred
  • Dolloff, C. Andrew

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-08292008-063255
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44482

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Ward, Brian Richard. Effects of discharge and substrate characteristics on FPOM retention. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/44482