Spatial and Temporal Variation of Large Wood in a Coastal River

Large wood (LW) is a critical habitat-forming feature in rivers, but our understanding of its spatial and temporal dynamics remains incomplete due to its historical removal from waterways. Few studies have the necessary spatial and temporal extent and resolution to assess wood dynamics over long tim...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecosystems (New York) 2024-01, Vol.27 (1), p.19-32
Main Authors: Yazzie, Kimberly C., Torgersen, Christian E., Schindler, Daniel E., Reeves, Gordon H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Density
Dynamics
Ecology
Environmental Management
Floods
Geoecology/Natural Processes
Heterogeneity
Hydrology/Water Resources
Life Sciences
Plant Sciences
Rivers
Temporal variations
Waterways
Zoology
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Summary:Large wood (LW) is a critical habitat-forming feature in rivers, but our understanding of its spatial and temporal dynamics remains incomplete due to its historical removal from waterways. Few studies have the necessary spatial and temporal extent and resolution to assess wood dynamics over long time periods or in response to flood disturbance. We used an exceptional dataset from 65 km of a free-flowing coastal river in Oregon, USA, to characterize LW dynamics over a 12-year period (1989–2000). Our objectives were to assess the spatial dynamics of LW over multiple spatial scales and characterize changes in these patterns in response to a major flood in November 1996. Higher LW densities were found in the tributaries, and higher temporal variation of density existed in the main stem. Within years and among reaches, LW density varied by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude across the river. Patterns of LW accumulation across the river were not comparably different when considered at spatial resolutions 
ISSN:1432-9840
1435-0629
DOI:10.1007/s10021-023-00870-0