Spatial geomorphic complexity in rivers
....how and why landforms, sediments, habitats, and their associated characteristics vary in rivers and floodplains.
Geomorphic complexity, both spatial and behavioral, is associated with increased biodiversity and may be an important component of river resiliency. Our past projects on spatial geomorphic complexity in the Cahaba River of Alabama investigated how the spatial configuration of geomorphic units (shoals and pools) potentially affect nitrogen retention and removal in large rivers, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.05.018, and the effect of bedrock characteristics on the distribution of emergent macrophytes, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.06.018.
The FGG is currently collaborating with the Atkinson Lab, http://atkinsonlab.ua.edu and Dr. Sarah Praskievicz (UNC-Greensboro), on a project investigating the role of freshwater mussels in creating geomorphic complexity in the Sipsey River (AL) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.07.016). Mussels are ecoengineers, meaning they modify their physical environments to fit their biological needs. They can live decades in dense communities (hundreds in a few square meters).
The overarching question we aim to answer is whether mussels can alter localized hydro- and sediment dynamics to the degree that it affects channel morphology and river sinuosity (Fig. 1). We're using a variety of approaches, designed to address this question at small (patch) to large spatial scales (reach and segment), including instream, manipulation experiments using mussel and sediment enclosures and hydrogeomorphic modeling (Figs. 2-5).
Geomorphic complexity, both spatial and behavioral, is associated with increased biodiversity and may be an important component of river resiliency. Our past projects on spatial geomorphic complexity in the Cahaba River of Alabama investigated how the spatial configuration of geomorphic units (shoals and pools) potentially affect nitrogen retention and removal in large rivers, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.05.018, and the effect of bedrock characteristics on the distribution of emergent macrophytes, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.06.018.
The FGG is currently collaborating with the Atkinson Lab, http://atkinsonlab.ua.edu and Dr. Sarah Praskievicz (UNC-Greensboro), on a project investigating the role of freshwater mussels in creating geomorphic complexity in the Sipsey River (AL) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.07.016). Mussels are ecoengineers, meaning they modify their physical environments to fit their biological needs. They can live decades in dense communities (hundreds in a few square meters).
The overarching question we aim to answer is whether mussels can alter localized hydro- and sediment dynamics to the degree that it affects channel morphology and river sinuosity (Fig. 1). We're using a variety of approaches, designed to address this question at small (patch) to large spatial scales (reach and segment), including instream, manipulation experiments using mussel and sediment enclosures and hydrogeomorphic modeling (Figs. 2-5).