Back to Search
Start Over
Spatial and seasonal variability of forested headwater stream temperatures in western Oregon, USA.
- Source :
-
Aquatic Sciences . Apr2017, Vol. 79 Issue 2, p291-307. 17p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Thermal regimes of forested headwater streams control the growth and distribution of various aquatic organisms. In a western Oregon, USA, case study we examined: (1) forested headwater stream temperature variability in space and time; (2) relationships between stream temperature patterns and weather, above-stream canopy cover, and geomorphic attributes; and (3) the predictive ability of a regional stream temperature model to account for headwater stream temperature heterogeneity. Stream temperature observations were collected at 48 sites within a 128-ha managed forest in western Oregon during 2012 and 2013. Headwater stream temperatures showed the greatest spatial variability during summer (range up to 10 $$^\circ$$ C) and during cold and dry winter periods (range up to 7.5 $$^\circ$$ C), but showed less spatial variability during spring, fall and wet winter periods (range between 2 and 5 $$^\circ$$ C). Distinct thermal regimes among sites were identified; however, geomorphic attributes typically used in regional stream temperature models were not good predictors of thermal variability at headwater scales. A regional stream temperature model captured the mode of mean August temperatures observed across the study area, but overpredicted temperatures for a quarter of the sites by up to 2.8 $$^\circ$$ C. This study indicates considerable spatial thermal variability may occur at scales not resolved by regional stream temperature models. Recognizing this sub-landscape variability may be important when predicting distributions of aquatic organisms and their habitat under climate and environment change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10151621
- Volume :
- 79
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Aquatic Sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 121700082
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-016-0497-9