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The role of fine sediment characteristics and body size on the vertical movement of a freshwater amphipod

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posted on 2018-10-22, 13:23 authored by Kate Mathers, Matthew J. Hill, Connor D. Wood, Paul WoodPaul Wood
1. Sedimentation and clogging (colmation) of interstitial pore spaces with fine sediment particles is widely considered to be one of the most significant threats to lotic ecosystem functioning. This paper presents the results of a running water mesocosm study examining the effect of benthic and hyporheic fine sediment loading and particle size on the vertical movement and distribution of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex. 2. A gradient of fine sediment loading and different particle sizes were used to examine the ability of G. pulex from two body size classes to access and migrate vertically within subsurface sediments. 3. We tested three hypotheses: i) sediment loading would modify the distribution of G. pulex by limiting vertical movement; ii) the deposition of large particles and heterogenous sediments would limit the vertical movement of individuals more than homogeneous fine grained sediments; and iii) large bodied individuals would be prevented from migrating vertically with increasing sediment loading and particle size / heterogeneity. 4. Sediment loading, particle size and heterogeneity of deposited sediment had a significant effect on the vertical movement of individuals, with heterogeneous sand (0.125 - 4 mm) acting as the strongest barrier to the vertical movement of individuals through the infilling and clogging of interstitial spaces followed by coarse (1 - 4mm) and fine sand (0.125 - 4 mm). 5. Fine sediment loading and particle size acted as a filter on body size and limited the ability of large bodied individuals to migrate vertically to a greater extent than small bodied individuals. 6. This study demonstrates that the effects of fine sediment on habitat availability and faunal movement is dependent on both sedimentological characteristics and an individual’s body size. The results illustrate the importance of both abiotic and biotic factors when evaluating the ecological 66 effects of fine sediment deposition.

Funding

PJW acknowledges the support of a Cave Science and Technology Research Fund grant from the British Cave Research Association for support to develop the experimental facility.

History

School

  • Social Sciences

Department

  • Geography and Environment

Published in

Freshwater Biology

Citation

MATHERS, K.L. ... et al, 2019. The role of fine sediment characteristics and body size on the vertical movement of a freshwater amphipod. Freshwater Biology, 64(1), pp. 152-163.

Publisher

© John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: MATHERS, K.L. ... et al, 2019. The role of fine sediment characteristics and body size on the vertical movement of a freshwater amphipod. Freshwater Biology, 64(1), pp. 152-163, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13202. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.

Acceptance date

2018-09-18

Publication date

2018-11-12

ISSN

0046-5070

eISSN

1365-2427

Language

  • en

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