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Relationships between ecosystem metabolism, benthic macroinvertebrate densities, and environmental variables in a sub-arctic Alaskan river

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Abstract

Relationships between environmental variables, ecosystem metabolism, and benthos are not well understood in sub-arctic ecosystems. The goal of this study was to investigate environmental drivers of river ecosystem metabolism and macroinvertebrate density in a sub-arctic river. We estimated primary production and respiration rates, sampled benthic macroinvertebrates, and monitored light intensity, discharge rate, and nutrient concentrations in the Chena River, interior Alaska, over two summers. We employed Random Forests models to identify predictor variables for metabolism rates and benthic macroinvertebrate density and biomass, and calculated Spearman correlations between in-stream nutrient levels and metabolism rates. Models indicated that discharge and length of time between high water events were the most important factors measured for predicting metabolism rates. Discharge was the most important variable for predicting benthic macroinvertebrate density and biomass. Primary production rate peaked at intermediate discharge, respiration rate was lowest at the greatest time since last high water event, and benthic macroinvertebrate density was lowest at high discharge rates. The ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to soluble reactive phosphorus ranged from 27:1 to 172:1. We found that discharge plays a key role in regulating stream ecosystem metabolism, but that low phosphorous levels also likely limit primary production in this sub-arctic stream.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Dr. Jeremy Jones for insightful comments on this manuscript, Dr. Arny Blanchard for assistance with statistical analyses, and Matthew Evenson for helpful input throughout the duration of this project. We thank the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for funding and technical support, as well as Audra Brase, Virgil Davis, Mel Durrett, Matt Evenson, TJ Fayton, Stephanie Fischer, Bessie Green, Laura Gutierrez, Jason Neuswanger, Megan Perry, Erika Rader, James Riedman, Dave Roon, James Savereide, Kyle Schumann, and Katie Skogen for help in the field and lab. Thanks to Dr. Abby Powell and several anonymous students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for commenting on and improving an earlier draft of this manuscript. Water chemistry analytical data were provided by the Cooperative Chemical Analytical Laboratory established by memorandum of understanding no. PNW-82-187 between the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station and the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University. Any use of trade firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Program, Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Emily R. Benson

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Mark S. Wipfli

  3. Cawthron Institute, Nelson, 7042, New Zealand

    Joanne E. Clapcott

  4. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Nicholas F. Hughes

  5. Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441136, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA

    Emily R. Benson

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  1. Emily R. Benson
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Correspondence to Emily R. Benson.

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Benson, E.R., Wipfli, M.S., Clapcott, J.E. et al. Relationships between ecosystem metabolism, benthic macroinvertebrate densities, and environmental variables in a sub-arctic Alaskan river. Hydrobiologia 701, 189–207 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1272-0

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