Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Longitudinal variation in macroinvertebrate assemblages below a large-scale hydroelectric dam

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Worldwide, dams have had pervasive impacts on their associated river systems. In this study, we examined the effects of a large-scale dam on the downstream macroinvertebrate assemblages of a 65-km stretch of the Chattahoochee River (Georgia, USA) over an 11-year period. We quantified differences among six sites within the study reach using NMS, ANOSIM, invertebrate metrics (Shannon–Weiner diversity, number of EPT taxa, and number of sensitive taxa), and indicator analysis. We compared results from this study to the nearby unregulated Middle Oconee River. There were significant differences among all sites and increases in all macroinvertebrate metrics as distance from the dam increased (and diel flow variation decreased). Indicator analysis supported this pattern: no EPT indicator taxa existed directly below the dam, whereas 17 were indicators at the final site. Similarity between the Middle Oconee and the Chattahoochee was moderate (52%). Our results suggest that impacts of the dam are far-reaching and long-term, and that the macroinvertebrate assemblage does not return to a fully representative state even 65 km downstream. This study contributes to the small but growing field of research on effects of dams over long temporal and spatial scales.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, P. H., D. C. Currie & D. M. Wood, 2004. The Black Flies (Simuliidae) of North America. Cornell Press, Ithaca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, E. D., 1986. Downstream effects of Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Green River, Colorado and Utah. Geological Society of America Bulletin 97: 1012–1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, R. M. & P. Glaude, 1980. Environmental effects of dams and impoundments in Canada. Canadian Bulletin of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 205: 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belmar, O., D. Bruno, F. Martínez-Capel, J. Barquín & J. Velasco, 2013. Effects of flow regime alteration on fluvial habitats and riparian quality in a semiarid Mediterranean basin. Ecological Indicators 30: 52–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruno, D., O. Belmar, D. Sanchez-Fernandez, S. Guareschi, A. Millan & J. Velasco, 2014. Responses of Mediterranean aquatic and riparian communities to human pressures at different spatial scales. Ecological Indicators 45: 456–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, W. F., C. V. Baxter, K. C. Donner, E. J. Rosi-Marshall, T. A. Kennedy, R. O. Hall, H. A. W. Kelly & R. S. Rogers, 2011. Ecosystem ecology meets adaptive management: food web response to a controlled flood on the Colorado River, Glen Canyon. Ecological Applications 21: 2016–2033.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, W. F., C. V. Baxter, E. J. Rosi-Marshall, R. O. Hall, T. A. Kennedy, K. C. Donner, H. A. W. Kelly, S. E. Z. Seegert, K. E. Behn & M. D. Yard, 2013. Food-web dynamics in a large river discontinuum. Ecological Monographs 83: 311–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Oliveira Naliato, D. A., M. G. Nogueira & G. Perbiche-Neves, 2009. Discharge pulses of hydroelectric dams and their effects in the downstream limnological conditions: a case study in a large tropical river (SE Brazil). Lakes & Reservoirs Research and Management 14: 301–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, R. T., Jr., B. T. Watson, T. W. Stewart & W. K. Reeves, 2003. The freshwater gastropods of North America. [available on internet at http://www.fwgna.org, http://www.fwgna.org]. Accessed 1 Dec 2011.

  • Dufrene, M. & P. Legendre, 1997. Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecological Monographs 67: 345–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epler, J. H., 2001. Identification Manual for the Larval Chironomidae (Diptera) of North and South Carolina. A Guide to the Taxonomy of the Midges of the Southeastern United States including Florida. Special Publication SJ2001-SP13. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and St. John’s River Water Management District, Raleigh, NC and Palatka, FL.

  • GADNR, 2007. Macroinvertebrate biological assessment of wadeable streams in Georgia: standard operating procedures. Watershed Protection Branch, Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, Georgia.

  • Geraci, C. J., X. Zhou, J. C. Morse & K. M. Kjer, 2010. Defining the genus Hydropsyche (Trichoptera:Hydropsychidae) based on DNA and morphological evidence. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 29: 918–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, C. A., J. L. Meyer, N. L. Poff, L. E. Hay & A. Georgakakos, 2005. Flow regime alterations under changing climate in two river basins: implications for freshwater ecosystems. River Research and Applications 21: 849–864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graf, W. L., 2006. Downstream hydrologic and geomorphic effects of large dams on American rivers. Geomorphology 79: 336–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grubaugh, J. W. & J. B. Wallace, 1995. Functional structure and production of the benthic community in a Piedmont river – 1956–1957 and 1991–1992. Limnology and Oceanography 40: 490–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haxton, T. J. & C. S. Findlay, 2008. Meta-analysis of the impacts of water management on aquatic communities. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65: 437–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hester, F. E. & J. S. Dendy, 1962. A multiple-plate sampler for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Transacations of the American Fisheries Society 91: 420–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holt, C. R., D. Pfitzer, C. Scalley, B. A. Caldwell & D. P. Batzer, 2014. Macroinvertebrate community responses to annual flow variation from river regulation: an 11-year study. River Research and Applications. doi:10.1002/rra.2782

  • Hynes, H. B. N., 1970. The Ecology of Running Waters. Toronto University Press, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. L. & G. L. Harp, 2005. Spatio-temporal changes of benthic macroinvertebrates in a cold Arkansas tailwater. Hydrobiologia 537: 15–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Justus, B. G., J. C. Petersen, S. R. Femmer, J. V. Davis & J. E. Wallace, 2010. A comparison of algal, macroinvertebrate, and fish assemblage indices for assessing low-level nutrient enrichment in wadeable Ozark streams. Ecological Indicators 10: 627–638.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kathman, R. D. & R. O. Brinkhurst, 1999. Guide to the Freshwater Oligochaetes of North America. Aquatic Resources Center, College Grove.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennard, M. J., J. D. Olden, A. H. Arthington, B. J. Pusey & N. L. Poff, 2007. Multiscale effects of flow regime and habitat and their interaction on fish assemblage structure in eastern Australia. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64: 1346–1359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klemm, D. J., 1995. Identification Guide to the Freshwater Leeches (Annelida:Hirudinea) of Florida and Other Southern States. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konrad, C. P., A. M. D. Brasher & J. T. May, 2008. Assessing streamflow characteristics as limiting factors on benthic invertebrate assemblages in streams across the western United States. Freshwater Biology 53: 1983–1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenat, D. R., 1993. A biotic index for the southeastern United States – derivation and list of tolerance values, with criteria for assigning water quality ratings. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 12: 279–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J. K. & Z. T. Yu, 1992. Water quality changes and effects on fish populations in the Hanjiang River, China, following hydroelectric dam construction. Regulated Rivers-Research & Management 7: 359–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackie, G. L., 2007. Biology of Freshwater Corbiculid and Sphaeriid Clams of North America. Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus.

  • Marchetti, M. P., E. Esteban, A. N. H. Smith, D. Pickard, A. B. Richards & J. Slusark, 2011. Measuring the ecological impact of long-term flow disturbance on the macroinvertebrate community in a large Mediterranean climate river. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 26: 459–480.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKinney, T., A. D. Ayers & R. S. Rogers, 1999. Macroinvertebrate drift in the tailwater of a regulated river below Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona. Southwestern Naturalist 44: 205–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merritt, R. W., K. W. Cummins & M. B. Berg (eds), 2008. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America, 4th ed. Kendall/Hunt, Dubuque.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minshall, G. W., B. Shafii, W. J. Price, C. Holderman, P. J. Anders, G. Lester & P. Barrett, 2014. Effects of nutrient replacement on benthic macroinvertebrates in an ultraoligotrophic reach of the Kootenai River, 2003-2010. Freshwater Science 33: 1009–1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Needham, J. G., M. J. Westfall Jr & M. L. May, 2000. Dragonflies of North America. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Rouke, P. M., 2014. Diet composition of wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout in a coldwater tailwater fishery in north Georgia. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 1(1957): 83–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poff, N. L., J. D. Allan, M. B. Bain, J. R. Karr, K. L. Prestegaard, B. D. Richter, R. E. Sparks & J. C. Stromberg, 1997. The natural flow regime. Bioscience 47: 769–784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poff, N. L. & J. K. H. Zimmerman, 2010. Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform the science and management of environmental flows. Freshwater Biology 55: 194–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter, B. D. & G. A. Thomas, 2007. Restoring environmental flows by modifying dam operations. Ecology and Society 12: 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, L. E., J. P. Shannon & D. W. Blinn, 1997. Colorado River benthic ecology in Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA: Dam, tributary and geomorphological influences. Regulated Rivers-Research & Management 13: 129–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, K. W. & B. P. Stark, 2002. Nymphs of North American Stonefly Genera, 2nd ed. The Caddis Press, Columbus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surber, E. W., 1937. Rainbow trout and bottom fauna production in one mile of stream. Transacations of the American Fisheries Society 66: 193–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorp, J. H. & A. P. Covich (eds), 2010. Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, 3rd ed. Academic Press, New York.

  • Topping, D. J., D. M. Rubin & L. E. Vierra, 2000. Colorado River sediment transport – 1. Natural sediment supply limitation and the influence of Glen Canyon Dam. Water Resources Research 36: 515–542.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USGS, 2013. National Water Information System. [available on internet at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/]. Accessed 3 Mar 2013.

  • Vannote, R. L., G. W. Minshall, K. W. Cummins, J. R. Sedell & C. E. Cushing, 1980. River continuum concept. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37: 130–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, M. R., 2001. Long-term dynamics of an invertebrate assemblage downstream from a large dam. Ecological Applications 11: 711–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westfall Jr, M. J. & M. L. May, 2006. Damselflies of North America. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, G. B., 1996. Larvae of the North American Caddisfly Genera (Trichoptera), 2nd ed. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, Y. G. & G. Power, 1996. Environmental impacts of hydroelectric projects on fish resources in China. Regulated Rivers-Research & Management 12: 81–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zomlefer, W. B., D. E. Giannasi, A. Reynolds & K. Heiman, 2012. Vascular plant flora of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a conservation corridor from the Buford Dam to Atlanta, Georgia. Rhodora 114: 50–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was made possible through funding from the National Park Service (Task Agreement No. P12AC11207) and the Hatch Program. We gratefully acknowledge Rick Slade and all other NPS staff who helped in the development of this project, along with the Chattahoochee Coldwater Fishery Foundation field volunteers who assisted in sample collection. Thank you also to three anonymous reviewers who provided suggestions that significantly improved the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 413 Biological Sciences Bldg., Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    C. R. Holt & D. P. Batzer

  2. Chattahoochee Coldwater Fishery Foundation, Roswell, GA, USA

    D. Pfitzer & C. Scalley

  3. Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL, USA

    B. A. Caldwell

  4. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA, USA

    P. I. Capece

Authors
  1. C. R. Holt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Pfitzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Scalley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. A. Caldwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. I. Capece
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. P. Batzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. R. Holt.

Additional information

Handling editor: Checo Colón-Gaud

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 47 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Holt, C.R., Pfitzer, D., Scalley, C. et al. Longitudinal variation in macroinvertebrate assemblages below a large-scale hydroelectric dam. Hydrobiologia 755, 13–26 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2212-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2212-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation