Hydrodynamic control of benthic mats of Didymosphenia geminata at the reach scale

Abstract

Algal blooms caused by the stalk-forming diatom Didymosphenia geminata impact the habitat structure and functioning of stream ecosystems. We evaluated site-specific geomorphic controls on D. geminata in a cobble bed river in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Entrainment potential, defined as the ratio of mean bed shear stress to the critical shear stress, was found to be the most important control on total abundance. A comparison with critical thresholds for sediment transport showed that the requirements for flushing flows to control D. geminata blooms are similar to that required for channel maintenance. Environmental parameters influencing the morphology of the algal mats and the potential for D. geminata to dominate the benthic algal community were also investigated. The results not only contribute to understanding of the controls on benthic algal growth in dynamic streams but also for management of water releases as mitigation for the control of future blooms of D. geminata.