Measuring the reach-scale geomorphic diversity of streams: application to a stream disturbed by a sediment slug

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that greater physical diversity in a stream leads to a greater diversity of habitats, and hence species. Human impact has reduced the physical diversity within many stream systems. This paper reviews a range of techniques used to measure the physical diversity of a stream reach and specifically examines variability measures of a stream's thalweg, cross-section and sediment size at the scale of millimetres to metres. Each measure was evaluated against synthetic data with different levels of diversity. From the original thirteen, eight measures were considered appropriate for application to data measured in the field. Creightons Creek (Victoria, Australia) was selected as a test site as it contains areas that are in their original geomorphic condition, as well as sections that have been disturbed by increased bed-load in the form of a sediment slug. All eight measures showed that the area impacted by the sediment slug was less diverse in terms of its geomorphic variability than the unimpacted reaches. This suggests that massive increases in sediment load to streams will reduce the geomorphic complexity of a stream, and in turn, the diversity of habitat for biological communities. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.