Nutrient-dependent recovery of Atlantic salmon streams from a catastrophic flood

Abstract

The impact of a major flood and recovery of the stream communities under contrasting nutrient conditions were studied in two second-order streams of Sainte-Marguerite River, Quebec. A massive flood during the summer of 1996 caused extensive displacement of the stream substratum and severe reductions in the abundance of all biota: periphyton, benthic invertebrates, juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) (especially in the 0+ age-class). In the postflood recovery phase, nutrient-enriched sections recovered significantly more rapidly than the nonenriched sections. After 1 month, periphyton biomass in the enriched sections had increased to five times that of the preflood levels, and after 2 months, the invertebrate communities had recovered to preflood levels. Fish densities and growth rates also returned to normal levels more rapidly in the enriched sections. Our results suggest that nutrient-rich systems are more resilient to massive disturbances, and so, nutrient enrichment may represent a viable tool for restoring nutrient-limited systems.