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Date Permissions Signed

7-24-2009

Date of Award

2009

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Sciences

First Advisor

Matthews, Robin A., 1952-

Second Advisor

Bodensteiner, Leo R., 1957-

Third Advisor

Peterson, Merrill A., 1965-

Abstract

This study compares the physico-chemical conditions and composition of benthic macroinvertebrates from five rhithral (snowmelt-fed) and five kryal (glacially-fed) lake outlet streams in the North Cascade Mountains, WA. Non-metric, non-parametric cluster and association analysis (NMCAA) clearly separated outlet streams of kryal and rhithral origin based on physico-chemical and taxon variables. Kryal lake outlets were characterized by lower water temperatures, unstable in-stream channels and higher turbidity, discharge and fine substrates than rhithral sites. A total of 24,985 specimens representing 93 macroinvertebrate taxa were collected. Rhithral lake outlets had significantly higher densities and supported more taxa than kryal sites (9,049 ind./m2 and 77 taxa versus 821 ind./m2 and 35 taxa). Chironomidae were the dominant taxon amongst all sites, although densities and taxa richness were one-third in the kryal lake outlets when compared to rhithral sites. Rhithral lake outlets contained higher densities of non-insect taxa such as Acari, Oligochaeta, Nemathelminthes, Planariidae and crustaceans. Water temperature, stream discharge and turbidity were the variables most strongly correlated to density and taxa richness. My results suggest that glacial presence was the dominant factor influencing instream environmental conditions and subsequently macroinvertebrate assemblages of alpine lake outlet streams.

Type

Text

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25710/zgg3-sx21

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

435447455

Subject – LCSH

Aquatic invertebrate populations--North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.); Runoff--North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.); Water quality biological assessment--North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.)

Geographic Coverage

North Cascades (B.C. and Wash.)

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

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