Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Dr. Jordan A. Clayton
Second Advisor
Dr. Daniel M. Deocampo
Third Advisor
Dr. Seth Rose
Abstract
To determine the relationship between the abundance and density of benthic invertebrates, and the critical shear stress of individual grain sizes, a reach along Smith Creek, was divided into ten 2m x 2m quadrants. Within each quadrant, five randomly selected clasts for each grain size ranging from 2.26 to 25.6 cm were cleaned for benthic invertebrates. Wolman pebble counts for each quadrant were also conducted and used to determine the critical Shields stress per grain size fraction from the model given by Wiberg and Smith (1987) that explicitly accounts for particle hiding/sheltering effects in mixed-bed rivers. Particle entrainment values were then compared with estimated bankfull Shields stress values to determine sediment transport potential during bankfull flow. Invertebrate abundance was strongly positively correlated with critical Shields stress up to the 18.0 cm grain size, indicating a preference for certain grain sizes; while density was positively correlated with all grain sizes present.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1955300
Recommended Citation
Mayoral, Helen, "Particle Size, Critical Shear Stress, and Benthic Invertebrate Distribution and Abundance in a Gravel-bed River of the Southern Appalachians." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2011.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1955300