Currently I am hard at work preparing for the conference in Nashville at the end of August therefore I have not had any time to neatly tabulate my data for the web. But not to worry, once I come back from the conference you can expect all the goods to be posted soon after. In the meantime here is a little blurb on the details of my project to wet your appetite...
Purpose
The purpose of my research is to identify and quantify the organic matter and nutrients transported during runoff events through ephemeral and intermittent headwater systems. It is hypothesized that headwater systems provide important ecological functions by transporting organic matter and nutrients to downstream fish-bearing systems. It is expected that further understanding the connectivity between headwater systems and downstream waters will provide better scientific knowledge, allowing the implementation of better headwater system management practices and remediation.
Objectives
- To determine the quality and quantity of allochthonous inputs (invertebrates, nutrients and organic matter) from headwater systems to downstream fish-bearing systems.
- To determine how differences in catchment area, land use, surface geology and vegetation cover affect the quality and magnitude of headwaters’ ecological functions. It is hypothesized that an increase in catchment area will result in an increase in materials exported.
- To determine the temporal variations in the transportation of nutrients, invertebrates and organic matter.
- To determine what type and area of riparian cover is appropriate to protect headwater systems under various land use practices.
