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Rates of removal of phosphorus from restored agricultural streams via emergent insects

Metzner, Gabrielle K
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522665954988353

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Floodplain geomorphology and vegetation are important factors influencing nutrient loading into streams and in-stream processing. Natural floodplains encourage the flow of water through intricate subsurface flow-paths, allowing more time for phosphorus and nitrogen utilization by microbes and plants. Many agricultural fields in northwest Ohio use subsurface tile drain systems that deliver excess water directly into channels, bypassing groundwater flow. These channels tend to have little to no bank and/or vegetation which poses problems with excessive nutrient run-off. Self-forming streams restore agricultural ditch channels to mimic natural stream processes and stimulate vegetation growth. Two-stage ditches incorporate a floodplain zone into the channel bench, mimicking natural processes of stable streams. Both of these restoration options might help reduce nutrient fluxes downstream via increased retention. However, removal of phosphorus from ditches and streams back to the landscape requires animal-mediated movements, but these fluxes have not been well quantified. The research described here quantified potential effects of restoration of ditches and stream and watershed characteristics on fluxes of emergent insects and fluxes of phosphorus contained within these insects. Twenty sites in northwest OH were sampled from July thru September 2016, with sites varying in floodplain geomorphology and vegetation (e.g. conventional channels, natural streams with and without vegetation, two stage ditches, and self-forming streams) and watershed characteristics. Overall, this research did not find a significant effect of restoration practices on phosphorus (P) fluxes of emergent invertebrates at the alpha = 0.05 level, despite a significant effect on biomass of emergent insects (p= 0.036). On the other hand, both biomass (p=0.040) and P flux (p=0.042) were influenced by watershed land use, with a decline in both with increasing urbanization. Additionally, P content of emergent insects declined with increasing pH (p=0.013). These results highlight the importance of watershed characteristics, water chemistry, and localized restoration efforts in determining fluxes of emergent insects, but a greater influence of watershed characteristics on removal of nutrients by these insects.
Kevin McCluney, Dr. (Advisor)
Enrique Gomezdelcampo, Dr. (Committee Member)
Shannon Pelini, Dr. (Committee Member)
28 p.
Biology; Ecology
Phosphorus; digestion method; emergent insects; two-stage ditches; self-forming streams

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Citations

  • Metzner, G. K. (2018). Rates of removal of phosphorus from restored agricultural streams via emergent insects [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522665954988353

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Metzner, Gabrielle. Rates of removal of phosphorus from restored agricultural streams via emergent insects . 2018. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522665954988353.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Metzner, Gabrielle. "Rates of removal of phosphorus from restored agricultural streams via emergent insects ." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522665954988353

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1522665954988353
325
© 2018, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Rates of removal of phosphorus from restored agricultural streams via emergent insects by Gabrielle K Metzner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.