Effects of experimental floods on periphyton and stream metabolism below a high dam in the Swiss Alps (River Spöl)

Uehlinger, U.
Kawecka, B.
Robinson, C.

Publication date

June 2018

Abstract

We investigated the effects of an experimental flood regime on periphyton and stream metabolism downstream of a large reservoir. Three floods took place in summer of 2000 and 2001 and two floods in summer of 2002. Residual flow in the River Spöl was <2.5 m3s-1. The experimental floods lasted 9 to 11 hours with peak flows ranging from 12 to 55 m3s-1. Periphyton was collected in the River Spöl (impact site) and in a reference stream in 1999 (pre-flood) and before and after each flood from 2000 to 2002. We measured ecosystem metabolism with the single station diel oxygen method a few days before and after floods in the River Spöl. Floods temporarily reduced periphyton biomass, but the disturbance impact and recovery patterns were not uniform a...