Characterizing in-stream flow refugia

Abstract

Areas of bed maintaining low hydraulic stress throughout the discharge hydrograph could provide flow refugia for animals during spates. In one stream, near-bed shear stress and velocity were repeatedly measured in discrete patches. Three types were identified: "fast' patches maintained high hydraulic stress, "variable' patches showed the greatest change in stress, and "slow' patches maintained low stress and thus were potential refugia. Average stress increased with discharge, but potential refugia were prominent throughout and could be important for invertebrates. Abundances of refugia in eight comparison streams were characterized by changes in the frequency distribution of flow forces wit..