Premium
Colonization and ecological development of new streams in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
Author(s) -
MILNER ALEXANDER M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1987.tb01295.x
Subject(s) - streams , ecological succession , ecology , bay , chironomidae , meltwater , glacier , national park , invertebrate , ecosystem , river ecosystem , environmental science , geography , oceanography , biology , geology , physical geography , computer network , larva , computer science
SUMMARY 1. Colonization and ecological development of postglacial freshwater communities was investigated in Glacier Bay National Park, south‐eastern Alaska, following the rapid recession of a Neo‐glacial ice sheet within the last 250 years. 2. Environmental variables shown to be most significant in stream development were temperature, flow regime and sedimentation. 3. The Chironomidae (Diptera) were the pioneer invertebrate colonizers of newly emergent streams arising as meltwater from receding ice sheets and displayed a distinct pattern of succession with stream maturity. 4. Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera colonized warmer clearwater streams, but Trichoptera had a minimal role in invertebrate community development. 5. Establishment and production of salmonid fish populations in the new streams related principally to stream flow and sediment characteristics. 6. Future pathways along which the streams may develop is probably dependent on the degree of large organic debris input. 7. Stream development, structure and function are summarized including reference to theories of ecosystem development, ecological succession and community stability.