Environmental response of a desert springbrook to incremental discharge reductions,Death Valley National Park,California, USA |
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| Institution: | 1. Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, 210 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States;2. Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, United States;1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa;2. Department of Agriculture, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, 3886, South Africa;3. Department of Botany, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, 3886, South Africa;1. Departamento de Dendrocronologia e Historia Ambiental, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales–CONICET– CCT Mendoza, CC 330, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina;2. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, M5528AHB, Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina;1. The Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094, USA;2. San Juan College, 4601 College Blvd, Farmington, NM 87402, USA;3. The University of New Mexico, MSC03 2020, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA;4. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA |
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| Abstract: | Desert springs are biodiversity hotspots that are easily altered by anthropogenic activities. Little is known about the effects of human disturbance on desert springs, and scarce information exists describing the environmental effects of incrementally increasing disturbance. The objective of this research was to quantify the influence of incremental reductions in discharge on the physical and thermal characteristics of a desert springbrook. In this study, the physical characteristics of a desert springbrook include hydraulic attributes that influence habitat availability, such as wetted area, flow velocity, and water depth. Thermal characteristics refer to water temperature and temperature gradients. The research objective was accomplished through a combination of field experiments at Travertine Spring, Death Valley National Park, USA, and hydraulic/temperature modeling to: (1) quantify changes in physical characteristics of the springbrook channel and aquatic environment; (2) investigate the effects of reduced spring discharge on seasonal spatial temperature patterns; (3) delineate tipping points that exhibit a non-linear response to decreased flow. We found that the physical environment changed with small decreases in discharge. Thermal tipping points were also exhibited due to decreases in discharge, but the magnitude of these responses was a function of distance from the spring source, seasonality, and temperature. |
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| Keywords: | Desert spring Temperature model Threshold response Aquatic habitat |
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