Abstract
Primary production (algal growth) fuels the energy base of most streams in the Roseg flood plain, especially those streams having a glacial influence (see Chapter 12). Some side-slope tributaries do have substantial inputs of terrestrially derived organic matter, but these represent a small percentage of the total channel area in the flood plain (Zah & Uehlinger, 2001). Constraints on primary production vary by stream type and time of year. Channel instability, low transparency, and scour by glacial sediments limit primary producers in glacial channels during peak ice melt in summer, whereas snow-cover and low nutrients limit primary production in most stream types in winter (Robinson et al., 2002). Nutrient dynamics also change longitudinally along the main channel because of the increase in tributary and groundwater inputs as one moves downstream (Malard et al., 1999; Tockner et al., 2002).
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Robinson, C.T., Uehlinger, U., Gessner, M.O. (2003). Nutrient Limitation. In: Ward, J.V., Uehlinger, U. (eds) Ecology of a Glacial Flood Plain. Aquatic Ecology Series, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0181-5_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0181-5_14
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