SIFN flow ecology

FIRST STEP - Find out what we know about regional Flow-Ecology relationships from the literature

In 2011, SARP contracted with Ryan McManamay (now at Oak Ridge National Labortory), Don Orth (Virginia Tech), and John Kauffman (retired, VA DIF Fisheries Biologist) to find, review and summarize the flow-ecology literature in the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative states. They went above and beyond and compiled literature for much of the SARP region. Their report and ancillary products are available.

• McManamay, RA, D Orth, and J Kauffman. 2011. Ecological Responses to Flow Alteration in the South Atlantic Region: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Report to the Southeastern Aquatic Resources Partnership (Ecological Responses to Flow Alteration in the South Atlantic Region: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Report to the Southeastern Aquatic Resources Partnership (available at File:FLOW ECO REPORT Final.pdf). Funded by the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (www.southatlanticlcc.org).

 -  Abstract:  We recently compiled literature to provide a body of knowledge on empirical and theoretical relationships between flow and ecology in the South Atlantic region and support efforts to develop ecological limits of hydrologic alteration and environmental flow standards. Our goals were to 1) conduct a literature review, 2) develop a database of meta-data associated with each source of information, 3) summarize the key findings, and 4) conduct a qualitative and quantitative analysis of generalized relationships between altered flow and ecology. We gathered information through database searches, internet searches, and contacting representative agency personnel within the South Atlantic region.  We found a total of 186 sources that provided a qualitative or quantitative relationship between flow and ecology within states encompassing the South Atlantic region.  We found that ecological responses to natural flow variation were highly variable regardless of the direction and magnitude of changes in flow. One exception was drought, which was primary associated with more negative than positive ecological responses. In contrast to natural flow variation, ecological responses to anthropogenic-induced flow alterations were consistently negative regardless of the direction and magnitude in flow alterations. Reservoir operations were predominantly associated with negative ecological responses.  We used regression trees and random forests to determine what predictors were most important in determining the direction and magnitude of ecological responses to changes in flow. Our results suggested that ecological group and the source of flow change (natural versus anthropogenic) were the most important predictors of ecological responses. In addition, the degree of flow alteration (% change) and the flow sub-component were important predictors of ecological responses.  This study provides an initial framework to understand potential ecological responses to changes in flow, more research is needed to isolate quantitative, predictable relationships. 

• Southeastern US Flow-Ecology Literature Metadatabase To access the Excel spreadsheet with over 180 citations for studies of ecological responses to natural and anthropogenic sources of flow alteration, click here: File:Flow Ecology Database posted 022712.xlsx. This is an evolving document. As more studies are undertaken, we hope to document them in this workbook with metadata to expand and improve on the flow-ecology relationships in the region. You are invited to contribute comments and more citations to this database. Please send comments, revisions, and additions to mary@southeastaquatics.net.

 Description of information contained in each worksheet:					

Original metadata:
	
1.  Study Overview - Basic information derived from each citation regarding ecological responses to flow alteration in the SE with revised information from 'Anthro Expanded_Dataset' for comparison of revised information
2.  Details - Additional information dervied from the studies in the 'Study Overview'
3.  Variable Descriptions - Self explanatory
4.  Bibliography - Self explanatory
5.  Expanded Dataset - Metadata used for analyses reported in McMannamay et al. (2011); available at Project Information Wiki site above

							
Additional information:
	
6.  Anthro Expanded_Dataset - Metadata for anthropogenic sources of flow alteration with modification of flow attributes for naming consistency with IHA (by Mary Davis)
7.  Anthro F-E Graphs - Quantitative F-E relationships for anthropogenic sources of flow alteration
8.  Anthro F-E Relationships - Narrative F-E relationships for anthropogenic sources of flow alteration

• DRAFT Annotated Bibiography The draft annotated bibliographies of peer-reviewed and grey literature are provided here for your convenience. They have not been fully reviewed, but will still provide a valuable resource to help interpret the literature included in the Excel spreadsheet and report by McManamay et al. Please send comments, revisions, and additions to mary@southeastaquatics.net. Requests for copies of reports can be made to the same email address.

 -  Peer-reviewed annotated bibliography: File:SE Flow Ecology Literature Summaries Peer Reviewed DRAFT.docx
 
 -  Grey literature annotated bibliography:  File:SE Flow Ecology Literature Summaries Grey DRAFT.docx

• South Atlantic Region Flow-Ecology Study Compilation For a summary of the geographic distribution, ecological resources, and flow components in these studies see a preliminary report by Mary Davis at File:South Atlantic Region Flow what did we find 122311.docx

 - Compilation Objective:  To summarize the kinds of studies found that documented ecological responses to anthropogenic causes of flow alteration in the states included in the South Atlantic LCC.  (Metadata source:  McManamay, Orth and Kauffman 2011)
 1.  How many studies were found? 41
 2.  Where were the studies located?
 3.  What kinds of flow alterations were studied?
 4.  What ecological groups were studied?
 5.  How many flow-ecology relationships were documented? 78
 6.  What flow alteration metrics were used in the studies (e-flow X-axis)?
 7.  What ecological response metrics were used in the studies (e-flow Y-axis)?
 8.  What ecological responses to flow alteration were documented?

• Invitation to Researchers The SE flow-ecology literature is available in a Mendeley database managed by Scott Robinson, SARP Coordinator (scottr@southeastaquatics.net). Due to copyright restrictions, many of the reports have restrictions on their distribution. Researchers are eligible to join a user's group to access copies of the literature. Contact Scott Robinson for more information about joining this group.