Meeting Abstract
The geomorphic construct of a stream system can greatly influence the unidirectional stream flow. Because of this in stream processes (i.e. – nutrient spiraling) can be altered as well as chemical plumes that are introduced to stream habitats will contain a spatial and temporal structure with fluxes in concentration. The same stream flow can influence organisms as they interact with their physical habitat and reside on or around in stream obstructions. Therefore, knowledge of how the physical construct of a habitat affects the movement of suspended material can elucidate the relationship between an organism’s life history and experiencing that suspended material. Here, we expound results from using dopamine as a tracer chemical and various sized obstructions in an artificial flume to help describe this relationship. We also outline a process to scale the geomorphic influences to a stream reach as we overlay common organism habitats with the movement of dopamine around in stream obstructions. Results indicate the potential for a spatial dependency of exposure to suspended material. Spatial analysis techniques (i.e. – remote sensing) to profile the geomorphic construct of a stream system and the surrounding landscape can be integrated with ecotoxicological risk assessments in response to a contaminant introduced to a stream system. In addition, geomorphic information can be utilized for a better understanding of in stream processes (i.e. – nutrient spiraling). The geomorphic influence to these processes and the ecotoxicology of a chemical is interdependently linked to the interaction of flow and the ecology (i.e. – organism) in question.
