Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009KY124B

Elemental flow through food webs in restored and reference stream reaches

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-03-01 End Date: 2010-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $4,976 Total Non-Federal Funds: $9,995

Principal Investigators: Hwa-Seong Jin

Project Summary: We propose a novel post-monitoring analysis of a stream restoration project by comparing flows of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) through stream invertebrate food webs in the restored and reference streams. To accomplish this, we will quantify stream invertebrate community structure and secondary production in both the reference and restored reaches. We will then use secondary production estimates for each taxon and gut content analysis data to quantify food web linkages in the reference and restored streams using the trophic basis of production (Benke and Wallace 1980, 1997). Finally, we will use consumer-resource stoichiometric data to determine the flows of C, N, and P through the food webs in the reference and restored reaches. This analysis will allow not only the assessment of the restoration project based on invertebrate community composition and food web structure (i.e. a structural component), but also place this information in an ecosystem-level context by addressing elemental flows through each food web: ultimately providing a more holistic view of stream ecosystem structure and function.