Tributary control of physical heterogeneity and biological diversity at river confluences

Abstract

Investigations utilizing a one-dimensional sediment routing model demonstrate that moderate inputs of water and sediment at tributary junctions greatly increase physical heterogeneity in the recipient channel. Simulated physical heterogeneity is most sensitive to the ratios of tributary to mainstream bed load flux and bed load grain size and is less sensitive to relative discharge. Within the model, aggradation drives the processes that augment habitat variability, and in general, any aggradational confluence will be associated with elevated physical diversity. Model output reveals elevated physical diversity at two scales: between distinctive upstream and downstream zones separated by a confluence step and within each zone as a function of local environmental gradients. Total diversity increases as tributary sediment load and caliber increase relative to the mainstream. The ecological implications of the patterns and magnitude of tributary-induced physical heterogeneity are considered, and testable hypotheses are presented. Results highlight the need to accurately characterise patterns of sediment production, delivery, and routing in order to predict local tributary impacts and thereby understand patterns of habitat diversity and biodiversity at network scales.