Reach scale ecologic influence of in-stream large wood in a Coastal Mountain range channel, Southern Chile

The ecologic influence of in-stream large wood (LW) was evaluated at reach scale in a third-order channel located in the Coastal Mountain Range, southern Chile. The tested hypotheses were that Coarse Particle Organic Matter (CPOM) retention is higher and benthic macro-invertebrates are more diverse in channel reaches storing higher volumes of LW. Three LW-low-volume reaches (mean LW volume of 8 m(3) 100m(-1) of reach channel length; plane bed morphology) and three LW-high-volume reaches (mean volume 262 m(3) 100m(-1); forced pool riffle bed morphology) were selected within a 1557 m-long segment of the study channel. CPOM retention was inferred from the difference between the number of leaves collected in the downstream end of each reach and the leaves introduced in the upstream end. Mean CPOM retention was 72 and 90% among LW-low and high volume reaches, and showed a positive correlation (R = 0.61) with LW volume. Macro-invertebrates were more diverse and abundant in LW-high-volume reaches and the richness was twice than in LW-low-volume reaches. Bray-Curtis similarity index was low (40%) between LW-high and low volume reaches, while it was high (> 60%) among LW-low-volume reaches. Results confirm the hypothesis that OM retention and benthic macro-invertebrate diversity and abundance were higher in high LW volume reaches. The higher diversity and abundance of macro-invertebrates associated with LW accumulations confirm that logjams constitute a biotope that offers shelter and food. These results can guide the assessment of environmental impacts of stream intervention and restoration projects. The study was undertaken within the framework of Project Fondecyt 1110609.