The Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport is located in a densely urbanized area with one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S.A. The airport property includes a large tract of "protected" riparian forest that is unique to the urban surroundings. This dissertation explores variables that influence the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure found in urbanized prairie streams that were initially assessed by the University of North Texas (UNT) Benthic Ecology Lab during four, non-consecutive biomonitoring studies (2004, 2005, 2008, and 2014) funded by the DFW Airport. Additionally, land use analysis was performed using 5-meter resolution satellite imagery and eCognition to characterize the imperviousness of the study area watersheds at multiple scales. Overall, flow conditions and imperviousness at the watershed scale explained the most variability in the benthic stream community. Chironomidae taxa made up 20-50% of stream communities and outperformed all other taxa groups in discriminating between sites of similar flows and urban impairments. This finding highlights the need for genus level identifications of the chironomid family, especially as the dominant taxa in urban prairie streams. Over the course of these biomonitoring survey events, normal flow conditions and flows associated with supra-seasonal drought were experienced. Prevailing drought conditions of 2014 did not negatively influence stream communities, allowing this study to capture the long-term natural (temporal) variability of urban prairie stream communities. Such long-term studies are imperative for discerning between stream impairment versus natural variation, especially as droughts become more frequent and severe.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1833427 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Harlow, Megann Mae Lewis |
| Contributors | Kennedy, James H., 1947-, Hunter, Bruce Allan, Atkinson, Samuel F., Venables, Barney J., Dick, Gary Owen, 1956- |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | xiv, 219 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps, Text |
| Coverage | United States - Texas - Dallas County - Dallas, United States - Texas - Tarrant County - Fort Worth |
| Rights | Public, Harlow, Megann Mae Lewis, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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