https://doi.org/10.25678/0002E4

Data for: Macroinvertebrate recovery to varying hydropeaking frequency: a small hydropower plant experiment

As the demand for hydroelectricity progresses worldwide, small hydropower operators are increasingly examining the feasibility of using existing infrastructure (e.g. desander) in run-of-the-river schemes for intermittent power production. Such flexible production causes short-term discharge fluctuations (hydropeaking) in downstream reaches with potential adverse effects for the sensitive fauna and flora in alpine streams. In a field experiment on a previously unregulated section of the upper Rhone River (Switzerland), we measured density and composition of macroinvertebrate drift in two habitats (riffle, pool) following a 15-minute hydropeaking wave. The experimental hydropeaking was replicated five times over 14 days with decreasing recovery times between peaks (8 days, 3 days, 2 days, and 24 hours) and drift measurements were compared with kick samples for the benthic community. Results from the kick sampling showed that benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and composition did not significantly change between the experimental peaks. There were habitat specific reactions in macroinvertebrate drift to hydropeaking, with the pool experiencing more pronounced drift abundances than the riffle. We observed that drift abundance was not significantly correlated with recovery time but results indicate a reaction of some taxa to decreasing recovery times. This research may support water policy decision-makers to better understand the ecological impact of flexible power production in small hydropower plants, and advocates for the importance of completing more in-situ field experiments.

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Geodata: swisstopo and OpenStreetMap, SRTM Map: geo.admin.ch and Thunderforest (CC-BY-SA)

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Citation

Aksamit, C., Carolli, M., Vanzo, D., Weber, C., & Schmid, M. (2020). Data for: Macroinvertebrate recovery to varying hydropeaking frequency: a small hydropower plant experiment (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.25678/0002E4

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Author(s)	Aksamit, Claire Carolli, Mauro Vanzo, Davide Weber, Christine Schmid, Martin
Keywords	field experiment,Macroinvertebrate drift,flexible power production,physical habitat,pool,riffle
Variables	count dissolved_oygen electric_conductivity grain_size pH temperature turbidity velocity waterlevel
Taxa (scientific names)	Heptageniidae, Baetidae, Perlodidae, Chloroperlidae, Capniidae, Leuctra, Taeniopterygidae, Nemouridae, Protonemoura, Plecoptera (other), Chironomidae, Simuliidae, Stratiomyidae, Dixidae, Pediciidae, Psychodidae, Blephariceridae, Limoniidae, Tipulidae, Thaumaleidae, Ceratopogonidae, Empididae, Diptera (other), Limnephilidae (cf Drusus group), Rhyacophilidae, Hydracarina, Staphylinidae, Collembola, Oligochaeta, Turbellaria
Organisms (generic terms)	benthic macroinvertebrates
Systems	alpine river, Upper Rhone River
Timerange	2018-11-08 TO 2018-11-22
Geographic Name(s)	Switzerland upper Rhone River Valais
Review Level	general
Curator	Schmid, Martin
Contact	Martin.Schmid@eawag.ch
DOI	10.25678/0002E4