| Abstract: | We developed photographic techniques to characterize coarse (>2-mm) and fine (???2-mm) streambed particle sizes in 12 streams in Anchorage, Alaska. Results were compared with current sampling techniques to assess which provided greater sampling efficiency and accuracy. The streams sampled were wade-able and contained gravel - cobble streambeds. Gradients ranged from about 5% at the upstream sites to about 0.25% at the downstream sites. Mean particle sizes and size-frequency distributions resulting from digitized photographs differed significantly from those resulting from Wolman pebble counts for five sites in the analysis. Wolman counts were biased toward selecting larger particles. Photographic analysis also yielded a greater number of measured particles (mean = 989) than did the Wolman counts (mean = 328). Stream embeddedness ratings assigned from field and photographic observations were significantly different at 5 of the 12 sites, although both types of ratings showed a positive relationship with digitized surface fines. Visual estimates of embeddedness and digitized surface fines may both be useful indicators of benthic conditions, but digitizing surface fines produces quantitative rather than qualitative data. Benefits of the photographic techniques include reduced field time, minimal streambed disturbance, convenience of postfield processing, easy sample archiving, and improved accuracy and replication potential. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70025861 |
| Citation Author: | Whitman, M. S.; Moran, E. H.; Ourso, R. T. |
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| Citation End Page: | 610 |
| Citation Issue: | 3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Transactions of the American Fisheries Society |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 6 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Photographic techniques for characterizing streambed particle sizes; 2003; Article; Journal; Transactions of the American Fisheries Society; Whitman, M. S.; Moran, E. H.; Ourso, R. T. |
| Citation Start Page: | 605 |
| Citation Volume: | 132 |
| Citation Year: | 2003 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Photographic techniques for characterizing streambed particle sizes; 2003; Article; Journal; Transactions of the American Fisheries Society; Whitman, M. S.; Moran, E. H.; Ourso, R. T. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(2003)132<0605:PTFCSP>2.0.CO;2 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 1 Jan 2003 00:00 -0600 |
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