Table 5. Examples of hypothetical species response to flood disturbances.
Refugia and life history characteristics that determine resilience to flooding
are identified for examples of organisms that we hypothesize will exhibit slow,
intermediate, and rapid rates of recovery.
Taxa Refugia Dispersal Reproduction Recovery Time
Slow (>5 yr)
- Conifers Floodplains Fall seed dispersal Seeds >30 yr
Upland
Undisturbed riparian patches
- Aquatic lichens Boulders, bedrock Dispersal by spores Low spore production >10 yr
- Giant salamanders Secondary channels Limited crawling Long egg development >5 yr
Streambed interstices Terrestrial phase Nest guarding
Tributaries
- Sculpins Streambed interstices Weak benthic swimmer Low fecundity >5 yr
No leaping ability
Intermediate (1-5 yr)
- Cutthroat trout Secondary channels Strong swimmer High fecundity 1-3 yr
Channel margins Leap over small waterfalls
Floodplains
- Upland early Upland logged areas Wind dispersed seeds Seeds 1-2 yr
successional plant Roadsides
species
- Willow Floodplain margins Beaver cuttings <5 yr
Higher terraces Agressive sprouter
Undisturbed riparian zones Spring seed dispersal
- Red alder Upland Fall seed dispersal
Undisturbed riparian patches
- Caddisflies Shallow margins Behavioral drift Terrestrial mating 1-3 yr
Floodplains Catastrophic drift 26-52 wk generation time
Hyporheic zone Aerial dispersal
- Stoneflies Shallow margins Crawling Terrestrial mating 3-6 yr
Floodplains Catastrophic drift 52-104 wk generation time
Hyporheic zone Aerial dispersal
- Dragonflies Shallow margins Behavioral drift Terrestrial mating 3-6 yr
Floodplains Catastrophic drift 52-104 wk generation time
Hyporheic zone Aerial dispersal
Fast (<1 yr)
- Aquatic algae Crevices in rocks Sloughed cells Vegetative reproduction <3 mos.
Sexual reproduction
Auxospores
- Midges Crevices in rocks Behavioral drift Terrestrial mating 3-6 mos.
Shallow margins Catastrophic drift 4-12 wk generation time
Hyporheic zone Aerial dispersal
- Mayflies Shallow margins Behavioral drift Terrestrial mating 6-12 mos.
Floodplains Catastrophic drift 8-24 wk generation time
Hyporheic zone Aerial dispersal