Doctoral Dissertation Research: Thermal, Hydraulic, and Geomorphological Dynamics at Stream Confluences

溪流汇流，两条溪流的汇合，代表了独特的栖息地斑块和河流景观中的关键运动走廊。 虽然某一汇合点的水力和热力性质影响生物群通过该汇合点的能力或可能性，但在恢复工作中汇合点通常被忽略，因为它们是水力和地貌复杂的动态系统。 博士论文研究项目将寻求推进对河流汇流处的热，地貌和水力条件的基本了解，旨在为这些独特的重要河流特征的保护，管理和恢复提供信息。博士生将探索这个问题的答案：支流汇流动态如何影响主河道的热栖息地模式？ 学生将采用先进的分布式温度传感光纤阵列与声学多普勒电流剖面仪耦合在成对的汇流采样design.This项目将有助于通过通道形态影响不同水文条件下汇流处的水力和热生境变异的过程的基本理解。 它将整合流汇合处的水力，地貌和热力观测，以形成对汇合处影响热栖息地动态的复杂相互作用的整体理解。所产生的知识将通过以下方式改变对河流汇流的基本认识：调查小汇流（小支流加入大河），大平原砂层河流汇流，以及小汇流和大汇流内的热混合模式和相关热避难所栖息地动态。 该项目将为决策者和公共利益攸关方提供更多的知识，以促进有关汇流恢复的科学合作决策。 作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立的研究生涯。

Stream confluences, the joining of two streams, represent both unique habitat patches and critical movement corridors within a riverscape. Although the hydraulic and thermal nature of a particular confluence influences the ability or likelihood of biota to travel through it, confluences generally have been ignored in restoration efforts because they are hydraulically and geomorphologically complex and dynamic systems. The doctoral dissertation research project will seek to advance basic understanding of the thermal, geomorphological, and hydraulic conditions present at stream confluences with the intention of informing conservation, management and restoration of these uniquely important river features. The doctoral student will explore answers to the question: How do tributary confluence dynamics influence thermal habitat patterns in the main channel? The student will employ cutting-edge distributed temperature sensing fiber optic arrays coupled with acoustic Doppler current profilers in a paired confluence sampling design.This project will contribute to basic understanding of the processes through which channel morphology influences hydraulic and thermal habitat variability at confluences under different hydrologic conditions. It will integrate hydraulic, geomorphic, and thermal observations at stream confluences to form a holistic understanding of the complex interactions the influence thermal habitat dynamics in confluences. The knowledge generated will transform basic understanding of stream confluences by: investigating small confluences (small tributaries joining a large river), confluences on a Great Plains sand-bedded river, and thermal mixing patterns and associated thermal refuge habitat dynamics within both small and large confluences. The project will provide policy makers and public stakeholders with the greater knowledge that will facilitate scientifically based, cooperative decisions regarding confluence restoration. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.