| dc.description.abstract | Rivers are unique ecosystems that are constantly under risk of being overused and
degraded to a point where native species are put at risk. In order to best protect species, it is
important to understand the microhabitats that they depend on. This study examines the
impact of waterfalls on dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, and stream velocity,
and the impact of these habitat characteristics on fish diversity at various locations upstream
and downstream from the falls on the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Habitat
conditions were found to be significantly different (p<0.05) when comparing upstream and
downstream conditions for all of the characteristics except water temperature. Dissolved
oxygen and velocity were found to be higher downstream than upstream, while water clarity
was found to be lower downstream (indicating a higher turbidity). Fish diversity was found to
be higher upstream from the waterfall, however, not at a statistically significant level. Velocity
was found to have the greatest impact on determining the diversity of fish at a particular
location. | en |
