The delivery of excessive fine sediment (particles < 2 mm in diameter) to rivers can cause serious deleterious effects to aquatic ecosystems and is widely acknowledged to be one of the leading con-tributors to the degradation of rivers globally. Despite advances in using biological methods as a proxy, physical measures remain an important method through which fine sediment can be quantified. The aim of this study was to provide further insights into the environmental variables controlling sediment accumulation in lowland gravel bed rivers. We sampled 21 sites, during spring and autumn, selected to cover a gradient of excess fine sediment. Fine sediment was sampled using a range of methods including visual assessments, the disturbance method, and suspended sediment concentrations. A range of abiotic predictors was measured during sampling, and hydrological and antecedent flow indices were derived from local flow gauging station data. The results show reach scale visual estimates of fine sediment to be significantly and highly correlated with fully quantitative estimates of total surface sediment. Multi-variate regression analysis showed that flow variables (regime, antecedent, and local flow characteristics) were strong predictors of deposited sediment metrics but poor predictors of suspended sediment. Organic content was shown to be relatively independent of total sediment quantity and is likely driven by other factors which influence the supply and breakdown of organic matter.

Morwenna McKenzie;Judy England;Ian D.L.Foster;Martin A.Wilkes

Geography and Environment,Loughborough University,Loughborough,United Kingdom;Centre for Agroecology,Water&Resilience,Coventry University,Priory Street,Coventry,United Kingdom;Research,Environment Agency,Howbery Park,Wallingford,United Kingdom;Environmental and Geographical Sciences,University of Northampton,Learning Hub,University Drive,Northampton,United Kingdom;Geography Department,Rhodes University,Grahamstown,South Africa

国际泥沙研究（英文版）

[1]Morwenna McKenzie;Judy England;Ian D.L.Foster;Martin A.Wilkes-.Abiotic predictors of fine sediment accumulation in lowland rivers)[J].国际泥沙研究（英文版）,2022(01):128-137

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