ECOLOGY OF THE ALLUVIAL AQUIFER OF THE NYACK FLOODPLAIN ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE FLATHEAD RIVER, MONTANA

Author

Amanda Gay DelVecchia, The University of Montana

Year of Award

2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Systems Ecology

Department or School/College

College of Forestry and Conservation

Committee Chair

Jack Stanford

Commitee Members

Bonnie Ellis, Gordon Luikart, Jonathan Graham, Ryan Jones

Keywords

aquifer, floodplain, groundwater ecology, hyporheic zone, methane, stoneflies

Abstract

The pristine Nyack Floodplain on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Northwestern Montana contains an expansive alluvial aquifer that is extremely limited in organic carbon, yet supports abundant and diverse hyporheic stoneflies. My dissertation focused broadly on how these large consumers persist in such an oligotrophic system. In particular, I studied the ecological role of methane dynamics.

Recommended Citation

DelVecchia, Amanda Gay, "ECOLOGY OF THE ALLUVIAL AQUIFER OF THE NYACK FLOODPLAIN ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE FLATHEAD RIVER, MONTANA" (2016). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 10733.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/10733