Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermal characteristics of running waters

  • Conference paper
Perspectives in Southern Hemisphere Limnology

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 28))

Abstract

This chapter reviews available data on thermal conditions prevailing in lotic ecosystems of the Southern Hemisphere. The primary factors (hydrology, climate, insolation) that interact to determine the thermal régime are examined in the context of southern waters. Maximum temperatures are plotted against annual ranges for equatorial (0–10° latitude), tropical (l0–231/2° latitude), and temperate sites. In regions with seasonal climates, running waters exhibit diel and annual thermal periodicity patterns, the phasing of which varies between and within lotic systems. The universality of Illies’ river zonation system is analyzed in the context of thermal conditions in Southern Hemisphere running waters.

From the relatively limited data base, it appears that Southern Hemisphere running waters exhibit some distinctive features when viewed in toto, compared with Europe and North America where thermal characteristics of lotic habitats have been reasonably well documented. Such differences relate to the generally warm and dry conditions, and to the highly variable and unpredictable climatic régimes characterizing large areas of the Southern Hemisphere. It is concluded that differences in thermal conditions of running waters between hemispheres are a matter of degree rather than of kind, and partly reflect a small woodland stream bias inherent in Northern Hemisphere stream ecology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allanson, B. R., 1961. The physical, chemical and biological conditions in the Jukskei-Crocodile River System. Hydrobiologia 18: 1 – 76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, K. R., 1951. The Horokiwi Stream. Fish. Bull. N.Z. 10: 1 – 238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appleton, C. C., 1976. Observations on the thermal regime of a stream in the Eastern Transvaal, with reference to certain aquatic Pulmonata. S. Afr. J. Sci. 72: 20 – 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthington, A. H., D. L. Conrick, D. W. Connel & P. M. Outridge, 1982. The ecology of a polluted urban creek. AWRC Techn. Pap. 68. Australian Govt. Publ. Serv., Canberra, 225 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayly, I. A. E. & W. D. Williams, 1973. Inland Waters and Their Ecology. Longman, Victoria, Australia, 316 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennison, G. L.,1975. An ecological method of classification of the Coal River in south-east Tasmania. Honours thesis, Univ. Tasmania, 184 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beumer, J. P., 1980. Hydrology and fish diversity of a North Queensland tropical stream. Aust. J. Ecol. 5: 159 – 186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, J. E.,1973. Limnology of a Small Malayan River, Sungai Gombak. W. Junk, The Hague, 485 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. S., 1978. Freshwater moluscs. In M. J. A. Werger & A. C. van Bruggen (eds), Biogeography and Ecology of Southern Africa. W. Junk, The Hague: 1153 – 1180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. W., 1969. Predicting temperatures of small streams. Wat. Resour. Res. 5: 68 – 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. W. & J. T. Krygier, 1970. Effects of clear-cutting on stream temperature. Wat. Resour. Res. 6: 1133 – 1139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown J. H. & C. R. Feldmeth, 1971. Evolution in constant and fluctuating environments: thermal tolerances of desert pupfish (Cyprinodon). Evolution 25: 390–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brundin, L., 1967. Insects and the problem of austral disjunctive distribution. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 12: 149 – 168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butcher, A. D., 1967. A changing aquatic fauna in a changing environment. Proc. Pap. of IUCN. 10th Tech. Meeting, Lucerne, June 1966, IUCN Publ. (New Ser.) 9: 197 – 218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, I. C., 1980. Diurnal variations in the activity of Mirawara purpureaRiek (Ephemeroptera, Siphlonuridae) in the Aberfeldy River, Victoria, Australia, In J. F. Flannagan & K. E. Marshall (eds), Advances in Ephemeroptera Biology, Plenum, N.Y.: 297 – 308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castenholz, R. W. & C. E. Wickstrom, 1975. Thermal streams, In B. A. Whitton (ed.), River Ecology, Blackwell, Oxford: 264 – 285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chutter, F. M., 1970. Hydrobiological studies in the catchment of Vaal Dam, South Africa. Part 1. River zonation and the benthic fauna. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 55: 445 – 494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coche, A. G., 1968. Description of physico-chemical aspects of Lake Kariba, an impoundment, in Zambia-Rhodesia. Fish. Res. Bull., Zambia 5: 200–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Moor, F. C.,1983. A community of Simulium species in the Vaal River near Warrenton. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. 2v. 119 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edington, J. M., 1965. Some observations on stream temperature. Oikos 15: 265 – 273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, M. M., 1936. Erosion silt as a factor in aquatic environments. Ecology 17: 29 – 42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, S. G., L. J. Gray, N. B. Grimm & D. E. Bunch, 1982. Temporal succession in a desert stream ecosystem following flash flooding. Ecol. Monogr. 52: 93 – 110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fittkau, E.-J., 1967. On the ecology of Amazonian rain-forest streams, In H. Lent (ed.), Atlas do Simpósio sôbre a Biota Amazônica, Vol. 3 ( Limnologia). Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas, Rio de Janeiro: 97 – 108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, A. R., 1979. Effects of Salmo trutta on Galaxias olidus and macro-invertebrates in stream communities. M.Sc. thesis, Monash Univ., Victoria, 179 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowles, C. R., 1975. Temperature records from a small Canterbury stream. Mauri Ora 3: 89–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geijskes, D. C., 1942. Observations on temperature in a tropical river. Ecology 23: 106–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, P. J., 1977. Water temperatures of the Ngaruroro River at three stations. J. Hydrol. (N.Z.) 16: 148–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graynoth, E., 1979. Effects of logging on stream environments and faunas in Nelson. N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 13: 79 – 109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. D., 1958. Hydrobiological studies on the Great Berg River, Western Cape Province. Part 2. Quantitative studies on sandy bottoms, notes on tributaries and further information on the fauna arranged systematically. Trans. r. Soc. S. Afr. 35: 227 – 276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. D., 1965a. Geographical distribution and riverine invertebrates in Southern Africa. Arch. Hydrobiol. 61: 387–394,

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. D., 1965b. River zonation in southern Africa. Arch Hydrobiol. 61: 380 – 386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. D., 1978. Freshwater invertebrates (except molluscs), In M. J. A. Werger & A. C. van Bruggen (eds), Biogeography and Ecology of Southern Africa, W. Junk, The Hague: 1139 – 1152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. D. & J. F. Elsworth, 1958. Hydrobiological studies on the Great Berg River, Western Cape Province. Part 1. General description, chemical studies and main features of the flora and fauna. Trans. r. Soc. S. Afr. 35: 125 – 226.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. D. & J. J. Rankin, 1976. Hydrobiological studies of Eastern Lesser Antillean Islands 11. St. Vincent: Freshwater fauna — its distribution, tropical river zonation and biogeography. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 50: 275 – 311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hay, D. A. & I. R. Ball, 1979. Contributions to the biology of freshwater planarians (Turbellaria) from the Victorian Alps, Australia. Hydrobiologia 62: 137 – 164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hay, J. E., 1977. A survey of the invertebrate fauna of Mt. Wellington streams. Honours thesis, Univ. Tasmania, 107 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hockey, J. B., I. F. Owens & N. J. Tapper, 1982. Empirical and theoretical models to isolate the effect of discharge on summer water temperatures in the Hurunui River. J. Hydrology (N.Z.) 21: 1 – 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, C. L., 1971. The annual temperature regime of a small stream in New Zealand. Hydrobiologia 37: 397–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, H. B. N., 1970a. The Ecology of Running Waters. Univ. Toronto Press, Toronto, 555 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, H. B. N., 1970b. The ecology of stream insects. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 15: 25 – 42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, H. B. N., 1971. Zonation of the invertebrate fauna in a West Indian stream. Hydrobiologia 38: 1 – 18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, H. B. N. & M. E. Hynes, 1975. The life histories of many of the stoneflies (Plecoptera) of south-eastern mainland Australia. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 26: 113 – 153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Illies, J., 1953. Die Besiedlung der Fulda (insbes. das Benthos der Salmonidenregion) each dem jetzigen Stand der Untersuchung. Berl. Limnol. Flusstat. Freudenthal 5: 1 – 28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Illies, J., 1961. Versuch einer allgemeinen biozönotischen Gliederung der Fliessgewässer. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 46: 205 – 213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Illies, J., 1964. The invertebrate fauna of the Huallaga, a Peruvian tributary of the Amazon River, from the sources down to Tingo Maria. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 15: 1077–1083.

    Google Scholar 

  • Illies, J., 1969. Biogeography and ecology of neotropical freshwater insects, especially those from running waters, In E.-J. Fittkau, J. Illies, H. Klinge, G. H. Schwabe & H. Sioli (eds), Biogeography and Ecology in South America. W. Junk, The Hague: 685 – 708.

    Google Scholar 

  • Illies, J. & L. Botosaneanu, 1963. Problemes et méhodes de la classification et de la zonation écologique des eaux courantes, considerées surtout du point de vue faunistique. Mitt. int. Ver. Limnol. 12: 1 – 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, F. A., 1971. Stream temperatures in an alpine area. J. Hydrol. (Netherlands) 14: 322–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, J. M., 1981. The distribution of invertebrate communities in a small South African river. Hydrobiologia 83: 43 – 65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. D. & P. A. Tyler, 1982. Downstream effects of the Gordon River power development, South-west Tasmania. Austr. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 33: 431 – 442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knott, B., A. M. M. Richarson & D. Coleman, 1976. A preliminary study of the temperatures of some Tasmanian freshwaters. Unpubl. Manuscript, Dept. Zoology, Univ. Tasmania, 28 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lake, J. S., 1967. Principal fishes of the Murray-Darling River system, In A. H. Weatherley (ed.), Australian Inland Waters and Their Fauna. Aust. Nat. Univ. Press, Canberra: 192 – 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lake, P. S., 1982. Ecology of the macro i nverteb rates of Australian upland streams — a review of current knowledge. Bull. Aust. Soc. Limnol. 8: 1 – 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malaisse, F., 1969. Les faciés d’un tours d’eau tropical: La Luanza (Haut-Katanga, Rép. Dém. Congo). Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 17: 936 – 940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchant, R., 1982. Seasonal variation in the macroinvertebrate fauna of billabongs along Magela Creek, Northern Territory. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 33: 329 – 342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchant, R., 1982. Seasonal variation in the macroinvertebrate fauna of billabongs along Magela Creek, Northern Territory. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 33: 329 – 342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marlier, G., 1954. Recherches hydrobiologiques Bans les rivières du Congo Oriental. Hydrobiologia 6: 225–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metzeling, L., A. Graesser, P. Suber & R. Marchant, in press. The distribution of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the upper catchment of the La Trobe River. Rep. Mus. Victoria (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaelis, F. B., 1976. Physico-chemical features of Pupu Springs. N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 10: 613 – 628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michaelis, F. B., 1976. Physico-chemical features of Pupu Springs. N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 10: 613 – 628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrissy, N. M., 1971. Temperature relationships in small bodies of fresh water with special reference to trout streams in South Australia. Bull. Aust. Soc. Limnol. 4: 8 – 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosley, M. P., 1982. New Zealand river temperature regimes. Water and Soil Miscellaneous Publ. No. 36. Wellington, N.Z., 87 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosley, M. P., 1983. Variability of water temperatures in the braided Ashley and Rakaia Rivers, N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 17: 331 – 342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, K., 1951. Fisch and Fischregionen der Fulda. Berl. Limnol. Flusstat. Freudenthal 2: 18 – 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, R. H., P. S. Lake & R. Swain, 1980. Ecological effects of mine effluents on the South Esk River, north-eastern Tasmania. I. Study area and basic water characteristics. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 31: 817 – 827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliff, W. D., 1960. Hydrobiological studies on the Tugela River system. Part I. The main Tugela River. Hydrobiologia 14: 281 – 385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, R., F. A. Aldrich, J. Cairns, Jr., F. Drouet, M. H. Hohn, S. S. Roback, H. Skuja, P. J. Spongier, Y. H. Swabey & L. A. Whitford, 1966. The Catherwood Foundation Peruvian-Amazon Expedition: limnological and systematic studies. Monogr. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia 14: 1 – 495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petr, T., (ed.), 1983. The Purari — Tropical Environment of a High Rainfall River Basin. W. Junk, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitchford, R. J. & P. S. Visser, 1975. The effect of large dams on river water temperature below the dams, with special reference to bilharzia and the Verwoerd Dam. S. Aff. J. Sci. 71: 212 – 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, G. K. & R. D. Wood, 1976. Ecology of Inland Waters and Estuaries. Van Nostrand, N.Y., 485 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, D. P., 1977. The study of the invertebrate fauna of three mountain streams in relation to the type of land use in each of the three stream catchments. Honours thesis, Monash Univ., Victoria, 51 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz, W.,1954. Grundlagen der Untersuchung der Temperaturverhältnisse in den Fliessegewässern. Berl. Limnol. Flusstat. Freudenthal 6: 29–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubart, O., 1953. Über einen subtropischen Fluss Brasiliens, den Mogi-Guassü, insbesondere seine physikalischen Bedingungen wie Wasserstand, Temperatur and Sichttiefe. Arch. Hydrobiol. 48: 350 – 430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiel, R. J., K. F. Walker & W. D. Williams, 1982. Plankton of the Lower River Murray, South Australia. Aunt. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 33: 301 – 327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sioli, H., 1964. General features of the limnology of Amazônia. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 15: 1053 – 1058.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K., 1972. River water temperatures — an environmental review. Scott. Geogr. Mag. 88: 211 – 220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stark, J. D., R. E. Fordyce & M. J. Winterbourn, 1976. An ecological survey of the hot springs area, Hurunui River, Canterbury, New Zealand. Mauri Ora 4: 35 – 52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Statzner, B., 1975. Zür Longitudinalzonierung eines zentraläfrikanischen Fliessgewässersystems unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Köcherfliegen (Trichoptera, Insecta). Arch. Hydrobiol. 76: 153 – 180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steffan, A. W., 1971. Chironomid (Diptera) biocoenoses in Scandinavian glacier brooks. Can. Entomol. 103: 477 – 486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thienemann, A., 1950. Verbreitungsgeschichte der Süsswassertierwelt Europas. Die Binnengewässer 18: 1 – 809.

    Google Scholar 

  • Towns, D. R., 1979. Composition and zonation of benthic invertebrate communities in a New Zealand kauri forest stream. Freshwat. Biol. 9: 251–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troll, C., 1968. The Cordilleras of the tropical Americas. Aspects of climate, phytogeographical and agrarian ecology. Colloq. Geogr. 9: 15 – 56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turcotte, P. & P. P. Harper, 1982. The macro-invertebrate fauna of a small Andean stream. Freshwat. Biol. 12: 411 – 419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vannote, R. L., G. W. Minshall, K. W. Cummins, J. R. Sedell & C. E. Cushing, 1980. The River Continuum Concept. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 37: 130 – 137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vannote, R. L. & B. W. Sweeney, 1980. Geographical analysis of thermal equilibria: a conceptual model for evaluating the effect of natural and modified thermal regimes on aquatic insect communities. Am. Nat. 115: 667 – 695.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, J. H. & J. D. Lawson, 1977. Natural stream temperature variations in a catchment. Wat. Res. 11: 373 – 377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, K. F., 1979. Regulated streams in Australia: the Murray-Darling River system, In J. V. Ward & J. A. Stanford (eds), The Ecology of Regulated Streams. Plenum, N.Y.: 143–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, J. V., 1982. Ecological aspects of stream regulation: responses in downstream lotic reaches. Wat. Pollut. Management Rev. (New Delhi) 2: 1 – 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, J. V. & J. A. Stanford, 1982a. Thermal responses in the evolutionary ecology of aquatic insects. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 27: 97 – 117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, J. V. & J. A. Stanford, 1982b. The serial discontinuity concept of lotic ecosystems, In T. D. Fontaine & S. M. Bartell (eds), Dynamics of Lotic Ecosystems. Ann Arbor Sci. Publ., Ann. Arbor, Michigan: 29 – 42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, J. V., H. J. Zimmerman & L. D. Cline, in press. Lotic zoobenthos of the Colorado River system. In B. R. Davies & K. F. Walker (eds), The Ecology of River Systems, W. Junk, The Hague, (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weatherley, A. H., 1963. Zoogeography of Perca fluviatifis(Linnaeus) and Perca flavescens(Mitchell) with special reference to the effects of high temperature. Proc. zool. Soc. Land. 141: 557 – 576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weatherley, A. H., (ed.), 1967. Australian Inland Waters and Their Fauna. Aust. Nat. Univ. Press, Canberra, 287 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, W. D., 1981. Inland aquatic systems: an overview, In A. Keast (ed.), Ecologial Biogeography of Australia. W. Junk, The Hague: 1081 – 1099.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., 1969. The distribution of algae and insects in hot spring thermal gradients at Waimangu, New Zealand. N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 3: 459 – 465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., 1973. Ecology of the Copeland River Warm Springs, South Island, New Zealand. Proc. N.Z. Ecol. Soc. 20: 72 – 78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., 1976. Fluxes of litter falling into a small beech forest stream. N. Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 10: 399 – 416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J. & T. J. Brown, 1967. Observations on the fauna of two warm streams in the Taupo thermal region. N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 1: 38 – 50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winterbourn, M. J., J. S. Rounick & B. Cowie, 1981. Are New Zealand stream ecosystems really different? N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 15: 321 – 328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wissmar, R. C., J. E. Richey, R. F. Stallard & J. M. Edmond, 1981. Plankton metabolism and carbon processes in the Amazon River, its tributaries, and floodplain waters, Peru-Brazil, May–June 1977. Ecology 62: 1622 – 1633.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wurtz, C. B., 1969. The effects of heated discharges on freshwater benthos, In P. A. Krenkel & F. L. Parker (eds), Biological Aspects of Thermal Pollution. Vanderbilt Univ. Press, Nashville, Tennessee: 199 – 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yakuwa, I., 1960. Phase of the diurnal variation of water temperature of a river. Mem. Enging. Fac. Hokkaido Univ. 11: 1 – 10.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80253, USA

    J. V. Ward

Authors
  1. J. V. Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

B. R. Davies R. D. Walmsley

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Dr W. Junk Publishers

About this paper

Cite this paper

Ward, J.V. (1985). Thermal characteristics of running waters. In: Davies, B.R., Walmsley, R.D. (eds) Perspectives in Southern Hemisphere Limnology. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 28. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5522-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5522-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8937-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5522-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation