Interactive Effects of Environmental Variability and Military Training on Stream Biota of Three Headwater Drainages in Western Louisiana

Abstract

We collected fishes and macroinvertebrates seasonally from eight headwater streams in three different drainage basins (the Red, Calcasieu, and Sabine rivers) crossing Peason Ridge Training Area in west‐central Louisiana. Peason Ridge is part of the Fort Polk military training facility. We used multivariate analyses to test the effects of physical variables (i.e., current velocity, depth, and substrate), time (seasonal variability), drainage basin, and military training activities on assemblage structure. Tributaries of the Red River had the highest gradient and were predominated by shallow, swift‐flowing runs with sandy substrates. Southern tributaries of the Calcasieu and Sabine rivers were of lower stream gradient and contained deep, sluggish runs and pools with large amounts of woody debris and silt. Fish assemblages were structured primarily by military training and drainage basin. Faunal differences among drainage basins probably reflect differences in stream gradient. Fish assemblages in tributaries of the Sabine River were less diverse and showed evidence of historical degradation. Macroinvertebrate assemblages also were structured primarily by military training but had a strong seasonal component related to their short life cycles and high seasonal turnover. In contrast to fishes, macroinvertebrate assemblages were similar among drainages. Because military training was most intense in the Red River basin, its significance in these models probably represents differences in stream gradient among the basins because we found no negative effect on stream biota resulting from current training activities. Rather, historical logging and the resultant siltation coupled with isolation of populations by reservoirs are probable explanations for the changes in fish assemblages in tributaries of the Sabine River.