Correspondence Between Ecoregions and Spatial Patterns in Stream Ecosystems in Oregon

Abstract

Multivariate analyses of biotic assemblages and physicochemical measures, species richness, diversity, and composition were used to evaluate the robustness of Omernik's ecoregion classification for small streams in the eight ecoregions of Oregon. Clearest differences were between the montane and nonmontane regions. For the three nonmontane regions, ordinations of fishes, macroinvertebrates, water quality, and physical habitat measures show the clearest differences, with the Willamette Valley ecoregion being consistently most unlike all other regions. Differences between the Columbia Basin and High Desert regions were clearest for water quality and physical habitat measures and fish assemblages. Differences among the montane regions were subtle. Of these regions, the East Cascade Slopes showed the greatest variability, as shown by the ranges of ordination scores for fishes, water quality, and physical habitat. Regional patterns in periphyton assemblages were markedly different from the patterns in the other groups of variables. Ecoregions can be used as a broad-scale geographic framework for classifying streams. This framework provides managers of lotic resources a useful alternative to river basins.