When is stream invertebrate drift catastrophic? The role of hydraulics and sediment transport in initiating drift during flood events

1. The term 'catastrophic drift' is used to describe the large-scale displacement of invertebrates that occurs during periods of increased river discharge. However, the physical processes that lead to animals entering the water column at such times remain poorly understood. Specifically, the hypothesis that the movement of bed sediments during floods triggers a large increase in drift has lacked a rigorous field test. 2. Using a portable flume, the hydraulic conditions and rates of bedload transport associated with small, frequent floods were created in situ within a reach of a gravel bed river. Experiments focussed on the patches of fine sediment which are the dominant source of bed material transported during small floods. The flume produced near bed velocities of up to 2 m s(-1) over the patches, increasing shear stress, initiating sediment transport and causing invertebrates to enter the drift. 3. The total number of individuals lost from the bed, as well as the taxonomic composition of the drift, were influenced strongly by shear stress and bedload. The rate of loss from the bed was low at shear stresses < 9 dynes cm(-2) (0-4 individuals min(-1) from the 0.5 m(2) flume bed area). Once shear stress exceeded 9 dynes cm(-2), the threshold that resulted in consistent bedload transport from the patches, the rate of loss of animals increased to a maximum of 56 individuals min(-1). When bedload transport rates were at their highest, the taxonomic composition of the drift was more similar to the benthos than it was to the drift observed when bed material was stable. 4. Absolute rates of bedload transport created by the manipulations were extremely low (< 7 g m(-1) s(-1)) and typical of those measured during small, frequent floods. Events of this magnitude do not break up the armour layer across the reach as a whole and so exposed patches of fine sediment are the principal source of bedload material. Consequently, discharge events not considered as disturbances in geomorphic terms may initiate frequent episodes of so-called 'catastrophic drift' from patches of stream bed.