Ice breakup: a neglected factor in river ecology

To minimize environmental impacts that may result from any engineered modifications of stream or river systems, a basic understanding of river ecology is required. Most fundamental theories of river ecology have developed largely from studies of warm-temperate and tropical streams and rivers. As these theories evolved over the last few decades, floods were recognized increasingly as dominant hydrologic events that control numerous abiotic and biotic forms and processes, both within the channel and on the adjacent riparian floodplains. Over approximately the same time frame, river-ice breakup was shown to be a major, if not predominant, source of floods on cold-regions rivers. Despite this, rarely has the role of ice-induced flooding been considered by subsequent modifications to the original theories or in the extensive studies and literature that they spawned. This manuscript reviews the broad, although frequently anecdotal, information about the abiotic and biotic effects of breakup processes and flooding. Based on this, it argues for breakup to be incorporated in future advancements of river ecological theory. The extensive list of cited studies provides a valuable reference source for scientists and engineers assessing development-related impacts on cold-regions streams and rivers, or further researching ecological aspects of river-ice breakup.