Illustration shows the importance of gravel-bed river floodplains as a key feature in mountain landscapes: (A) Microbes of the interstitial spaces of the gravel bed showing the products of processing of organic matter in the subsurface; (B) Crustaceans and insects that inhabit the gravels of the floodplain; (C) Temperature modification of surface habitats from upwelling hyporheic zone waters; (D) Native fish spawning in floodplain gravels; (E) Riparian birds; (F) Amphibian spawning in floodplain ponds and backwaters; (G) Ungulate herbivory of floodplain vegetation; (H) Wolf predation on ungulate populations; (I) Early-spring emergence of vegetation; (J) Wolf dens located along floodplain banks; and, (K) Use by grizzly bears and other carnivores. E. HARRINGTON / UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
