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Larsen S, Joyce F, Vaughan IP, Durance I, Walter JA, Ormerod SJ. Climatic effects on the synchrony and stability of temperate headwater invertebrates over four decades. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17017. [PMID: 37933478 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Important clues about the ecological effects of climate change can arise from understanding the influence of other Earth-system processes on ecosystem dynamics but few studies span the inter-decadal timescales required. We, therefore, examined how variation in annual weather patterns associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) over four decades was linked to synchrony and stability in a metacommunity of stream invertebrates across multiple, contrasting headwaters in central Wales (UK). Prolonged warmer and wetter conditions during positive NAO winters appeared to synchronize variations in population and community composition among and within streams thereby reducing stability across levels of ecological organization. This climatically mediated synchronization occurred in all streams irrespective of acid-base status and land use, but was weaker where invertebrate communities were more functionally diverse. Wavelet linear models indicated that variation in the NAO explained up to 50% of overall synchrony in species abundances at a timescale of 4-6 years. The NAO appeared to affect ecological dynamics through local variations in temperature, precipitation and discharge, but increasing hydrochemical variability within sites during wetter winters might have contributed. Our findings illustrate how large-scale climatic fluctuations generated over the North Atlantic can affect population persistence and dynamics in inland freshwater ecosystems in ways that transcend local catchment character. Protecting and restoring functional diversity in stream communities might increase their stability against warmer, wetter conditions that are analogues of ongoing climate change. Catchment management could also dampen impacts and provide options for climate change adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Larsen
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all' Adige, Italy
| | - Fiona Joyce
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Ian P Vaughan
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jonathan A Walter
- Center for Watershed Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Steve J Ormerod
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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2
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Haase P, Bowler DE, Baker NJ, Bonada N, Domisch S, Garcia Marquez JR, Heino J, Hering D, Jähnig SC, Schmidt-Kloiber A, Stubbington R, Altermatt F, Álvarez-Cabria M, Amatulli G, Angeler DG, Archambaud-Suard G, Jorrín IA, Aspin T, Azpiroz I, Bañares I, Ortiz JB, Bodin CL, Bonacina L, Bottarin R, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Csabai Z, Datry T, de Eyto E, Dohet A, Dörflinger G, Drohan E, Eikland KA, England J, Eriksen TE, Evtimova V, Feio MJ, Ferréol M, Floury M, Forcellini M, Forio MAE, Fornaroli R, Friberg N, Fruget JF, Georgieva G, Goethals P, Graça MAS, Graf W, House A, Huttunen KL, Jensen TC, Johnson RK, Jones JI, Kiesel J, Kuglerová L, Larrañaga A, Leitner P, L'Hoste L, Lizée MH, Lorenz AW, Maire A, Arnaiz JAM, McKie BG, Millán A, Monteith D, Muotka T, Murphy JF, Ozolins D, Paavola R, Paril P, Peñas FJ, Pilotto F, Polášek M, Rasmussen JJ, Rubio M, Sánchez-Fernández D, Sandin L, Schäfer RB, Scotti A, Shen LQ, Skuja A, Stoll S, Straka M, Timm H, Tyufekchieva VG, Tziortzis I, Uzunov Y, van der Lee GH, Vannevel R, Varadinova E, Várbíró G, Velle G, Verdonschot PFM, Verdonschot RCM, Vidinova Y, Wiberg-Larsen P, Welti EAR. The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt. Nature 2023; 620:582-588. [PMID: 37558875 PMCID: PMC10432276 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06400-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss1. Mitigation measures, including wastewater treatment and hydromorphological restoration, have aimed to improve environmental quality and foster the recovery of freshwater biodiversity2. Here, using 1,816 time series of freshwater invertebrate communities collected across 22 European countries between 1968 and 2020, we quantified temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and their responses to environmental pressures and gradients. We observed overall increases in taxon richness (0.73% per year), functional richness (2.4% per year) and abundance (1.17% per year). However, these increases primarily occurred before the 2010s, and have since plateaued. Freshwater communities downstream of dams, urban areas and cropland were less likely to experience recovery. Communities at sites with faster rates of warming had fewer gains in taxon richness, functional richness and abundance. Although biodiversity gains in the 1990s and 2000s probably reflect the effectiveness of water-quality improvements and restoration projects, the decelerating trajectory in the 2010s suggests that the current measures offer diminishing returns. Given new and persistent pressures on freshwater ecosystems, including emerging pollutants, climate change and the spread of invasive species, we call for additional mitigation to revive the recovery of freshwater biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Haase
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Diana E Bowler
- Department of Ecosystem Services, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nathan J Baker
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Hydrobionts, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Núria Bonada
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sami Domisch
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jaime R Garcia Marquez
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Daniel Hering
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja C Jähnig
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Mario Álvarez-Cabria
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | | | - David G Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Brain Capital Alliance, San Francisco, CA, USA
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Gaït Archambaud-Suard
- INRAE, UMR RECOVER Aix Marseille Univ, Centre d'Aix-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | | | | | | | - Iñaki Bañares
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Obras Hidráulicas, Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - José Barquín Ortiz
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Christian L Bodin
- LFI-The Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Luca Bonacina
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences-DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Bottarin
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- FEHM-Lab, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zoltán Csabai
- Department of Hydrobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Thibault Datry
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Elvira de Eyto
- Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Newport, Ireland
| | - Alain Dohet
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Gerald Dörflinger
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Emma Drohan
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Ireland
| | - Knut A Eikland
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Tor E Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vesela Evtimova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria J Feio
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Martial Ferréol
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mathieu Floury
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | | | - Riccardo Fornaroli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences-DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Nikolai Friberg
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
- Freshwater Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Galia Georgieva
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Peter Goethals
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Manuel A S Graça
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Wolfram Graf
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Thomas C Jensen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Richard K Johnson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - J Iwan Jones
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jens Kiesel
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lenka Kuglerová
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Aitor Larrañaga
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Patrick Leitner
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lionel L'Hoste
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Marie-Helène Lizée
- INRAE, UMR RECOVER Aix Marseille Univ, Centre d'Aix-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Armin W Lorenz
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anthony Maire
- Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, EDF Recherche et Développement, Chatou, France
| | | | - Brendan G McKie
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andrés Millán
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Don Monteith
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK
| | - Timo Muotka
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - John F Murphy
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Davis Ozolins
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Riku Paavola
- Oulanka Research Station, University of Oulu Infrastructure Platform, Kuusamo, Finland
| | - Petr Paril
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Francisco J Peñas
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | | | - Marek Polášek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Manu Rubio
- Ekolur Asesoría Ambiental SLL, Oiartzun, Spain
| | | | - Leonard Sandin
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Institute for Environmental Science, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Alberto Scotti
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- APEM, Stockport, UK
| | - Longzhu Q Shen
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Green Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Agnija Skuja
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Stefan Stoll
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Environmental Planning / Environmental Technology, University of Applied Sciences Trier, Birkenfeld, Germany
| | - Michal Straka
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Henn Timm
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Centre for Limnology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Elva vald, Estonia
| | - Violeta G Tyufekchieva
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Iakovos Tziortzis
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Yordan Uzunov
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Gea H van der Lee
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rudy Vannevel
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Flanders Environment Agency, Aalst, Belgium
| | - Emilia Varadinova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Geography, Ecology and Environment Protection, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, South-West University 'Neofit Rilski', Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| | - Gábor Várbíró
- Department of Tisza River Research, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gaute Velle
- LFI-The Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Piet F M Verdonschot
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralf C M Verdonschot
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yanka Vidinova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Ellen A R Welti
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
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3
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Paiva FF, Melo DBD, Dolbeth M, Molozzi J. Functional threshold responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to environmental stressors in reservoirs. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 329:116970. [PMID: 36528939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Reservoirs are aquatic ecosystems created by humans to supply water needs. They can impair aquatic diversity due to the lack of connectivity, reduced water volume, and pressures exerted by surrounding human activities. These changes are expected to produce abrupt fluctuations in the reservoirs' environment, thus influencing the structure and functioning of aquatic communities. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the impact of a range of environmental stressors in reservoirs on benthic macroinvertebrates by analyzing their functional threshold response. Biological data were collected in six reservoirs from the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil, as case study. A total of 37.874 benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 35 taxa were collected. Nevertheless, almost 90% of this abundance belonged to three species alone, considered generalists, with multivoltine reproduction and from the gatherer-collectors feeding group. Increases in environmental stressors such as salinity, nitrate, ammonia, and dissolved solids led to the selection of macroinvertebrates with specific traits (e.g., protected body, gill respiration, and large body size). These functional traits showed differences in their threshold response depending on the stressors and are indicators of the effects of these stressors on the reservoirs. Some of the potential sensitive traits (with a negative threshold response to the stressor) could also associate with other stressors, demonstrating that tolerance of benthic macroinvertebrates is defined by a set of functional characteristics. Overall, the increase in stressor' gradients selected functionally tolerant organisms with high resistance capacity, but these were represented by dominant species. This resulted in low diversity in the reservoirs, which may compromise ecosystem functioning, and raises concerns about adequate management of the systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franciely Ferreira Paiva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Rua Baraúnas, N° 351, Bairro Universitário, Complexo Três Marias, CEP 58429-500, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.
| | - Dalescka Barbosa de Melo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Rua Baraúnas, N° 351, Bairro Universitário, Complexo Três Marias, CEP 58429-500, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Marina Dolbeth
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental - Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4050-123, Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joseline Molozzi
- Departamento de Biologia/Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia e Conservação- Universidade Estadual da Paraíba.Rua Baraúnas, N° 351, Bairro Universitário, Complexo Três Marias, CEP 58429-500, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
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4
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de Melo DB, Dolbeth M, Paiva FF, Molozzi J. Extreme drought scenario shapes different patterns of Chironomid coexistence in reservoirs in a semi-arid region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153053. [PMID: 35038537 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Semi-arid regions are particularly prone to extreme climate events such as droughts, which result in drastic fluctuations in the water volume of aquatic ecosystems, including artificial ones. As these climate extremes intensify, species must adapt, however, not all species can persist under new climate regimes in such a short period of time. In this study, we evaluated how fluctuations in the water levels of reservoirs, caused by drought, affect Chironomidae diversity patterns in a semi-arid region. We studied six reservoirs (256 sites) in two basins in Northeastern Brazil, exposed to different levels of anthropic impact. Sampling was carried out in 2014, 2015 (both extremely dry years) and 2019. A dead water volume was attained during the extreme drought in 2015, consequently affecting the reservoir and resulting in a low diversity, abundance, and functional redundancy of the Chironomidae assemblages. Despite precipitation increases in 2019, some reservoirs continued to be water deficient. These drastic water fluctuations led to different patterns in Chironomidae taxonomic and functional diversity, which were also influenced by anthropic stressors. Thus, the most impacted basin presented lower diversity, with some species and trait turnover between reservoirs. The opposite trend was observed in the least impacted basin. Overall, taxonomic and functional diversity decreased with decreasing water volume, resulting in a community dominated by small-medium sized individuals with multivoltine cycles and hemoglobin and diapause resistant forms, conferring higher tolerance to water stress. The drought and consequent water volume fluctuations throughout the years seemed to exacerbate the water quality due to pre-existing exposure to anthropic impacts (e.g., domestic discharge, fishing activity, agriculture, livestock). This resulted in biotic homogenization, with an observed loss of taxa and traits. This study reinforced the need to implement habitat conservation and water quality improvement strategies to prevent further ecosystem damage in the face of climate change uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalescka Barbosa de Melo
- Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campus I, Departamento de Biologia - Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Av. Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, Brazil.
| | - Marina Dolbeth
- CIIMAR- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Universidade do Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - Franciely Ferreira Paiva
- Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campus I, Departamento de Biologia - Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Av. Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, Brazil.
| | - Joseline Molozzi
- Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campus I, Departamento de Biologia - Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Av. Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, Brazil.
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5
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Dong JY, Zhao L, Sun X, Hu C, Wang Y, Li WT, Zhang PD, Zhang X. Response of macrobenthic communities to heavy metal pollution in Laoshan Bay, China: A trait-based method. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 167:112292. [PMID: 33873041 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The effects of multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors on the functional trait composition and diversity of marine macrobenthic communities in Laoshan Bay were investigated using biological trait analysis (BTA). Seven traits, including 27 trait modalities and four functional diversity indices (functional richness, functional evenness, functional divergence, and Rao's quadratic entropy), were considered. The results of RLQ (environmental variables (R), species taxa (L), and traits (Q)) and variance partitioning analysis (VPA) showed that the trait compositions and functional diversity of macrobenthic communities were influenced by a combination of stressors, among which heavy metals were the major factors. At the sites with high heavy metal pollution, the prevalent traits were infauna, burrower, and deposit feeder, whereas epifauna, carnivores and crawlers were dominant at the sites of low heavy metal contamination. The impact of natural environmental gradients on macrobenthic communities is also worthy of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Yu Dong
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Linlin Zhao
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Xin Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Chengye Hu
- Fisheries College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Yihang Wang
- Fisheries College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Wen-Tao Li
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Pei-Dong Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiumei Zhang
- Fisheries College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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6
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Rivaes RP, Feio MJ, Almeida SFP, Vieira C, Calapez AR, Mortágua A, Gebler D, Lozanovska I, Aguiar FC. Multi-biologic group analysis for an ecosystem response to longitudinal river regulation gradients. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 767:144327. [PMID: 33422957 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This work assesses the effects of river regulation on the diversity of different instream and riparian biological communities along a relieve gradient of disturbance in regulated rivers. Two case studies in Portugal were used, with different river regulation typology (downstream of run-of-river and reservoir dams), where regulated and free-flowing river stretches were surveyed for riparian vegetation, macrophytes, bryophytes, macroalgae, diatoms and macroinvertebrates. The assessment of the regulation effects on biological communities was approached by both biological and functional diversity analysis. Results of this investigation endorse river regulation as a major factor differentiating fluvial biological communities through an artificial environmental filtering that governs species assemblages by accentuating species traits related to river regulation tolerance. Communities' response to regulation gradient seem to be similar and insensitive to river regulation typology. Biological communities respond to this regulation gradient with different sensibilities and rates of response, with riparian vegetation and macroinvertebrates being the most responsive to river regulation and its gradient. Richness appears to be the best indicator for general fluvial ecological quality facing river regulation. Nevertheless, there are high correlations between the biological and functional diversity indices of different biological groups, which denotes biological connections indicative of a cascade of effects leading to an indirect influence of river regulation even on non-responsive facets of communities' biological and functional diversities. These results highlight the necessary holistic perspective of the fluvial system when assessing the effects of river regulation and the proposal of restoration measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Pedro Rivaes
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Feio
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Largo Marquês de Pombal, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Salomé F P Almeida
- Department of Biology, GeoBioTec - GeoBioSciences, GeoTechnologies and GeoEngineering Research Centre, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Vieira
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP; UPorto/PRISC), Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana R Calapez
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Largo Marquês de Pombal, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreia Mortágua
- Department of Biology, GeoBioTec - GeoBioSciences, GeoTechnologies and GeoEngineering Research Centre, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Daniel Gebler
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
| | - Ivana Lozanovska
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisca C Aguiar
- Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
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7
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Akamagwuna FC, Ntloko P, Edegbene AO, Odume ON. Are Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera traits reliable indicators of semi-urban pollution in the Tsitsa River, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa? ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:309. [PMID: 33913034 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09093-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The taxonomy-based response pattern of macroinvertebrates to pollution gradient is well established, with tolerant taxa increasing in impacted conditions, while sensitive taxa increase with decreasing deterioration, typical of rural pollution. This study identified rural indicator and sensitive traits of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa by examining their trait distribution pattern in relation to rural pollution. Physicochemical parameters and EPT were sampled seasonally from August 2016 to April 2017. Eight sites were selected and categorised into three site groups. Site group 1 served as the least impacted site group and Site group 2 as the moderately influenced, whereas Site group 3 was the most impacted. Seven traits were selected and categorised into 27 trait modalities. The response of EPT traits to physicochemical parameters was analysed using the simultaneous analysis of the information contained in three tables: R (environmental characteristics of samples), L (taxa distribution across samples) and Q (species traits) (RLQ) and confirmed with fourth-corner analysis. Three trait attributes, large (10-20 mm), swimming, shredding, streamlined body shape and large body size (≥ 10-20), were considered tolerant signature traits of semi-urban pollution. These trait attributes were associated with the influenced Site group 3 and indicated a significant positive affinity with at least one physicochemical indicator of increasing semi-urban pollution (NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, EC, turbidity, temperature and pH). Conversely, small body size (< 10 mm), operculate gills, spherical body shape and a preference for sediments were correlated with the least influenced Site group 1 and were considered sensitive traits of semi-urban disturbance. Overall, this study provided critical insights into EPT responses to disturbance, revealing that semi-urban activities influenced EPT traits differently in the Tsitsa River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
| | - Phindiwe Ntloko
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Augustine Ovie Edegbene
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
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8
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Arenas-Sánchez A, Dolédec S, Vighi M, Rico A. Effects of anthropogenic pollution and hydrological variation on macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean rivers: A case-study in the upper Tagus river basin (Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 766:144044. [PMID: 33421783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal hydrological variation and chemical pollution represent two main drivers of freshwater biodiversity change in Mediterranean rivers. We investigated to what extent low flow conditions can modify the effects of chemical pollution on macroinvertebrate communities. To that purpose, we selected twelve sampling sites in the upper Tagus river basin (central Spain) having different sources of chemical pollution and levels of seasonal hydrological variation. The sites were classified as natural (high flow variation, low chemical impact), agricultural (high flow variation, high agricultural chemical inputs) and urban (limited flow variation, high urban chemical inputs). In these sites, we measured daily water discharge, nutrients, and contaminant concentrations, and we sampled benthic macroinvertebrates, in spring, summer and autumn. Significant differences related to toxic pressure and nutrient concentrations were observed between the three groups of sites. Seasonal patterns were found for some water quality parameters (e.g. nitrites, ammonia, suspended solids, metal toxicity), particularly in agricultural sites. Taxonomic and functional richness were slightly lower in the polluted sites (agricultural and urban), particularly during low flow periods (summer and early autumn). Functional diversity was significantly lower in sites with seasonal flow variation (agricultural sites) as compared to the more constant ones (urban sites). The frequency of traits such as large size, asexual reproduction, aquatic passive dispersion and the production of cocoons increased in response to pollution during low flow periods. This study shows that the impacts of anthropogenic chemical pollution on taxonomic and functional characteristics of macroinvertebrate communities seem to be larger during low flow periods. Therefore, further studies and monitoring campaigns assessing the effects of chemical pollution within these periods are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Arenas-Sánchez
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sylvain Dolédec
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marco Vighi
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Avenida Punto Com 2, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
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9
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The Effect of Monsoon Rainfall Patterns on Epilithic Diatom Communities in the Hantangang River, Korea. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12051471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most of Korea’s rivers and lakes are subject to physico-chemical disturbances, such as increased water quantity and flow rates, and influx of nitrogen and phosphorus, due to intense rainfall concentrated in the Asian monsoon season. To examine the influence of rainfall on epilithic diatom communities, we measured the diatom distribution and river water quality at 29 sites along the main-stream and tributaries of the Hantangang River, Korea, in the period of 2012–2015. Water quality parameters in the polluted sites had improved following rainfall, but the response of dominant species varied with water quality; the dominant species Nitzschia fonticola decreased in abundance regardless of sampling sites, and the abundance of Achnanthidium minutissimum in the clean sites and Nitzschia palea in the polluted sites increased after rainfall, respectively. The community dynamic index (CDI) showed that the most obvious shift of epilithic diatom community occurred in the mid-polluted sites in 2013 with the highest rainfall. This suggest that the effect of rainfalls on the epilithic diatom community is dependent on various parameters, such as the magnitude of rainfall, water quality and its biotic compositions of diatom communities, but it also indicates that improving the water quality of rivers is important to promote the resilience of diatom communities to extremes of precipitation. Further investigation is needed to generalize the effects of monsoon rainfall on the epilithic diatom communities, considering rivers with different environmental characteristics.
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Pelletier MC, Ebersole J, Mulvaney K, Rashleigh B, Gutierrez MN, Chintala M, Kuhn A, Molina M, Bagley M, Lane C. Resilience of aquatic systems: Review and management implications. AQUATIC SCIENCES 2020; 82:1-44. [PMID: 32489242 PMCID: PMC7265686 DOI: 10.1007/s00027-020-00717-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of how ecosystems function has changed from an equilibria-based view to one that recognizes the dynamic, fluctuating, nonlinear nature of aquatic systems. This current understanding requires that we manage systems for resilience. In this review, we examine how resilience has been defined, measured and applied in aquatic systems, and more broadly, in the socioecological systems in which they are embedded. Our review reveals the importance of managing stressors adversely impacting aquatic system resilience, as well as understanding the environmental and climatic cycles and changes impacting aquatic resources. Aquatic resilience may be enhanced by maintaining and enhancing habitat connectivity as well as functional redundancy and physical and biological diversity. Resilience in aquatic socioecological system may be enhanced by understanding and fostering linkages between the social and ecological subsystems, promoting equity among stakeholders, and understanding how the system is impacted by factors within and outside the area of immediate interest. Management for resilience requires implementation of adaptive and preferably collaborative management. Implementation of adaptive management for resilience will require an effective monitoring framework to detect key changes in the coupled socioecological system. Research is needed to (1) develop sensitive indicators and monitoring designs, (2) disentangle complex multi-scalar interactions and feedbacks, and (3) generalize lessons learned across aquatic ecosystems and apply them in new contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marguerite C Pelletier
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Joe Ebersole
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kate Mulvaney
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Brenda Rashleigh
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | | | - Marnita Chintala
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Anne Kuhn
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - Marirosa Molina
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Mark Bagley
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Chuck Lane
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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11
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Verniest F, Greulich S. Methods for assessing the effects of environmental parameters on biological communities in long-term ecological studies - A literature review. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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12
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Effects of variations in water quantity and quality in the structure and functions of invertebrates’ community of a Mediterranean urban stream. Urban Ecosyst 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-019-00892-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Calapez AR, Branco P, Santos JM, Ferreira T, Hein T, Brito AG, Feio MJ. Macroinvertebrate short-term responses to flow variation and oxygen depletion: A mesocosm approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 599-600:1202-1212. [PMID: 28514838 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In Mediterranean rivers, water scarcity is a key stressor with direct and indirect effects on other stressors, such as water quality decline and inherent oxygen depletion associated with pollutants inputs. Yet, predicting the responses of macroinvertebrates to these stressors combination is quite challenging due to the reduced available information, especially if biotic and abiotic seasonal variations are taken under consideration. This study focused on the response of macroinvertebrates by drift to single and combined effects of water scarcity and dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion over two seasons (winter and spring). A factorial design of two flow velocity levels - regular and low (vL) - with three levels of oxygen depletion - normoxia, medium depletion (dM) and higher depletion (dH) - was carried out in a 5-artificial channels system, in short-term experiments. Results showed that both stressors individually and together had a significant effect on macroinvertebrate drift ratio for both seasons. Single stressor effects showed that macroinvertebrate drift decreased with flow velocity reduction and increased with DO depletion, in both winter and spring experiments. Despite single stressors opposing effects in drift ratio, combined stressors interaction (vL×dM and vL×dH) induced a positive synergistic drift effect for both seasons, but only in winter the drift ratio was different between the levels of DO depletion. Stressors interaction in winter seemed to intensify drift response when reached lower oxygen saturation. Also, drift patterns were different between seasons for all treatments, which may depend on individual's life stage and seasonal behaviour. Water scarcity seems to exacerbate the oxygen depletion conditions resulting into a greater drifting of invertebrates. The potential effects of oxygen depletion should be evaluated when addressing the impacts of water scarcity on river ecosystems, since flow reductions will likely contribute to a higher oxygen deficit, particularly in Mediterranean rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Calapez
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Paulo Branco
- CEF - Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; CERIS - Civil Engineering for Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José M Santos
- CEF - Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Teresa Ferreira
- CEF - Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Thomas Hein
- WasserCluster Lunz - Inter-university Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Lunz am See, Austria; Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - António G Brito
- LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Feio
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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14
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Pedrosa JAM, Cocchiararo B, Verdelhos T, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT, Nowak C. Population genetic structure and hybridization patterns in the cryptic sister species Chironomus riparius and Chironomus piger across differentially polluted freshwater systems. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 141:280-289. [PMID: 28359994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Chironomids are an integral and functionally important part of many freshwater ecosystems. Yet, to date, there is limited understanding of their microevolutionary processes under chemically polluted natural environments. In this study, we investigated the genetic variation within populations of the ecotoxicological model species Chironomus riparius and its cryptic sister species Chironomus piger at 18 metal-contaminated and reference sites in northwestern Portugal. Microsatellite analysis was conducted on 909 samples to answer if metal contamination affects genetic variation in natural chironomid populations as previously suggested from controlled laboratory experiments. Similarly high levels of genetic diversity and significant but weak genetic substructuring were found across all sites and temporal replicates, with no effects of metal contamination on the genetic variation or species' abundance, although C. piger tended to be less frequent at highly contaminated sites. Our results indicate that high levels of gene flow and population dynamic processes may overlay potential pollutant effects. At least for our study species, we conclude that the "genetic erosion hypothesis", which suggests that chemical pollution will reduce genome-wide genetic variability in affected populations, does not hold under natural conditions. Interestingly, our study provides evidence of successful hybridization between the two sister species under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- João A M Pedrosa
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany.
| | - Berardino Cocchiararo
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Tiago Verdelhos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- Department of Biology & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Conservation Genetics Group, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany
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15
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Luiza-Andrade A, Montag LFDA, Juen L. Functional diversity in studies of aquatic macroinvertebrates community. Scientometrics 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-017-2315-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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16
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Jurkiewicz-Karnkowska E. Longitudinal pattern of mollusc assemblages within A medium-sized lowland river: Liwiec (East Poland). FOLIA MALACOLOGICA 2016. [DOI: 10.12657/folmal.024.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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17
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Mbaka JG, M’Erimba CM, Karanja HT, Mathooko JM, Mwaniki MW. Does the exclusion of meiofauna affect the estimation of biotic indices using stream invertebrates? AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2016.1196120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John G Mbaka
- Biological Sciences Department, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya
| | | | - Henry T Karanja
- Natural Resources Department, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya
| | - Jude M Mathooko
- Global Research Akademic and Mentoring Services, Nakuru, Kenya
| | - Mercy W Mwaniki
- Department of Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
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