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Rodrigues C, Alves P, Bio A, Vieira C, Guimarães L, Pinheiro C, Vieira N. Assessing the ecological status of small Mediterranean rivers using benthic macroinvertebrates and macrophytes as indicators. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:596. [PMID: 31463760 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7766-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are amongst the most threatened ecosystems in Europe. To prevent further degradation and to improve their ecological status, effective mitigation and restoration actions are needed. Those actions are primarily based on the precision of the ecological assessment results. This study aims to assess the ecological status of two small Mediterranean rivers-the Âncora (AR) and the Ferreira (FR) rivers-through the analysis of biological (benthic macroinvertebrates and macrophytes), physico-chemical and hydromorphological quality elements. Specific objectives were to analyse variations of biotic and abiotic parameters amongst rivers, and amongst seasons and sites within each river, to confirm adequate temporal windows to develop the monitoring surveys. Results showed that only one AR site achieved a good ecological status in spring and summer, while the other sites presented a moderate ecological status in all seasons. FR sites had a moderate to bad ecological status in all seasons. Both rivers showed high levels of nutrients, particularly during spring and summer, and were found quite altered in terms of floristic composition of the riparian communities. The riparian forest and the forbs fringe were dominated by several alien woody species and nitrophilous communities, respectively. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, this study provides an in-depth description of the ecological status of two small Mediterranean rivers located in sites of European interest, as well as a sound basis for the management of the aquatic environments. Mitigation of diffuse pollution and restoration of the riparian zones are a priority to improve their ecological status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rodrigues
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Alves
- Floradata-Biodiversidade, Ambiente e Recursos Naturais, Lda., Rua do Campinho 32, 4000-151, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Bio
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Vieira
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP), Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Guimarães
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Carlos Pinheiro
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natividade Vieira
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
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