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Franklin PA, Bašić T, Davison PI, Dunkley K, Ellis J, Gangal M, González-Ferreras AM, Gutmann Roberts C, Hunt G, Joyce D, Klöcker CA, Mawer R, Rittweg T, Stoilova V, Gutowsky LFG. Aquatic connectivity: challenges and solutions in a changing climate. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024; 105:392-411. [PMID: 38584261 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15727] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated in the presence of additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues in the context of structural and functional connectivity for aquatic biodiversity, specifically fish, in both the freshwater and marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies that consider shifting baselines and the socio-ecological implications of climate change will be required to achieve management objectives. The role of renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, is critically examined for its impact on connectivity. We advocate for strategic spatial planning that incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring climate mitigation efforts are harmonized with biodiversity conservation. We underscore the urgency of integrating robust scientific modelling with stakeholder values to define clear, adaptive management objectives. Finally, we call for innovative monitoring and predictive decision-making tools to navigate the uncertainties inherent in a changing climate, with the goal of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Franklin
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Tea Bašić
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Phil I Davison
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Katie Dunkley
- Christ's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Ellis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mayuresh Gangal
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India
| | - Alexia M González-Ferreras
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria. C/Isabel Torres 15, Santander, Spain
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | | | - Georgina Hunt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Domino Joyce
- Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - C Antonia Klöcker
- Institute of Marine Research, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rachel Mawer
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Timo Rittweg
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden, Berlin, Germany
| | - Velizara Stoilova
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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2
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Kouris AD, Christopoulos A, Vlachopoulos K, Christopoulou A, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Zevgolis YG. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Reptile and Amphibian Road Fatalities in a Natura 2000 Area: A 12-Year Monitoring of the Lake Karla Mediterranean Wetland. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:708. [PMID: 38473093 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The pervasive expansion of human-engineered infrastructure, particularly roads, has fundamentally reshaped landscapes, profoundly affecting wildlife interactions. Wildlife-vehicle collisions, a common consequence of this intricate interplay, frequently result in fatalities, extending their detrimental impact within Protected Areas (PAs). Among the faunal groups most susceptible to road mortality, reptiles and amphibians stand at the forefront, highlighting the urgent need for global comprehensive mitigation strategies. In Greece, where road infrastructure expansion has encroached upon a significant portion of the nation's PAs, the plight of these road-vulnerable species demands immediate attention. To address this critical issue, we present a multifaceted and holistic approach to investigating and assessing the complex phenomenon of herpetofauna road mortality within the unique ecological context of the Lake Karla plain, a rehabilitated wetland complex within a PA. To unravel the intricacies of herpetofauna road mortality in the Lake Karla plain, we conducted a comprehensive 12-year investigation from 2008 to 2019. Employing a combination of statistical modeling and spatial analysis techniques, we aimed to identify the species most susceptible to these encounters, their temporal and seasonal variations, and the ecological determinants of their roadkill patterns. We documented a total of 340 roadkill incidents involving 14 herpetofauna species in the Lake Karla's plain, with reptiles, particularly snakes, being more susceptible, accounting for over 60% of roadkill occurrences. Moreover, we found that environmental and road-related factors play a crucial role in influencing roadkill incidents, while spatial analysis techniques, including Kernel Density Estimation, the Getis-Ord Gi*, and the Kernel Density Estimation plus methods revealed critical areas, particularly in the south-eastern region of Lake Karla's plain, offering guidance for targeted interventions to address both individual and collective risks associated with roadkill incidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros D Kouris
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Apostolos Christopoulos
- Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Vlachopoulos
- Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Volos, Greece
| | | | - Panayiotis G Dimitrakopoulos
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Yiannis G Zevgolis
- Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
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3
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Rolls RJ, Deane DC, Johnson SE, Heino J, Anderson MJ, Ellingsen KE. Biotic homogenisation and differentiation as directional change in beta diversity: synthesising driver-response relationships to develop conceptual models across ecosystems. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1388-1423. [PMID: 37072381 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Biotic homogenisation is defined as decreasing dissimilarity among ecological assemblages sampled within a given spatial area over time. Biotic differentiation, in turn, is defined as increasing dissimilarity over time. Overall, changes in the spatial dissimilarities among assemblages (termed 'beta diversity') is an increasingly recognised feature of broader biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Empirical evidence of biotic homogenisation and biotic differentiation remains scattered across different ecosystems. Most meta-analyses quantify the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, rather than attempting to identify underlying ecological drivers of such changes. By conceptualising the mechanisms that contribute to decreasing or increasing dissimilarity in the composition of ecological assemblages across space, environmental managers and conservation practitioners can make informed decisions about what interventions may be required to sustain biodiversity and can predict potential biodiversity outcomes of future disturbances. We systematically reviewed and synthesised published empirical evidence for ecological drivers of biotic homogenisation and differentiation across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater realms to derive conceptual models that explain changes in spatial beta diversity. We pursued five key themes in our review: (i) temporal environmental change; (ii) disturbance regime; (iii) connectivity alteration and species redistribution; (iv) habitat change; and (v) biotic and trophic interactions. Our first conceptual model highlights how biotic homogenisation and differentiation can occur as a function of changes in local (alpha) diversity or regional (gamma) diversity, independently of species invasions and losses due to changes in species occurrence among assemblages. Second, the direction and magnitude of change in beta diversity depends on the interaction between spatial variation (patchiness) and temporal variation (synchronicity) of disturbance events. Third, in the context of connectivity and species redistribution, divergent beta diversity outcomes occur as different species have different dispersal characteristics, and the magnitude of beta diversity change associated with species invasions also depends strongly on alpha and gamma diversity prior to species invasion. Fourth, beta diversity is positively linked with spatial environmental variability, such that biotic homogenisation and differentiation occur when environmental heterogeneity decreases or increases, respectively. Fifth, species interactions can influence beta diversity via habitat modification, disease, consumption (trophic dynamics), competition, and by altering ecosystem productivity. Our synthesis highlights the multitude of mechanisms that cause assemblages to be more or less spatially similar in composition (taxonomically, functionally, phylogenetically) through time. We consider that future studies should aim to enhance our collective understanding of ecological systems by clarifying the underlying mechanisms driving homogenisation or differentiation, rather than focusing only on reporting the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Rolls
- School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - David C Deane
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Sarah E Johnson
- Natural Resources Department, Northland College, Ashland, WI, 54891, USA
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, Oulu, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Marti J Anderson
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kari E Ellingsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, Tromsø, 9296, Norway
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4
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Riato L, Leibowitz SG, Weber MH, Hill RA. A multiscale landscape approach for prioritizing river and stream protection and restoration actions. Ecosphere 2023; 14:10.1002/ecs2.4350. [PMID: 36762202 PMCID: PMC9903358 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
River and stream conservation programs have historically focused on a single spatial scale, for example, a watershed or stream site. Recently, the use of landscape information (e.g., land use and land cover) at multiple spatial scales and over large spatial extents has highlighted the importance of incorporating a landscape perspective into stream protection and restoration activities. Previously, we developed a novel framework that links information about watershed-, catchment-, and reach-scale integrity with stream biological condition using scatterplots and a landscape integrity map. Here we examined an application of this approach for streams in urban and other settings in King County, Washington State, United States, where we related stream macroinvertebrate condition to two indices of landscape integrity, the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) nationally available Index of Watershed Integrity (IWI) and Index of Catchment Integrity (ICI). We generated a scatterplot of IWI versus ICI for sample sites, where points represented site macroinvertebrate condition from poor to good. The same data were also visualized as a landscape integrity map that displayed catchments of King County according to the level of watershed and catchment integrity (high or low IWI/ICI). Almost three-quarters of poor-condition sites were associated with high-integrity watersheds and catchments (i.e., underperforming sites), which suggested that either one or both national indicators were insufficient for this area, and that sites underperformed because of local-scale factors. In response, we used a catchment-scale indicator related to forest condition (PctForestCat) after examining several GIS-based dispersal indicators from the National Hydrography Dataset and other candidates from the USEPA's StreamCat dataset. We then compared the results of the scatterplots and maps based on the current and original analyses and found that many of the sites previously classified as underperforming now performed as expected, that is, they were poor-condition sites in poor-condition catchments. This analysis demonstrates how results based on a national dataset can be improved by developing an alternative that represents regionally important stressors. The methods used to develop an effective landscape indicator based on StreamCat datasets, and the utility of the multiscale approach, could provide important tools for prioritizing, optimizing, and communicating stream conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Riato
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Scott G Leibowitz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Marc H Weber
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ryan A Hill
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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5
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Adams A, Danylchuk AJ, Cooke SJ. Conservation connections: incorporating connectivity into management and conservation of flats fishes and their habitats in a multi-stressor world. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES 2023; 106:117-130. [PMID: 36686288 PMCID: PMC9847458 DOI: 10.1007/s10641-023-01391-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coastal marine fisheries and the habitats that support them are under extensive and increasing pressures from numerous anthropogenic stressors that occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales and often intersect in unexpected ways. Frequently, the scales at which these fisheries are managed do not match the scales of the stressors, much less the geographic scale of species biology. In general, fishery management is ill prepared to address these stressors, as underscored by the continuing lack of integration of fisheries and habitat management. However, research of these fisheries is increasingly being conducted at spatial and temporal scales that incorporate biology and ecological connectivity of target species, with growing attention to the foundational role of habitat. These efforts are also increasingly engaging stakeholders and rights holders in research, education, and conservation. This multi-method approach is essential for addressing pressing conservation challenges that are common to flats ecosystems. Flats fisheries occur in the shallow, coastal habitat mosaic that supports fish species that are accessible to and desirable to target by recreational fishers. Because these species rely upon coastal habitats, the anthropogenic stressors can be especially intense-habitat alteration (loss and degradation) and water quality declines are being exacerbated by climate change and increasing direct human impacts (e.g., fishing effort, boat traffic, depredation, pollution). The connections necessary for effective flats conservation are of many modes and include ontogenetic habitat connectivity; connections between stressors and impacts to fishes; connections between research and management, such as research informing spawning area protections; and engagement of stakeholders and rights holders in research, education, and management. The articles included in this Special Issue build upon a growing literature that is filling knowledge gaps for flats fishes and their habitats and increasingly providing the evidence to inform resource management. Indeed, numerous articles in this issue propose or summarize direct application of research findings to management with a focus on current and future conservation challenges. As with many other fisheries, a revised approach to management and conservation is needed in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Adams
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, 2937 SW 27Th Avenue, Suite 203, Miami, FL 33133 USA
- Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946 USA
| | - Andy J. Danylchuk
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
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Kocięcka J, Kupiec JM, Hämmerling M, Liberacki D. The concept for innovative Comprehensive Assessment of Lowland Rivers. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282720. [PMID: 36893198 PMCID: PMC9997953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Current river assessment methods focus on evaluating a single aspect (e.g. the physical and chemical quality of the water or its hydromorphological state) and usually do not integrate various factors. The lack of an interdisciplinary method makes it difficult to correctly assess the condition of a river as a complex ecosystem significantly influenced by humans. This study aimed to develop a novel Comprehensive Assessment of Lowland Rivers (CALR) method. It is designed to integrate and evaluate all-natural and anthropopressure-related elements that influence a river. The CALR method was developed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The application of the AHP allowed the assessment factors to be determined and given weights to define the importance of each assessment element. As a result of AHP analyses, the following ranks were determined for the six main parts of the CALR method: hydrodynamic assessment (0.212), hydromorphological assessment (0.194), macrophyte assessment (0.192), water quality assessment (0.171), hydrological assessment (0.152) hydrotechnical structures assessment (0.081). In the comprehensive assessment of lowland rivers, each of the six elements listed above is rated on a scale of 1-5 (where 5 means very good and 1 bad) and multiplied by an appropriate weighting. After summing up the obtained results, a final value is obtained, classifying the river. CALR can be successfully applied to all lowland rivers thanks to its relatively simple methodology. The widespread use of the CALR method may facilitate the assessment process and enable the comparison of the condition of lowland rivers worldwide. The research conducted in this article is one of the first attempts to develop a comprehensive method for evaluating rivers that considers all aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kocięcka
- Department of Land Improvement, Environmental Development and Spatial Management, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jerzy Mirosław Kupiec
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Mateusz Hämmerling
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Daniel Liberacki
- Department of Land Improvement, Environmental Development and Spatial Management, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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7
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Lynch T, Green M, Wong L, Bessell T, Cooper A, Valentine J, Barrett N, Ross D, McEnnulty F, Foster S. Assessment of conservations actions for the critically endangered spotted handfish (Brachionichthyidae), following curation of data collected by multiple investigators into a long-term time-series. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126237] [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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8
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Bzonek PA, Mandrak NE. Wetland fishes avoid a carbon dioxide deterrent deployed in the field. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac021. [PMID: 35586726 PMCID: PMC9109721 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions are poorly controlled and contribute to the loss of ecosystem services and function. Altered watershed connectivity contributes to aquatic invasions, but such hydrologic connections have become important for human transport. Carbon dioxide (CO2) deterrents have been proposed to control the range expansion of invasive fishes, particularly through altered hydrologic connections, without impeding human transport. However, the effectiveness of CO2 deterrents needs to be further evaluated in the field, where fishes are situated in their natural environment and logistical challenges are present. We deployed a proof-of-concept CO2 deterrent within a trap-and-sort fishway in Cootes Paradise, Ontario, Canada, to determine the avoidance responses of fishes attempting to disperse into a wetland. We aimed to describe deterrent efficiency for our target species, common carp, and for native fishes dispersing into the wetland. Our inexpensive inline CO2 deterrent was deployed quickly and rapidly produced a CO2 plume of 60 mg/l. Over 2000 fishes, representing 13 species, were captured between 23 May and 8 July 2019. A generalized linear model determined that the catch rates of our target species, common carp (n = 1662), decreased significantly during deterrent activation, with catch rates falling from 2.56 to 0.26 individuals per hour. Aggregated catch rates for low-abundance species (n < 150 individuals per species) also decreased, while catch rates for non-target brown bullhead (n = 294) increased. Species did not express a phylogenetic signal in avoidance responses. These results indicate that CO2 deterrents produce a robust common carp avoidance response in the field. This pilot study deployed an inexpensive and rapidly operating deterrent, but to be a reliable management tool, permanent deterrents would need to produce a more concentrated CO2 plume with greater infrastructural support.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Bzonek
- Corresponding author: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada. Tel: 416-208-2249.
| | - N E Mandrak
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A1, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
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9
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Tonkin Z, Moloney P, Lyon J, Kitchingman A, O'Mahony J, Raymond S, Hackett G, Saddlier S, Greenfield A, Wood D, Hale R. Movement behavior of a threatened native fish informs flow management in a modified floodplain river system. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zeb Tonkin
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Paul Moloney
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Jarod Lyon
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Adrian Kitchingman
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Justin O'Mahony
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Scott Raymond
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Graeme Hackett
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Steve Saddlier
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | | | - David Wood
- Mallee Catchment Management Authority Mildura Victoria Australia
| | - Robin Hale
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Applied Aquatic Ecology, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
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10
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Keeley ATH, Fremier AK, Goertler PAL, Huber PR, Sturrock AM, Bashevkin SM, Barbaree BA, Grenier JL, Dilts TE, Gogol-Prokurat M, Colombano DD, Bush EE, Laws A, Gallo JA, Kondolf M, Stahl AT. Governing Ecological Connectivity in Cross-Scale Dependent Systems. Bioscience 2022; 72:372-386. [PMID: 35370478 PMCID: PMC8970826 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem management and governance of cross-scale dependent systems require integrating knowledge about ecological connectivity in its multiple forms and scales. Although scientists, managers, and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of connectivity, governmental organizations may not be currently equipped to manage ecosystems with strong cross-boundary dependencies. Managing the different aspects of connectivity requires building social connectivity to increase the flow of information, as well as the capacity to coordinate planning, funding, and actions among both formal and informal governance bodies. We use estuaries in particular the San Francisco Estuary, in California, in the United States, as examples of cross-scale dependent systems affected by many intertwined aspects of connectivity. We describe the different types of estuarine connectivity observed in both natural and human-affected states and discuss the human dimensions of restoring beneficial physical and ecological processes. Finally, we provide recommendations for policy, practice, and research on how to restore functional connectivity to estuaries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pascale A L Goertler
- Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Science Program, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Patrick R Huber
- University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | | | | | - Blake A Barbaree
- Point Blue Conservation Science, based Petaluma, California, United States
| | - J Letitia Grenier
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond, California, United States
| | | | - Melanie Gogol-Prokurat
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Biogeographic Data Branch in Sacramento, California, United States
| | | | - Eva E Bush
- Delta Stewardship Council Delta Science Program, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Angela Laws
- The Xerces Society, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - John A Gallo
- Conservation Biology Institute, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
| | - Mathias Kondolf
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Amanda T Stahl
- Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States
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11
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Stryjecki R, Zawal A, Krepski T, Stępień E, Buczyńska E, Buczyński P, Czachorowski S, Jankowiak Ł, Pakulnicka J, Sulikowska-Drozd A, Pešić V, Michoński G, Grabowski M, Jabłońska A, Achrem M, Olechwir T, Pietrzak L, Szlauer-Łukaszewska A. Anthropogenic transformations of river ecosystems are not always bad for the environment: Multi-taxa analyses of changes in aquatic and terrestrial environments after dredging of a small lowland river. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12224. [PMID: 34703668 PMCID: PMC8487244 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rivers are one of the most commonly transformed aquatic ecosystems. Most papers present significantly negative effects of activities such as dredging or channel regulation on the ecological status of rivers. The purpose of this work was to compare the response of various groups of invertebrates (Mollusca, Hydrachnidia, Odonata, Heteroptera, Coleoptera and Trichoptera) to an intervention involving dredging in conjunction with the removal of riparian vegetation. Habitat diversity increased after the dredging, and more individuals and species were caught than before the dredging. The increase in habitat diversity after the dredging translated into an increase in the species diversity of most investigated groups. Individual groups of invertebrates showed varied responses to the dredging, depending on the role of the terrestrial phase in their life cycle: the greater the role of the terrestrial phase in the life cycle, the more the group was affected by changes in the terrestrial environment following the intervention. In consequence, the intervention had the greatest negative impact on insects, and among these, on adult Odonata. The following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Dredging can benefit a previously anthropogenically transformed river ecosystem by increasing habitat diversity; (2) Odonata are particularly useful for assessing the impact of this type of intervention on invertebrate communities. They can be considered good indicators of habitat disturbances in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Stryjecki
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Zawal
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Krepski
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Edyta Stępień
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Edyta Buczyńska
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Paweł Buczyński
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Stanisław Czachorowski
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | | | - Joanna Pakulnicka
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Anna Sulikowska-Drozd
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | - Vladimir Pešić
- Department of Biology, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Grzegorz Michoński
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Michał Grabowski
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Jabłońska
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
| | | | - Tomasz Olechwir
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
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12
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Cooper AR, Infante DM, O'Hanley JR, Yu H, Neeson TM, Brumm KJ. Prioritizing native migratory fish passage restoration while limiting the spread of invasive species: A case study in the Upper Mississippi River. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148317. [PMID: 34412399 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing efforts globally to remove dams and construct fish passage structures, broad-scale analyses balancing tradeoffs between cost and habitat gains from these mitigations infrequently consider invasive species. We present an optimization-based approach for prioritizing dam mitigations to restore habitat connectivity for native fish species, while limiting invasive species spread. Our methodology is tested with a case study involving 240 dams in the Upper Mississippi River, USA. We integrate six native migratory fish species distribution models, distributions of two invasive fishes, and estimated costs for dam removal and construction of fish passes. Varying budgets and post-mitigation fish passage rates are analyzed for two scenarios: 'no invasives' where non-selective mitigations (e.g., dam removal) are used irrespective of potential invasive species habitat gains and 'invasives' where a mixture of selective (e.g., lift-and-sort fish passage) and non-selective mitigations are deployed to limit invasive species range expansion. To achieve the same overall habitat connectivity gains, we find that prioritizations accounting for invasive species are 3 to 6 times more costly than those that do not. Habitat gains among native fish species were highly variable based on potential habitat overlap with invasive species and post-mitigation passabilities, ranging from 0.4-58.9% ('invasives') and 7.9-95.6% ('no invasives') for a $50M USD budget. Despite challenges associated with ongoing nonnative fish invasions, opportunities still exist to restore connectivity for native species as indicated by individual dams being frequently selected in both scenarios across varying passabilities and budgets, however increased restoration costs associated with invasive species control indicates the importance of limiting their further spread within the basin. Given tradeoffs in managing for native vs. invasive species in river systems worldwide, our approach demonstrates strategies for identifying a portfolio of candidate barriers that can be investigated further for their potential to enhance native fish habitat connectivity while concurrently limiting invasive species dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur R Cooper
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA.
| | - Dana M Infante
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA
| | - Jesse R O'Hanley
- Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK; Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA
| | - Thomas M Neeson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kyle J Brumm
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA
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13
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Espinoza T, Burke CL, Carpenter-Bundhoo L, Marshall SM, McDougall AJ, Roberts DT, Campbell HA, Kennard MJ. Quantifying movement of multiple threatened species to inform adaptive management of environmental flows. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113067. [PMID: 34171782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113067] [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: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing need for water managers to refine and optimise environmental flow strategies (e-flows) to balance water requirements for humans and nature. With increasing demands for freshwater and consequent declines in biodiversity, managers are faced with the problem of how to adaptively manage e-flows for multiple stakeholders and species whose flow requirements may overlap or vary. This study assessed the effectiveness of a regulated e-flow release strategy from a dam, aimed at providing movement opportunities and facilitating reproductive processes for multiple threatened species. Movements of 24 Mary River cod (Maccullochella mariensis), 20 Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) and 13 Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) were quantified using acoustic telemetry over a three-year period. The influence of regulated e-flow releases, season, river depth, water temperature and rainfall on animal movements was assessed using Generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs). Models showed that hydraulic connectivity provided by both natural flows and regulated e-flow releases facilitated movement of all three species between pool habitats, throughout the year. Mary River turtles made extensive use of regulated e-flow releases when moving between habitats, whereas Mary River cod and Australian lungfish required additional natural rises in river height above the regulated e-flows to trigger movements. Significant movement activity was also recorded for cod and turtles during the dry season (winter and spring), broadly coinciding with breeding periods for these species. The effectiveness of, and potential improvements to, current e-flow strategies to sustain key life-history requirements of these species is discussed. Findings suggest a revised e-flow strategy with relatively minor increases in the magnitude of e-flow releases throughout winter and spring, would be effective in providing movement opportunities and supporting reproductive success for all three species. This study demonstrates that by quantifying movement behaviour in an e-flow context, ecological risk assessment frameworks can then be used to assess and provide for critical life-history requirements of multiple species within the context of a highly regulated system under increasing water use demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Espinoza
- Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia.
| | - C L Burke
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - L Carpenter-Bundhoo
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - S M Marshall
- Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
| | - A J McDougall
- Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
| | - D T Roberts
- Seqwater, Ipswich, Queensland, 4305, Australia
| | - H A Campbell
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, School of Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - M J Kennard
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
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14
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Lavretsky P, Duenez E, Sorensen J. Population genetics and conservation of recently discovered springsnails in Arizona. THE JOURNAL OF MOLLUSCAN STUDIES 2021; 87:eyab020. [PMID: 34276251 PMCID: PMC8275448 DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyab020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Establishing baseline geographical distributions of extant genetic diversity is increasingly important for future conservation efforts of freshwater species. We analyse the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to taxonomically characterize 233 samples from recently discovered springsnail populations throughout 17 sites in Arizona, USA. A total of 28 unique COI haplotypes were recovered, with the number of haplotypes ranging from 1 to 4 by population in Arizona. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in haplotypes from 13 of 17 locations in Arizona being successfully identified to species, with five described and three undescribed species in the genus Pyrgulopsis (Hydrobiidae). Future work will require in-depth morphological work to clarify the taxonomic status of these putatively novel species. Importantly, among recovered species, we identified haplotype diversity of the critically endangered Three Forks springsnail, Pyrgulopsis trivialis, in the eastern Gila watershed, which will inform wildlife managers in deciding which source populations to use in reintroduction efforts. We discuss possible causes for observed population structure of Arizona's springsnail populations, with suggestions for the future sampling schemes necessary for the conservation of this uniquely important freshwater mollusc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esmeralda Duenez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79668, USA
| | - Jeffrey Sorensen
- Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA
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15
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Yokouchi K, Itakura H, Wakiya R, Yoshinaga T, Mochioka N, Kimura S, Kaifu K. Cumulative effects of low‐height barriers on distributions of catadromous Japanese eels in Japan. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Yokouchi
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Science Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency Yokohama Japan
- Center for International Collaborative Research Nagasaki University Nagasaki Japan
| | - H. Itakura
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratory University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Solomons MD USA
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
| | - R. Wakiya
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
- Research and Development Initiative Chuo University Hachioji Japan
| | - T. Yoshinaga
- School of Marine Biosciences Kitasato University Sagamihara Japan
| | - N. Mochioka
- Faculty of Agriculture Kyushu University Fukuoka Japan
| | - S. Kimura
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Japan
| | - K. Kaifu
- Faculty of Law Chuo University Hachioji Japan
- The Zoological Society of London London UK
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16
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Wood ZT, Palkovacs EP, Olsen BJ, Kinnison MT. The Importance of Eco-evolutionary Potential in the Anthropocene. Bioscience 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Humans are dominant global drivers of ecological and evolutionary change, rearranging ecosystems and natural selection. In the present article, we show increasing evidence that human activity also plays a disproportionate role in shaping the eco-evolutionary potential of systems—the likelihood of ecological change generating evolutionary change and vice versa. We suggest that the net outcome of human influences on trait change, ecology, and the feedback loops that link them will often (but not always) be to increase eco-evolutionary potential, with important consequences for stability and resilience of populations, communities, and ecosystems. We also integrate existing ecological and evolutionary metrics to predict and manage the eco-evolutionary dynamics of human-affected systems. To support this framework, we use a simple eco–evo feedback model to show that factors affecting eco-evolutionary potential are major determinants of eco-evolutionary dynamics. Our framework suggests that proper management of anthropogenic effects requires a science of human effects on eco-evolutionary potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T Wood
- School of Biology and Ecology and with the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
| | - Eric P Palkovacs
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States
| | - Brian J Olsen
- School of Biology and Ecology and with the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
| | - Michael T Kinnison
- School of Biology and Ecology and with the Maine Center for Genetics in the Environment at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
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17
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Assessing the ecological status using physico-chemical, bacteriological parameters and biotic indices of the Oued Martil River basin in northwestern Morocco. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-020-00560-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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18
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Quintela M, Richter‐Boix À, Bekkevold D, Kvamme C, Berg F, Jansson E, Dahle G, Besnier F, Nash RDM, Glover KA. Genetic response to human-induced habitat changes in the marine environment: A century of evolution of European sprat in Landvikvannet, Norway. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:1691-1718. [PMID: 33613998 PMCID: PMC7882954 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat changes represent one of the five most pervasive threats to biodiversity. However, anthropogenic activities also have the capacity to create novel niche spaces to which species respond differently. In 1880, one such habitat alterations occurred in Landvikvannet, a freshwater lake on the Norwegian coast of Skagerrak, which became brackish after being artificially connected to the sea. This lake is now home to the European sprat, a pelagic marine fish that managed to develop a self-recruiting population in barely few decades. Landvikvannet sprat proved to be genetically isolated from the three main populations described for this species; that is, Norwegian fjords, Baltic Sea, and the combination of North Sea, Kattegat, and Skagerrak. This distinctness was depicted by an accuracy self-assignment of 89% and a highly significant F ST between the lake sprat and each of the remaining samples (average of ≈0.105). The correlation between genetic and environmental variation indicated that salinity could be an important environmental driver of selection (3.3% of the 91 SNPs showed strong associations). Likewise, Isolation by Environment was detected for salinity, although not for temperature, in samples not adhering to an Isolation by Distance pattern. Neighbor-joining tree analysis suggested that the source of the lake sprat is in the Norwegian fjords, rather than in the Baltic Sea despite a similar salinity profile. Strongly drifted allele frequencies and lower genetic diversity in Landvikvannet compared with the Norwegian fjords concur with a founder effect potentially associated with local adaptation to low salinity. Genetic differentiation (F ST) between marine and brackish sprat is larger in the comparison Norway-Landvikvannet than in Norway-Baltic, which suggests that the observed divergence was achieved in Landvikvannet in some 65 generations, that is, 132 years, rather than gradually over thousands of years (the age of the Baltic Sea), thus highlighting the pace at which human-driven evolution can happen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Àlex Richter‐Boix
- CREAFCampus de BellaterraAutonomous University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Dorte Bekkevold
- DTU‐Aqua National Institute of Aquatic ResourcesTechnical University of DenmarkSilkeborgDenmark
| | | | | | | | - Geir Dahle
- Institute of Marine ResearchBergenNorway
| | | | - Richard D. M. Nash
- Centre for EnvironmentFisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)LowestoftUK
| | - Kevin A. Glover
- Institute of Marine ResearchBergenNorway
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
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19
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Fergus CE, Brooks JR, Kaufmann PR, Pollard AI, Herlihy AT, Paulsen SG, Weber MH. National framework for ranking lakes by potential for anthropogenic hydro-alteration. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS 2021; 122:10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107241. [PMID: 33897301 PMCID: PMC8059521 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Lakes face multiple anthropogenic pressures that can substantially alter their hydrology. Dams and land use in the watershed (e.g., irrigated agriculture) can modify lake water regimes beyond natural ranges, and changing climate may exacerbate anthropogenic stresses on lake hydrology. However, we lack cost-effective indicators to quantify anthropogenic hydrologic alteration potential in lakes at regional and national extents. We developed a framework to rank lakes by the potential for dams and land use to alter lake hydrology (HydrAP) that can be applied at a national scale. The HydrAP framework principles are that 1) dams are primary drivers of lake hydro-alteration, 2) land use activities are secondary drivers that alter watershed hydrology, and 3) topographic relief limits where land use and dams are located on the landscape. We ranked lakes in the United States Environmental Protection Agency National Lakes Assessment (NLA) on a HydrAP scale from zero to seven, where a zero indicates lakes with no potential for anthropogenic hydro-alteration, and a seven indicates large dams and/or intensive land use with high potential to alter lake hydrology. We inferred HydrAP population distributions in the conterminous US (CONUS) using the NLA probabilistic weights. Half of CONUS lakes had moderate to high hydro-alteration potential (HydrAP ranks 3-7), the other half had minimal to no hydro-alteration potential (HydrAP ranks 0-2). HydrAP ranks generally corresponded with natural and man-made lake classes, but >15% of natural lakes had moderate to high HydrAP ranks and ~10% of man-made lakes had low HydrAP ranks. The Great Plains, Appalachians, and Coastal Plains had the largest percentages (>50%) of high HydrAP lakes, and the West and Midwest had the lowest percentages (~30%). Water residence time (τ) and water-level change were associated with HydrAP ranks, demonstrating the framework's intended ability to differentiate anthropogenic stressors that can alter lake hydrology. Consistently across ecoregions high HydrAP lakes had shorter τ. But HydrAP relationships with water-level change varied by ecoregion. In the West and Appalachians, high HydrAP lakes experienced excessive water-level declines compared to low-ranked lakes. In contrast, high HydrAP lakes in the Great Plains and Midwest showed stable water levels compared to low-ranked lakes. These differences imply that water management in western and eastern mountainous regions may result in large water-level fluctuations, but water management in central CONUS may promote water-level stabilization. The HydrAP framework using accessible, national datasets can support large-scale lake assessments and be adapted to specific locations where data are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Emi Fergus
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR
| | - J. Renée Brooks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR
| | - Philip R. Kaufmann
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Amina I. Pollard
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC
| | - Alan T. Herlihy
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Steven G. Paulsen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR
| | - Marc H. Weber
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR
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20
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Controlling biodiversity impacts of future global hydropower reservoirs by strategic site selection. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21777. [PMID: 33311532 PMCID: PMC7732980 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78444-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Further reservoir-based hydropower development can contribute to the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) on affordable and clean energy, and climate action. However, hydropower reservoir operation can lead to biodiversity impacts, thus interfering with the SDGs on clean water and life on land. We combine a high-resolution, location-specific, technical assessment with newly developed life cycle impact assessment models, to assess potential biodiversity impacts of possible future hydropower reservoirs, resulting from land occupation, water consumption and methane emissions. We show that careful selection of hydropower reservoirs has a large potential to limit biodiversity impacts, as for example, 0.3% of the global hydropower potential accounts for 25% of the terrestrial biodiversity impact. Local variations, e.g. species richness, are the dominant explanatory factors of the variance in the quantified biodiversity impact and not the mere amount of water consumed, or land occupied per kWh. The biodiversity impacts are mainly caused by land occupation and water consumption, with methane emissions being much less important. Further, we indicate a trade-off risk between terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity impacts, as due to the weak correlation between terrestrial and aquatic impacts, reservoirs with small aquatic biodiversity impacts tend to have larger terrestrial impacts and vice versa.
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21
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Espinoza T, Burke CL, Carpenter-Bundhoo L, Marshall S, Roberts D, Kennard MJ. Fine-scale acoustic telemetry in a riverine environment: movement and habitat use of the endangered Mary River cod Maccullochella mariensis. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding movement and habitat requirements of endangered species is critical to conservation management. We evaluate fine-scale acoustic telemetry to study breeding-related movement and habitat use of the endangered Mary River cod Maccullochella mariensis in a riverine environment and, in relation to key environmental variables, to inform management. Movement activity varied significantly in relation to water temperature and diel period, and spatial occupancy and habitat selection varied substantially in relation to the nesting behaviour of Mary River cod. Important nesting habitat included a large hollow log mid-channel and well-shaded logs and log jams adjacent to the river bank. Extrapolating this information to the general population was inhibited by relatively small sample sizes, due in part to the restricted spatial scale of the hydrophone arrays and longitudinal movements of tagged fish beyond the acoustic range of our array. Notwithstanding this, our results demonstrate that (1) fine-scale acoustic telemetry can quantify complex biological behaviours in riverine environments; (2) Mary River cod require specific environmental stimuli and habitat to support the reproductive cycle; and (3) changing environmental conditions may influence Mary River cod behaviour, and understanding this response is necessary for sustainable management. Findings from this study can inform future applications of this methodology in riverine environments and contribute to the development of management strategies and habitat restoration activities supporting the recovery of Mary River cod populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Espinoza
- Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME), Bundaberg, Queensland 4670, Australia
| | - CL Burke
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - L Carpenter-Bundhoo
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - S Marshall
- Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME), Bundaberg, Queensland 4670, Australia
| | - D Roberts
- Seqwater, Ipswich, Queensland 4305, Australia
| | - MJ Kennard
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
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22
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Sueiro MC, Awruch C, Gilardoni C, Demetrio M, Palacios MG. Immunity and health of two wild marine fishes naturally exposed to anthropogenic pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 726:138303. [PMID: 32305751 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There are increasing global concerns of the alarming pollution impacts on marine life, thus it is becoming essential to generate reliable tools to monitor and understand the effects of these impacts on aquatic organisms. We performed a field study assessing how exposure to anthropogenic pollution impacts immunological and health-state parameters and parasite infection of a wild marine fish, the Brazilian sandperch Pinguipes brasilianus. Then we compared this information to previously published data of a sympatric species, the Patagonian rockfish Sebastes oculatus inhabiting the same polluted and pristine areas. The field study revealed that exposed P. brasilianus showed chronic stress, poor immune condition and higher prevalence and abundance of acanthocephalan parasites. By comparing these former results with already published in S. oculatus, we concluded that, although both species exhibited physiological alterations associate to inhabiting sites exposed to pollution, their specific immunological and health-state responses differed. Our results demonstrate that Patagonian reef-fish assemblages inhabiting sites exposed to pollutant are being affected in their immune and heath condition, which could potentially result in higher susceptibility to disease and in turn population decline. These findings highlight the necessity of more studies incorporating interspecific comparisons to assess variation in fish susceptibility in an ecoimmunotoxicological context and get a more profound understanding of anthropogenic impacts on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cruz Sueiro
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), Centro Nacional Patagónico - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CENPAT - CONICET) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Cynthia Awruch
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), Centro Nacional Patagónico - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CENPAT - CONICET) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
| | - Carmen Gilardoni
- Laboratorio de Parasitología (LAPA), Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR), Centro Nacional Patagónico - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CENPAT - CONICET) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Muriel Demetrio
- Laboratorio de Parasitología (LAPA), Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR), Centro Nacional Patagónico - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CENPAT - CONICET) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - María Gabriela Palacios
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), Centro Nacional Patagónico - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CENPAT - CONICET) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
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23
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Meng B, Liu JL, Bao K, Sun B. Methodologies and Management Framework for Restoration of Wetland Hydrologic Connectivity: A Synthesis. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2020; 16:438-451. [PMID: 32100941 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Under the dual influences of high-intensity anthropogenic activity and climate change, wetland hydrologic connectivity (HC) has decreased significantly, resulting in the severe fragmentation of wetlands, a decrease in wetland area, and a degradation of hydrological functions, resulting in a worsening disaster response to floods and droughts. Dynamic changes in wetland HC are affected by a variety of factors. Many degraded wetlands have undergone measures to restore HC. Recovery can improve the HC pattern of degraded wetlands. Based on the knowledge of practitioners and a review of the literature, it was found that recovery measures can be divided into structural recovery and functional recovery according to the specific recovery objectives. However, the current recovery method lacks a holistic analysis of the HC pattern. To this end, we propose a hydrologic network-water balance-based HC recovery and management framework that overcomes the limitations of single-drive-factor repair and local repair effects. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:438-451. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Meng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Ling Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Bao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Sun
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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24
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King RA, Stockley B, Stevens JR. Small coastal streams-Critical reservoirs of genetic diversity for trout ( Salmo trutta L.) in the face of increasing anthropogenic stressors. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5651-5669. [PMID: 32607181 PMCID: PMC7319166 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We used microsatellite markers to investigate levels and structuring of genetic diversity in trout (Salmo trutta L.) sampled from 16 rivers along the south coast of Cornwall in southwest England. This region is characterized by many small coastal streams with a few larger catchments. At a regional level, genetic structuring of contemporary populations has been influenced by a combination of events, including the last Ice Age and also more recent human activities over the last millennium. All populations are shown to have gone through strong genetic bottlenecks, coinciding with increased exploitation of mineral resources within catchments, beginning during the Medieval period. At more local levels, contemporary human-induced habitat fragmentation, such as weir and culvert construction, has disproportionally affected trout populations in the smaller catchments within the study area. However, where small catchments are relatively unaffected by such activities, they can host trout populations with diversity levels comparable to those found in larger rivers in the region. We also predict significant future loses of diversity and heterozygosity in the trout populations inhabiting small, isolated catchments. Our study highlights how multiple factors, especially the activity of humans, have and continue to affect the levels and structuring of genetic diversity in trout over long timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Andrew King
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Exeter, Hatherly LaboratoriesExeterUK
| | | | - Jamie R. Stevens
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Exeter, Hatherly LaboratoriesExeterUK
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Souza FN, Mariano R, Moreira T, Campiolo S. Influence of the landscape in different scales on the EPT community (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) in an Atlantic Forest region. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:391. [PMID: 32447587 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08318-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There is a strong link between habitat loss, fragmentation of natural vegetation, and reduction of biodiversity in aquatic systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different landscape scales on the community of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera in Atlantic Forest rivers. We sought to understand how aquatic communities are affected by different habitat structures and anthropogenic changes in different spatial scales (in radii of 30, 50, 100, 150, and 200 m). Seven points were established where eight sample campaigns were carried out between 2015 and 2016. The analyses indicate the types of land use, with forest cover being of greatest expressiveness, as determinants in the structure and diversity of the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera community. When evaluating the effect of the scales, for the basin evaluated, it was detected that the 30 and 50 m buffers were the most representative. These buffers suggest that the configuration and composition of landscape, especially the forest cover class, have a strong influence on the composition of the aquatic entomofauna in the region. The results confirm the importance of studies at local scales regarding the relation of the landscape for Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera biodiversity in view of the particular relationship of these orders with the riparian forest for its various functions. It is concluded that riparian forests in the 30 and 50 m scales should not be modified; otherwise, aquatic biodiversity will be compromised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine Novais Souza
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Km 16 Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Rodolfo Mariano
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Km 16, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Tássio Moreira
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Km 16 Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Sofia Campiolo
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Km 16 Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Km 16, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
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Effects of a low-head weir on multi-scaled movement and behavior of three riverine fish species. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6817. [PMID: 32321932 PMCID: PMC7176731 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite providing considerable benefits to society, dams and weirs threaten riverine ecosystems by disrupting movement and migration of aquatic animals and degrading riverine habitats. Whilst the ecological impacts of large dams are well studied, the ecological effects of low-head weirs that are periodically drowned out by high flows are less well-understood. Here we examine the effects of a low-head weir on fine- and broad-scale movements, habitat use, and breeding behaviour of three species of native freshwater fish in the Nymboida River in coastal eastern Australia. Acoustic telemetry revealed that eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei) and eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus) made few large-scale movements, but Australian bass (Percalates novemaculeata) upstream of the weir were significantly more mobile than those below the weir. Within the weir pool, all three species displayed distinctive patterns in fine-scale movement behaviour that were likely related the deeper lentic environment created by the weir. No individuals of any species crossed the weir during the study period. Tandanus tandanus nesting behaviour varied greatly above and below the weir, where individuals in the more lentic upstream environment nested in potentially sub-optimal habitats. Our results demonstrate the potential effects of low-head weirs on movement and behaviour of freshwater fishes.
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Gu YG, Ke CL, Gao YP, Liu Q, Li YF. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and adverse effects on aquatic biota of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments: A case study of a typical aquaculture wetland, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109119. [PMID: 31927246 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Aquaculture wetlands, particularly those located within urban areas, are fragile ecosystems which are generally heavily impacted by urban and aquaculture activities. However, there are, to date, no reports on adverse effects related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from aquaculture wetlands in metropolitan areas. The characterization, sources, and incidence of adverse effects on aquatic biota of PAHs were studied in the riverine and estuarine sediments of the Rongjiang River in an aquaculture wetland in Chaoshan metropolis. The total PAH concentrations varied from 46.0 to 1665.2 ng/g (dry weight), with a mean of 246.4 ng/g, indicating lower concentrations than those of other comparable rivers and estuaries worldwide. High-molecular-weight PAHs were the major PAH species, with fluorene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene as the dominant components. These PAHs are likely to be mainly derived from oil and coal/biomass combustion. Probability risk assessment indicated a moderate PAH ecological risk in the Rongjiang River and its estuary (RJE). Accordingly, a comprehensive management plan should be established to ensure sustainable aquaculture wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Guang Gu
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Key Laboratory of Open-Sea Fishery Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510300, China.
| | - Chang-Liang Ke
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Yan-Peng Gao
- Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qi Liu
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Ya-Fang Li
- South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510300, China
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Platania SP, Mortensen JG, Farrington MA, Brandenburg WH, Dudley RK. DISPERSAL OF STOCKED RIO GRANDE SILVERY MINNOW (HYBOGNATHUS AMARUS) IN THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE, NEW MEXICO. SOUTHWEST NAT 2020. [DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-64-1-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven P. Platania
- American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers, L.L.C., 800 Encino Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (SPP, JGM, MAF, WHB, RKD)
| | - Jacob G. Mortensen
- American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers, L.L.C., 800 Encino Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (SPP, JGM, MAF, WHB, RKD)
| | - Michael A. Farrington
- American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers, L.L.C., 800 Encino Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (SPP, JGM, MAF, WHB, RKD)
| | - W. Howard Brandenburg
- American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers, L.L.C., 800 Encino Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (SPP, JGM, MAF, WHB, RKD)
| | - Robert K. Dudley
- American Southwest Ichthyological Researchers, L.L.C., 800 Encino Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (SPP, JGM, MAF, WHB, RKD)
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Prado MRD, Carvalho DRD, Alves CBM, Moreira MZ, Pompeu PS. Convergent responses of fish belonging to different feeding guilds to sewage pollution. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2019-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate if the presence of pollutants promotes changes in feeding habits of fish species from different trophic guilds: the detritivorous species, Hypostomus francisci, and the piscivorous, Hoplias intermedius. Both species were sampled at 12 sites (with different degrees of pollution) in the Rio das Velhas basin, which is heavily polluted by domestic and industrial sewage from the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH). Stable isotope analyses of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) of fish tissue and the main food resources were performed. Fishes from both trophic guilds altered their diets in degraded environments, but the detritivorous species showed greater trophic plasticity. The isotopic niche of both trophic guilds was broadest in unpolluted sites and more δ15N enriched in polluted regions. The detritivorous species presented high niche-breadth in unpolluted sites, probably due to the greater variety of resources consumed. In addition, the δ15N of the detritivorous was more enriched than the piscivorous species in polluted sites. In conclusion, fishes from both trophic guilds presented similar isotopic responses to environmental pollution. However, the detritivorous species was more sensitive to these alterations and therefore, is likely a better indicator of environmental condition than the piscivorous.
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Erős T, Lowe WH. The Landscape Ecology of Rivers: from Patch-Based to Spatial Network Analyses. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-019-00044-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review
We synthesize recent methodological and conceptual advances in the field of riverscape ecology, emphasizing areas of synergy with current research in landscape ecology.
Recent Findings
Recent advances in riverscape ecology highlight the need for spatially explicit examinations of how network structure influences ecological pattern and process, instead of the simple linear (upstream-downstream) view. Developments in GIS, remote sensing, and computer technologies already offer powerful tools for the application of patch- and gradient-based models for characterizing abiotic and biotic heterogeneity across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Along with graph-based analyses and spatial statistical stream network models (i.e., geostatistical modelling), these approaches offer improved capabilities for quantifying spatial and temporal heterogeneity and connectivity relationships, thereby allowing for rigorous and high-resolution analyses of pattern, process, and scale relationships.
Summary
Spatially explicit network approaches are able to quantify and predict biogeochemical, hydromorphological, and ecological patterns and processes more precisely than models based on longitudinal or lateral riverine gradients alone. Currently, local habitat characteristics appear to be more important than spatial effects in determining population and community dynamics, but this conclusion may change with direct quantification of the movement of materials, energy, and organisms along channels and across ecosystem boundaries—a key to improving riverscape ecology. Coupling spatially explicit riverscape models with optimization approaches will improve land protection and water management efforts, and help to resolve the land sharing vs. land sparing debate.
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Shao X, Fang Y, Jawitz JW, Yan J, Cui B. River network connectivity and fish diversity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 689:21-30. [PMID: 31260896 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Frequent and severe disruptions of natural river flows associated with human activities significantly alter hydrological connectivity in large river networks, with deleterious effects on fish diversity. Understanding the relationship between fish diversity and river network connectivity is fundamental to ensuring species persistence, ecosystem integrity, and human well-being. Here, we provide a review of the mechanisms by which river network connectivity (RNC) affects fish diversity. We review the relationships between forms, systems and types of RNC and fish diversity, based on more than 100 previous studies. In summary, sustaining RNC promotes fish diversity in longitudinal and lateral axes, and species sorting, dispersal dynamics, and habitat availability are the main factors driving the distribution of fish diversity, followed by nutrition and trophic dynamics. Our work highlights the effects of RNC on fish diversity, and provides a mechanistic understanding of how RNC affects fish diversity across river basins, thus providing scientific guidance for protecting fish biodiversity and improving the health of river network ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Shao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - James W Jawitz
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jiaguo Yan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoshan Cui
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China.
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T. Patterson
- Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and ConservationUniversity of Florida/IFAS 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville FL 32653 U.S.A
- Center for ConservationThe Florida Aquarium 529 Estuary Shore Lane, Apollo Beach FL 33572 U.S.A
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Roberts BH, Morrongiello JR, King AJ, Morgan DL, Saunders TM, Woodhead J, Crook DA. Migration to freshwater increases growth rates in a facultatively catadromous tropical fish. Oecologia 2019; 191:253-260. [PMID: 31278439 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04460-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Diadromy is a form of migration where aquatic organisms undergo regular movements between fresh and marine waters for the purposes of feeding and reproduction. Despite having arisen in independent lineages of fish, gastropod molluscs and crustaceans, the evolutionary drivers of diadromous migration remain contentious. We test a key aspect of the 'productivity hypothesis', which proposes that diadromy arises in response to primary productivity differentials between marine and freshwater habitats. Otolith chemistry and biochronology data are analysed in a facultatively catadromous tropical fish (barramundi, Lates calcarifer) to determine the effect of freshwater residence on growth rates. Individuals that accessed freshwater grew ~ 25% faster on average than estuarine residents in the year following migration, suggesting that catadromy provides a potential fitness advantage over non-catadromous (marine/estuarine) life histories, as predicted by the productivity hypothesis. Although diadromous barramundi exhibited faster growth than non-diadromous fish, we suggest that the relative reproductive success of diadromous and non-diadromous contingents is likely to be strongly influenced by local environmental variability such as temporal differences in river discharge, and that this may facilitate the persistence of diverse life history strategies within populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brien H Roberts
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
| | - John R Morrongiello
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alison J King
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - David L Morgan
- Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Thor M Saunders
- Fisheries Research, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Berrimah, NT, Australia
| | - Jon Woodhead
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David A Crook
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
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De Vos A, Cumming GS. The contribution of land tenure diversity to the spatial resilience of protected area networks. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alta De Vos
- Department of Environmental Science Rhodes University Grahamstown South Africa
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
| | - Graeme S. Cumming
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
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35
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Koutsikos N, Zogaris S, Vardakas L, Kalantzi OI, Dimitriou E, Economou AN. Tracking non-indigenous fishes in lotic ecosystems: Invasive patterns at different spatial scales in Greece. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 659:384-400. [PMID: 31096370 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.324] [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: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mediterranean lotic waters such as rivers, streams and springs are poorly monitored for non-indigenous fish species (NIFS). Since these systems are stressed by multiple anthropogenic pressures, it is important to build robust procedures to track NIFS distribution and spread. This study applies a multi-faceted assessment of NIFS in the lotic ecosystems of Greece at different spatial scales by providing: a) a historical review of temporal patterns and arrival pathways of fish introductions in river basins of Greece (140 basins) across 100years; b) an analysis of occurrence and abundance data of NIFS assemblages at the lotic site scale (644 electrofished sites); c) the mapping of NIFS distributional patterns at river basin (75 basins) and regional scales (7 freshwater ecoregions); and, d) a vector analysis of fish translocations using an ecoregional framework. In total, 55 NIFS were recorded (25 alien and 30 translocated); however, there is a low incidence of NIFS in lotic waters at the site scale (30 NIFS recorded in the field samples; 10 alien and 20 translocated). NIFS introductions in Greece appear to be influenced by specific socio-historical periods, indicating a gradual increase since late 1970s. Despite this increase, our study provides evidence that only four alien species are currently widespread and common in the rivers and streams of Greece: Gambusia holbrooki, Carassius gibelio, Pseudorasbora parva, and Lepomis gibbosus (in order of recorded abundance). NIFS tend to be absent or distributed in very low numbers in upland streams and in smaller river basins. However, the issue of translocated fish species is shown to be a sorely neglected problem that is difficult to track. This review tests a readily transferable screening procedure, contributes to the application of the European Union Regulation on Invasive Alien Species; it suggests gaps and uncertainties, and proposes conservation and management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Koutsikos
- Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Anavissos 19013, Attica, Greece; Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, Greece
| | - Stamatis Zogaris
- Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Anavissos 19013, Attica, Greece.
| | - Leonidas Vardakas
- Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Anavissos 19013, Attica, Greece
| | | | - Elias Dimitriou
- Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Anavissos 19013, Attica, Greece
| | - Alcibiades N Economou
- Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Anavissos 19013, Attica, Greece
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Rahel FJ, McLaughlin RL. Selective fragmentation and the management of fish movement across anthropogenic barriers. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:2066-2081. [PMID: 30168645 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Disruption of movement patterns due to alterations in habitat connectivity is a pervasive effect of humans on animal populations. In many terrestrial and aquatic systems, there is increasing tension between the need to simultaneously allow passage of some species while blocking the passage of other species. We explore the ecological basis for selective fragmentation of riverine systems where the need to restrict movements of invasive species conflicts with the need to allow passage of species of commercial, recreational, or conservation concern. We develop a trait-based framework for selective fish passage based on understanding the types of movements displayed by fishes and the role of ecological filters in determining the spatial distributions of fishes. We then synthesize information on trait-based mechanisms involved with these filters to create a multidimensional niche space based on attributes such as physical capabilities, body morphology, sensory capabilities, behavior, and movement phenology. Following this, we review how these mechanisms have been applied to achieve selective fish passage across anthropogenic barriers. To date, trap-and-sort or capture-translocation efforts provide the best options for movement filters that are completely species selective, but these methods are hampered by the continual, high cost of manual sorting. Other less effective methods of selective passage risk collateral damage in the form of lower or higher than desired levels of passage. Fruitful areas for future work include using combinations of ecological and behavioral traits to passively segregate species; using taxon-specific chemical or auditory cues to direct unwanted species away from passageways and into physical or ecological traps while attracting desirable species to passageways; and developing automated sorting mechanisms based on fish recognition systems. The trait-based approach proposed for fish could serve as a template for selective fragmentation in other ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank J Rahel
- Department of Zoology & Physiology, and the Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Robert L McLaughlin
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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37
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Bączyk A, Wagner M, Okruszko T, Grygoruk M. Influence of technical maintenance measures on ecological status of agricultural lowland rivers - Systematic review and implications for river management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 627:189-199. [PMID: 29426140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Intensification of agriculture and ongoing urban sprawl exacerbate pressures on rivers. Small rivers in agricultural landscapes are especially exposed to excessive technical actions implemented in order to allow for harvesting river water for irrigation, draining agricultural water and receiving sewage. Regular dredging and macrophyte removal strongly interfere with the global need for preserving river biodiversity that allows agricultural lowland rivers to remain refuges for a variety of species, and-accordingly-to keep water bodies resilient for the benefit of society. In order to provide a comprehensive look at the influence of agricultural lowland river management on the ecological status of these water bodies, we conducted a literature review and a meta-analysis. For the structured literature review we selected 203 papers reflecting on the response of aquatic ecosystems to dredging and macrophyte management actions. The database of scientific contributions developed for our study consists of papers written by the authors from 33 countries (first authorship) addressing dredging, macrophyte removal, status of fish and macroinvertebrates as well as the general ecological status of lowland agricultural rivers. We revealed that 96% of the analyzed papers indicated unilateral, negative responses of aquatic ecosystems, particularly macroinvertebrates, ichthyofauna and macrophyte composition, to maintenance measures. We revealed that studies conducted in the European Union on the ecological status of rivers appeared to significantly increase in quantity after the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Finally, we concluded that day-to-day management of lowland agricultural rivers requires revision in terms of compliance with environmental conservation requirements and the recurrent implementation of technical measures for river maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bączyk
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Wagner
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, ul. Podleśna 3, 01-673 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Okruszko
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Grygoruk
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, ul. Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
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Dorber M, May R, Verones F. Modeling Net Land Occupation of Hydropower Reservoirs in Norway for Use in Life Cycle Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:2375-2384. [PMID: 29328658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b05125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing hydropower electricity production constitutes a unique opportunity to mitigate climate change impacts. However, hydropower electricity production also impacts aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity through freshwater habitat alteration, water quality degradation, and land use and land use change (LULUC). Today, no operational model exists that covers any of these cause-effect pathways within life cycle assessment (LCA). This paper contributes to the assessment of LULUC impacts of hydropower electricity production in Norway in LCA. We quantified the inundated land area associated with 107 hydropower reservoirs with remote sensing data and related it to yearly electricity production. Therewith, we calculated an average net land occupation of 0.027 m2·yr/kWh of Norwegian storage hydropower plants for the life cycle inventory. Further, we calculated an adjusted average land occupation of 0.007 m2·yr/kWh, accounting for an underestimation of water area in the performed maximum likelihood classification. The calculated land occupation values are the basis to support the development of methods for assessing the land occupation impacts of hydropower on biodiversity in LCA at a damage level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Dorber
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , Sem Sælands vei 7, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Roel May
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) , Høgskoleringen 9, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Francesca Verones
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , Sem Sælands vei 7, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
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Leibowitz SG, Wigington PJ, Schofield KA, Alexander LC, Vanderhoof MK, Golden HE. CONNECTIVITY OF STREAMS AND WETLANDS TO DOWNSTREAM WATERS: AN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION 2018; 54:298-322. [PMID: 30078985 PMCID: PMC6071435 DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Interest in connectivity has increased in the aquatic sciences, partly because of its relevance to the Clean Water Act. This paper has two objectives: (1) provide a framework to understand hydrological, chemical, and biological connectivity, focusing on how headwater streams and wetlands connect to and contribute to rivers; and (2) review methods to quantify hydrological and chemical connectivity. Streams and wetlands affect river structure and function by altering material and biological fluxes to the river; this depends on two factors: (1) functions within streams and wetlands that affect material fluxes; and (2) connectivity (or isolation) from streams and wetlands to rivers that allows (or prevents) material transport between systems. Connectivity can be described in terms of frequency, magnitude, duration, timing, and rate of change. It results from physical characteristics of a system, e.g., climate, soils, geology, topography, and the spatial distribution of aquatic components. Biological connectivity is also affected by traits and behavior of the biota. Connectivity can be altered by human impacts, often in complex ways. Because of variability in these factors, connectivity is not constant but varies over time and space. Connectivity can be quantified with field-based methods, modeling, and remote sensing. Further studies using these methods are needed to classify and quantify connectivity of aquatic ecosystems and to understand how impacts affect connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott G Leibowitz
- Research Ecologist (Leibowitz) and formerly Research Hydrologist (Wigington), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 St, Corvallis, Oregon 97333; Ecologist (Schofield and Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arlington, Virginia 22202; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225; and Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 (Email/Leibowitz: )
| | - Parker J Wigington
- Research Ecologist (Leibowitz) and formerly Research Hydrologist (Wigington), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 St, Corvallis, Oregon 97333; Ecologist (Schofield and Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arlington, Virginia 22202; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225; and Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 (Email/Leibowitz: )
| | - Kate A Schofield
- Research Ecologist (Leibowitz) and formerly Research Hydrologist (Wigington), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 St, Corvallis, Oregon 97333; Ecologist (Schofield and Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arlington, Virginia 22202; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225; and Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 (Email/Leibowitz: )
| | - Laurie C Alexander
- Research Ecologist (Leibowitz) and formerly Research Hydrologist (Wigington), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 St, Corvallis, Oregon 97333; Ecologist (Schofield and Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arlington, Virginia 22202; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225; and Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 (Email/Leibowitz: )
| | - Melanie K Vanderhoof
- Research Ecologist (Leibowitz) and formerly Research Hydrologist (Wigington), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 St, Corvallis, Oregon 97333; Ecologist (Schofield and Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arlington, Virginia 22202; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225; and Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 (Email/Leibowitz: )
| | - Heather E Golden
- Research Ecologist (Leibowitz) and formerly Research Hydrologist (Wigington), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 St, Corvallis, Oregon 97333; Ecologist (Schofield and Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arlington, Virginia 22202; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225; and Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 (Email/Leibowitz: )
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Schofield KA, Alexander LC, Ridley CE, Vanderhoof MK, Fritz KM, Autrey BC, DeMeester JE, Kepner WG, Lane CR, Leibowitz SG, Pollard AI. BIOTA CONNECT AQUATIC HABITATS THROUGHOUT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM MOSAICS. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION 2018; 54:372-399. [PMID: 31296983 PMCID: PMC6621606 DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are linked at various spatial and temporal scales by movements of biota adapted to life in water. We review the literature on movements of aquatic organisms that connect different types of freshwater habitats, focusing on linkages from streams and wetlands to downstream waters. Here, streams, wetlands, rivers, lakes, ponds, and other freshwater habitats are viewed as dynamic freshwater ecosystem mosaics (FEMs) that collectively provide the resources needed to sustain aquatic life. Based on existing evidence, it is clear that biotic linkages throughout FEMs have important consequences for biological integrity and biodiversity. All aquatic organisms move within and among FEM components, but differ in the mode, frequency, distance, and timing of their movements. These movements allow biota to recolonize habitats, avoid inbreeding, escape stressors, locate mates, and acquire resources. Cumulatively, these individual movements connect populations within and among FEMs and contribute to local and regional diversity, resilience to disturbance, and persistence of aquatic species in the face of environmental change. Thus, the biological connections established by movement of biota among streams, wetlands, and downstream waters are critical to the ecological integrity of these systems. Future research will help advance our understanding of the movements that link FEMs and their cumulative effects on downstream waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate A Schofield
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Laurie C Alexander
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Caroline E Ridley
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Melanie K Vanderhoof
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Ken M Fritz
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Bradley C Autrey
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Julie E DeMeester
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - William G Kepner
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Charles R Lane
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Scott G Leibowitz
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
| | - Amina I Pollard
- Respectively, Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW, Mail Code 8623R, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (Ridley), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Research Geographer (Vanderhoof), Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO 80225; Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Program Analyst (Autrey), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; Water Program Director (DeMeester), The Nature Conservancy, Durham, NC 27701; Research Ecologist (Kepner), Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268; National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119; Research Ecologist (Leibowitz), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460
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Fang X, Hou X, Li X, Hou W, Nakaoka M, Yu X. Ecological connectivity between land and sea: a review. Ecol Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-017-1549-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Reduced genetic diversity and alteration of gene flow in a fiddler crab due to mangrove degradation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182987. [PMID: 28837577 PMCID: PMC5570428 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The fiddler crab Austruca occidentalis is a dominant species in mangrove forests along the East African coast. It enhances soil aeration and, through its engineering activities, makes otherwise-inaccessible food available for other marine organisms. Despite its importance, the habitat of A. occidentalis is threatened by human activities. Clearing the mangroves for salt farming and selective logging of mangroves trees continue to jeopardise mangrove ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean. This study aims to use partial mitochondrial COI gene sequences and nuclear microsatellites to determine whether salt farming activities in mangroves have a negative impact on the genetic diversity and gene flow of A. occidentalis collected along the Tanzania coast. The level of genetic diversity for both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellites are relatively lower in samples from salt ponds compared to natural mangrove sites. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) among all populations showed low but significant differentiation (COI: Fst = 0.022, P < 0.05; microsatellites: Fst = 0.022, P < 0.001). A hierarchical AMOVA indicates lower but significant genetic differentiation among populations from salt ponds and natural mangroves sites (COI: Fct = 0.033, P < 0.05; microsatellites: Fct = 0.018, P = < 0.01). These results indicate that salt farming has a significant negative impact on the genetic diversity of A. occidentalis. Since higher genetic diversity contributes to a stable population, restoring the cleared habitats might be the most effective measures for the conservation of genetic diversity and hence adaptive potential to environmental change in this species.
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Bishop-Taylor R, Tulbure MG, Broich M. Surface-water dynamics and land use influence landscape connectivity across a major dryland region. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:1124-1137. [PMID: 28117907 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Landscape connectivity is important for the long-term persistence of species inhabiting dryland freshwater ecosystems, with spatiotemporal surface-water dynamics (e.g., flooding) maintaining connectivity by both creating temporary habitats and providing transient opportunities for dispersal. Improving our understanding of how landscape connectivity varies with respect to surface-water dynamics and land use is an important step to maintaining biodiversity in dynamic dryland environments. Using a newly available validated Landsat TM and ETM+ surface-water time series, we modelled landscape connectivity between dynamic surface-water habitats within Australia's 1 million km2 semiarid Murray Darling Basin across a 25-yr period (1987-2011). We identified key habitats that serve as well-connected "hubs," or "stepping-stones" that allow long-distance movements through surface-water habitat networks. We compared distributions of these habitats for short- and long-distance dispersal species during dry, average, and wet seasons, and across land-use types. The distribution of stepping-stones and hubs varied both spatially and temporally, with temporal changes driven by drought and flooding dynamics. Conservation areas and natural environments contained higher than expected proportions of both stepping-stones and hubs throughout the time series; however, highly modified agricultural landscapes increased in importance during wet seasons. Irrigated landscapes contained particularly high proportions of well-connected hubs for long-distance dispersers, but remained relatively disconnected for less vagile organisms. The habitats identified by our study may serve as ideal high-priority targets for land-use specific management aimed at maintaining or improving dispersal between surface-water habitats, potentially providing benefits to biodiversity beyond the immediate site scale. Our results also highlight the importance of accounting for the influence of spatial and temporal surface-water dynamics when studying landscape connectivity within highly variable dryland environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbi Bishop-Taylor
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Mirela G Tulbure
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Mark Broich
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
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Hirsch PE, Thorlacius M, Brodin T, Burkhardt-Holm P. An approach to incorporate individual personality in modeling fish dispersal across in-stream barriers. Ecol Evol 2016; 7:720-732. [PMID: 28116066 PMCID: PMC5243775 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal personalities are an important factor that affects the dispersal of animals. In the context of aquatic species, dispersal modeling needs to consider that most freshwater ecosystems are highly fragmented by barriers reducing longitudinal connectivity. Previous research has incorporated such barriers into dispersal models under the neutral assumption that all migrating animals attempt to ascend at all times. Modeling dispersal of animals that do not perform trophic or reproductive migrations will be more realistic if it includes assumptions of which individuals attempt to overcome a barrier. We aimed to introduce personality into predictive modeling of whether a nonmigratory invasive freshwater fish (the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus) will disperse across an in‐stream barrier. To that end, we experimentally assayed the personalities of 259 individuals from invasion fronts and established round goby populations. Based on the population differences in boldness, asociability, and activity, we defined a priori thresholds with bolder, more asocial, and more active individuals having a higher likelihood of ascent. We then combined the personality thresholds with swimming speed data from the literature and in situ measurements of flow velocities in the barrier. The resulting binary logistic regression model revealed probabilities of crossing a barrier which depended not only on water flow and fish swimming speed but also on animal personalities. We conclude that risk assessment through predictive dispersal modeling across fragmented landscapes can be advanced by including personality traits as parameters. The inclusion of behavior into modeling the spread of invasive species can help to improve the accuracy of risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Emanuel Hirsch
- Research Centre for Sustainable Energy and Water Supply; Program Man-Society-Environment Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Magnus Thorlacius
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Patricia Burkhardt-Holm
- Research Centre for Sustainable Energy and Water Supply; Program Man-Society-Environment Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel Basel Switzerland; Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
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Stefanidis K, Panagopoulos Y, Psomas A, Mimikou M. Assessment of the natural flow regime in a Mediterranean river impacted from irrigated agriculture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 573:1492-1502. [PMID: 27539824 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, the natural flow regime of most rivers has been significantly altered influencing the ecological integrity and functioning of river ecosystems. Especially in the Mediterranean region, irrigated agriculture is considered one of the most important drivers of hydro-morphological modifications in river systems. In this study we employ the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) methodology for the Pinios River and its tributaries, located in a Mediterranean catchment in central Greece, with the purpose to assess the natural flow regime under a simulated no-agriculture scenario and compare with the current situation. The work is based on the use of the SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) model for the simulation of long time series of daily stream flows, which were analyzed under the actual conditions (baseline), and the hypothetical scenario. The key characteristics of the flow regime projected under each model run were assessed through the implementation of the IHA methodology that utilizes a number of indicators to characterize the intra- and inter-annual variability in the hydrologic conditions. The results of this study revealed that without agricultural activities in the catchment, annual and monthly flows would increase, with significant alterations in the flow characteristics of the winter months, and much smaller in summer. However, the analysis showed that the frequency of droughts and low flow summer events would be smaller. The article provides a comprehensive and easy-to-implement methodology that can facilitate the impact assessment of agricultural human activities on river flow variability under the typical Mediterranean conditions, allowing experimentation on setting river flow thresholds required for a good ecological status within the context of the European Water Framework Directive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Stefanidis
- Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Yiannis Panagopoulos
- Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros Psomas
- Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Mimikou
- Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
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Liebowitz DM, Nielsen KJ, Dugan JE, Morgan SG, Malone DP, Largier JL, Hubbard DM, Carr MH. Ecosystem connectivity and trophic subsidies of sandy beaches. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dina M. Liebowitz
- California Ocean Science Trust 1330 Broadway, Suite 1530 Oakland California 94612 USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - Karina J. Nielsen
- Department of Biology Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies San Francisco State University Tiburon California 94920 USA
| | - Jenifer E. Dugan
- Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
| | - Steven G. Morgan
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy Bodega Marine Laboratory University of California Davis Bodega Bay California 94923 USA
| | - Daniel P. Malone
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
| | - John L. Largier
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy Bodega Marine Laboratory University of California Davis Bodega Bay California 94923 USA
| | - David M. Hubbard
- Marine Science Institute University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California 93106 USA
| | - Mark H. Carr
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California 95060 USA
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47
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DeRolph CR, Schramm MP, Bevelhimer MS. Predicting environmental mitigation requirements for hydropower projects through the integration of biophysical and socio-political geographies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 566-567:888-918. [PMID: 27280379 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Uncertainty about environmental mitigation needs at existing and proposed hydropower projects makes it difficult for stakeholders to minimize environmental impacts. Hydropower developers and operators desire tools to better anticipate mitigation requirements, while natural resource managers and regulators need tools to evaluate different mitigation scenarios and order effective mitigation. Here we sought to examine the feasibility of using a suite of multi-faceted explanatory variables within a spatially explicit modeling framework to fit predictive models for future environmental mitigation requirements at hydropower projects across the conterminous U.S. Using a database comprised of mitigation requirements from more than 300 hydropower project licenses, we were able to successfully fit models for nearly 50 types of environmental mitigation and to apply the predictive models to a set of more than 500 non-powered dams identified as having hydropower potential. The results demonstrate that mitigation requirements are functions of a range of factors, from biophysical to socio-political. Project developers can use these models to inform cost projections and design considerations, while regulators can use the models to more quickly identify likely environmental issues and potential solutions, hopefully resulting in more timely and more effective decisions on environmental mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R DeRolph
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, PO Box 2008, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, United States.
| | - Michael P Schramm
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, PO Box 2008, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, United States
| | - Mark S Bevelhimer
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, PO Box 2008, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, United States
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48
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Ridley CE, Alexander LC. Applying gene flow science to environmental policy needs: a boundary work perspective. Evol Appl 2016; 9:924-36. [PMID: 27468309 PMCID: PMC4947153 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
One application of gene flow science is the policy arena. In this article, we describe two examples in which the topic of gene flow has entered into the U.S. national environmental policymaking process: regulation of genetically engineered crops and clarification of the jurisdictional scope of the Clean Water Act. We summarize both current scientific understanding and the legal context within which gene flow science has relevance. We also discuss the process by which scientific knowledge has been synthesized and communicated to decision-makers in these two contexts utilizing the concept of 'boundary work'. Boundary organizations, the work they engage in to bridge the worlds of science, policy, and practice, and the boundary objects they produce to translate scientific knowledge existed in both examples. However, the specific activities and attributes of the objects produced varied based on the needs of the decision-makers. We close with suggestions for how scientists can contribute to or engage in boundary work with policymakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E. Ridley
- National Center for Environmental AssessmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and DevelopmentWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Laurie C. Alexander
- National Center for Environmental AssessmentU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and DevelopmentWashingtonDCUSA
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49
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Cooke SJ, Martins EG, Struthers DP, Gutowsky LFG, Power M, Doka SE, Dettmers JM, Crook DA, Lucas MC, Holbrook CM, Krueger CC. A moving target--incorporating knowledge of the spatial ecology of fish into the assessment and management of freshwater fish populations. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2016; 188:239. [PMID: 27004432 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-016-5228-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater fish move vertically and horizontally through the aquatic landscape for a variety of reasons, such as to find and exploit patchy resources or to locate essential habitats (e.g., for spawning). Inherent challenges exist with the assessment of fish populations because they are moving targets. We submit that quantifying and describing the spatial ecology of fish and their habitat is an important component of freshwater fishery assessment and management. With a growing number of tools available for studying the spatial ecology of fishes (e.g., telemetry, population genetics, hydroacoustics, otolith microchemistry, stable isotope analysis), new knowledge can now be generated and incorporated into biological assessment and fishery management. For example, knowing when, where, and how to deploy assessment gears is essential to inform, refine, or calibrate assessment protocols. Such information is also useful for quantifying or avoiding bycatch of imperiled species. Knowledge of habitat connectivity and usage can identify critically important migration corridors and habitats and can be used to improve our understanding of variables that influence spatial structuring of fish populations. Similarly, demographic processes are partly driven by the behavior of fish and mediated by environmental drivers. Information on these processes is critical to the development and application of realistic population dynamics models. Collectively, biological assessment, when informed by knowledge of spatial ecology, can provide managers with the ability to understand how and when fish and their habitats may be exposed to different threats. Naturally, this knowledge helps to better evaluate or develop strategies to protect the long-term viability of fishery production. Failure to understand the spatial ecology of fishes and to incorporate spatiotemporal data can bias population assessments and forecasts and potentially lead to ineffective or counterproductive management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Eduardo G Martins
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel P Struthers
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lee F G Gutowsky
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Power
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Susan E Doka
- Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | | | - David A Crook
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Martyn C Lucas
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | | | - Charles C Krueger
- Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA
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50
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A S, Gordon IJ, Groves RH, Lambers H, Phinn SR. Catalysing transdisciplinary synthesis in ecosystem science and management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 534:1-3. [PMID: 26123996 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Specht A
- School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Qld 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, Australia
| | - I J Gordon
- James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
| | - R H Groves
- CSIRO Division of Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - H Lambers
- School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - S R Phinn
- School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Qld 4072, Australia; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, Goddard Building, University of Queensland, Australia
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