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Heß S, Hof D, Oetken M, Sundermann A. Macroinvertebrate communities respond strongly but non-specifically to a toxicity gradient derived by effect-based methods. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 356:124330. [PMID: 38848961 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Chemical pollution is one of the most important threats to freshwater ecosystems. The plethora of potentially occurring chemicals and their effects in complex mixtures challenge standard monitoring methods. Effect-based methods (EBMs) are proposed as complementary tools for the assessment of chemical pollution and toxic effects. To investigate the effects of chemical pollution, the ecological relevance of EBMs and the potential of macroinvertebrates as toxicity-specific bioindicators, ecological and ecotoxicological data were linked. Baseline toxicity, mutagenicity, dioxin-like and estrogenic activity of water and sediment samples from 30 river sites in central Germany were quantified with four in vitro bioassays. The responses of macroinvertebrate communities at these sites were assessed by calculating 16 taxonomic and functional metrics and by investigating changes in the taxonomic and trait composition. Principal component analysis revealed an increase in toxicity along a joint gradient of chemicals with different modes of action. This toxicity gradient was associated with a decrease in biodiversity and ecological quality, as well as significant changes in taxonomic and functional composition. The strength of the effects suggested a strong impact of chemical pollution and underlined the suitability of EBMs in detecting ecological relevant effects. However, the metrics, taxa, and traits associated with vulnerability or tolerance to toxicity were found to also respond to other stressors in previous studies and thus may have only a low potential as toxicity-specific bioindicators. Because macroinvertebrates respond integratively to all present stressors, linking both ecological and environmental monitoring is necessary to investigate the overall effects but also isolate individual stressors. EBMs have a high potential to separate the toxicity of chemical mixtures from other stressors in a multiple stressor scenario, as well as identifying the presence of chemical groups with specific modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Heß
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Clamecystr. 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Delia Hof
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Matthias Oetken
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty Biological Sciences, Department Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Hessen, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andrea Sundermann
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Clamecystr. 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Hessen, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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2
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van der Lee GH, Polling M, van der Laan I, Kodde L, Verdonschot RCM. From DNA to diagnostics: A case study using macroinvertebrate metabarcoding to assess the effectiveness of restoration measures in a Dutch stream. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171413. [PMID: 38442754 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171413] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Stream ecosystems are under pressure due to multiple stressors. Restoration measures can halt further degradation and improve their ecological status. However, assessment of the effectiveness of the implemented measures is often insufficient because of logistic and financial constraints. DNA-metabarcoding has been proposed to scale up sample processing, although its application as a diagnostic tool has received less attention. The aim of our study was to evaluate if DNA-metabarcoding of stream macroinvertebrates can be used to compute a stressor-specific index to assess the effectiveness of a stream restoration project. For this purpose, we sampled the upstream, restored, and downstream section of a recently restored lowland stream in the Netherlands. At each site, we applied three different methods of macroinvertebrate identification: morphological identification of bulk samples (morphology), DNA-metabarcoding of the same bulk samples (DNA) and metabarcoding of eDNA extracted from the water (eDNA). First, we compared the community composition identified by each method. The communities identified by morphology and DNA were highly similar, whereas the communities generated by the eDNA differed. Second, we analysed whether the identification methods could be used to assess the effectiveness of the restoration project, focussing on a stressor-specific index for flow as the restoration measures aimed at improving flow conditions. Both the morphology and bulk DNA samples indicated improved flow conditions in the restored section of the stream (i.e., less stress from the reduction or absence of flow than in the unrestored sections). Contrary, the eDNA-water samples did not differentiate the amount of stress throughout the catchment, although applying recent developments in eDNA sampling could lead to more robust results. In conclusion, this study forms proof of concept that DNA from bulk samples can be utilized to assess the effectiveness of restoration measures, showing the added value of this approach for water managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gea H van der Lee
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marcel Polling
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Iris van der Laan
- Waterschap de Dommel, Bosscheweg 56, 5283 WB Boxtel, the Netherlands
| | - Linda Kodde
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ralf C M Verdonschot
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
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3
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Schuijt LM, van Smeden J, van Drimmelen CKE, Buijse LL, Wu D, Boerwinkel MC, Belgers DJM, Matser AM, Roessink I, Heikamp-de Jong I, Beentjes KK, Trimbos KB, Smidt H, Van den Brink PJ. Effects of antidepressant exposure on aquatic communities assessed by a combination of morphological identification, functional measurements, environmental DNA metabarcoding and bioassays. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140706. [PMID: 37992907 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140706] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The antidepressant fluoxetine is frequently detected in aquatic ecosystems, yet the effects on aquatic communities and ecosystems are still largely unknown. Therefore the aim of this study is to assess the effects of the long-term application of fluoxetine on key components of aquatic ecosystems including macroinvertebrate-, zooplankton-, phytoplankton- and microbial communities and organic matter decomposition by using traditional and non-traditional assessment methods. For this, we exposed 18 outdoor mesocosms (water volume of 1530 L and 10 cm of sediment) to five different concentrations of fluoxetine (0.2, 2, 20 and 200 μg/L) for eight weeks, followed by an eight-week recovery period. We quantified population and community effects by morphological identification, environmental DNA metabarcoding, in vitro and in vivo bioassays and measured organic matter decomposition as a measure of ecosystem functioning. We found effects of fluoxetine on bacterial, algal, zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities and decomposition rates, mainly for the highest (200 μg/L) treatment. Treatment-related decreases in abundances were found for damselfly larvae (NOEC of 0.2 μg/L) and Sphaeriidae bivalves (NOEC of 20 μg/L), whereas Asellus aquaticus increased in abundance (NOEC <0.2 μg/L). Fluoxetine decreased photosynthetic activity and primary production of the suspended algae community. eDNA assessment provided additional insights by revealing that the algae belonging to the class Cryptophyceae and certain cyanobacteria taxa were the most negatively responding taxa to fluoxetine. Our results, together with results of others, suggest that fluoxetine can alter community structure and ecosystem functioning and that some impacts of fluoxetine on certain taxa can already be observed at environmentally realistic concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M Schuijt
- Aquatic Ecology and Water quality management group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jasper van Smeden
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Chantal K E van Drimmelen
- Aquatic Ecology and Water quality management group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Laura L Buijse
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dailing Wu
- Aquatic Ecology and Water quality management group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marie-Claire Boerwinkel
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dick J M Belgers
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arrienne M Matser
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ivo Roessink
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ineke Heikamp-de Jong
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Krijn B Trimbos
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hauke Smidt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J Van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Water quality management group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Markert N, Guhl B, Feld CK. Water quality deterioration remains a major stressor for macroinvertebrate, diatom and fish communities in German rivers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167994. [PMID: 37875194 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167994] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
About 60 % of Europe's rivers fail to meet ecological quality standards derived from biological criteria. The causes are manifold, but recent reports suggest a dominant role of hydro-morphological and water quality-related stressors. Yet, in particular micropollutants and hydrological stressors often tend to be underrepresented in multiple-stressor studies. Using monitoring data from four Federal States in Germany, this study investigated the effects of 19 stressor variables from six stressor groups (nutrients, salt ions, dissolved oxygen/water temperature, mixture toxicity of 51 micropollutants, hydrological alteration and morphological habitat quality) on three biological assemblages (fishes, macroinvertebrates, benthic diatoms). Biological effects were analyzed for 35 community metrics and quantified using Random Forest (RF) analyses to put the stressor groups into a hierarchical context. To compare metric responses, metrics were grouped into categories reflecting important characteristics of biological communities, such as sensitivity, functional traits, diversity and community composition as well as composite indices that integrate several metrics into one single index (e.g., ecological quality class). Water quality-related stressors - but not micropollutants - turned out to dominate the responses of all assemblages. In contrast, the effects of hydro-morphological stressors were less pronounced and stronger for hydrological stressors than for morphological stressors. Explained variances of RF models ranged 23-64 % for macroinvertebrates, 16-40 % for benthic diatoms and 18-48 % for fishes. Despite a high variability of responses across assemblages and stressor groups, sensitivity metrics tended to reveal stronger responses to individual stressors and a higher explained variance in RF models than composite indices. The results of this study suggest that (physico-chemical) water quality deterioration continues to impact biological assemblages in many German rivers, despite the extensive progress in wastewater treatment during the past decades. To detect water quality deterioration, monitoring schemes need to target relevant physico-chemical stressors and micropollutants. Furthermore, monitoring needs to integrate measures of hydrological alteration (e.g., flow magnitude and dynamics). At present, hydro-morphological surveys rarely address the degree of hydrological alteration. In order to achieve a good ecological status, river restoration and management needs to address both water quality-related and hydro-morphological stressors. Restricting analyses to just one single organism group (e.g., macroinvertebrates) or only selected metrics (e.g., ecological quality class) may hamper stressor identification and its hierarchical classification and, thus may mislead river management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Markert
- North Rhine-Westphalian Office of Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV NRW), 40208 Düsseldorf, Germany; University Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
| | - Barbara Guhl
- North Rhine-Westphalian Office of Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV NRW), 40208 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian K Feld
- University Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; University Duisburg-Essen, Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
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5
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Rettig K, Semmler-Elpers R, Brettschneider D, Hering D, Feld CK. Of causes and symptoms: using monitoring data and expert knowledge to diagnose the causes of stream degradation. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1253. [PMID: 37768406 PMCID: PMC10539194 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11741-5] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ecological status assessment under the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) often integrates the impact of multiple stressors into a single index value. This hampers the identification of individual stressors being responsible for status deterioration. As a consequence, management measures are often disentangled from assessment results. To close this gap and to support river basin managers in the diagnosis of stressors, we linked numerous macroinvertebrate assessment metrics and one diatom index with potential causes of ecological deterioration through Bayesian belief networks (BBNs). The BBNs were informed by WFD monitoring data as well as regular consultation with experts and allow to estimate the probabilities of individual degradation causes based upon a selection of biological metrics. Macroinvertebrate metrics were shown to be stronger linked to hydromorphological conditions and land use than to water quality-related parameters (e.g., thermal and nutrient pollution). The modeled probabilities also allow to order the potential causes of degradation hierarchically. The comparison of assessment metrics showed that compositional and trait-based community metrics performed equally well in the diagnosis. The testing of the BBNs by experts resulted in an agreement between model output and expert opinion of 17-92% for individual stressors. Overall, the expert-based validation confirmed a good diagnostic potential of the BBNs; on average 80% of the diagnosed causes were in agreement with expert judgement. We conclude that diagnostic BBNs can assist the identification of causes of stream and river degradation and thereby inform the derivation of appropriate management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Rettig
- Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen, 45141, Germany.
| | - Renate Semmler-Elpers
- State Agency for the Environment Baden-Württemberg, Griesbachstr. 1, Karlsruhe, 76185, Germany
| | - Denise Brettschneider
- State Agency for the Environment Baden-Württemberg, Griesbachstr. 1, Karlsruhe, 76185, Germany
| | - Daniel Hering
- Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen, 45141, Germany
- Center for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, Essen, 45141, Germany
| | - Christian K Feld
- Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen, 45141, Germany
- Center for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, Essen, 45141, Germany
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6
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Heß S, Hof D, Oetken M, Sundermann A. Effects of multiple stressors on benthic invertebrates using Water Framework Directive monitoring data. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:162952. [PMID: 36948311 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Multiple stressors affect freshwater systems and cause a deficient ecological status according to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). To select effective mitigation measures and improve the ecological status, knowledge on the stressor hierarchy and individual and joined effects is necessary. However, compared to common stressors like nutrient enrichment and morphological degradation, the relative importance of micropollutants such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals is largely unaddressed. We used WFD monitoring data from Saxony (Germany) to investigate the importance of 85 environmental variables (including 34 micropollutants) for 18 benthic invertebrate metrics at 108 sites. The environmental variables were assigned to five groups (natural factors, nutrient enrichment, metals, micropollutants and morphological degradation) and were ranked according to their relative importance as group and individually within and across groups using Principal Component Analyses (PCAs) and Boosted Regression Trees (BRTs). Overall, natural factors contributed the most to the total explained deviance of the models. This variable group represented not only typological differences between sampling sites but also a gradient of human impact by strongly anthropogenically influenced variables such as electric conductivity and dissolved oxygen. These large-scale effects can mask the individual importance of the other variable groups, which may act more specifically at a subset of sites. Accordingly, micropollutants were not represented by a few dominant variables but rather a diverse palette of different chemicals with similar contribution. As a group, micropollutants contributed similarly as metals, nutrient enrichment and morphological degradation. However, the importance of micropollutants might be underestimated due to limitations of the current chemical monitoring practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Heß
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Clamecystr. 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Delia Hof
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biology, Department of Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Matthias Oetken
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biology, Department of Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andrea Sundermann
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Clamecystr. 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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7
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van Dijk J, Dekker SC, Kools SAE, van Wezel AP. European-wide spatial analysis of sewage treatment plants and the possible benefits to nature of advanced treatment to reduce pharmaceutical emissions. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 241:120157. [PMID: 37300966 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals are known to widely occur in the environment and to affect the health of ecosystems. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are main emission pathways for pharmaceuticals, which are often not sufficiently removed during wastewater treatment. In Europe, STP treatment requirements are specified under the Urban WasteWater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The introduction of advanced treatment techniques, such as ozonation and activated carbon, under the UWWTD is expected to be an important option to reduce pharmaceutical emissions. In this study, we present a European-wide analysis of STPs reported under the UWWTD, their current treatment level and potential to remove a set of 58 prioritised pharmaceuticals. Three different scenarios were analysed to show 1) UWWTD present effectiveness, 2) the effectiveness at full UWWTD compliance, and 3) the effectiveness when advanced treatment is implemented at STPs with a treatment capacity of >100.000 person equivalents. Based on a literature study, the potential of individual STPs to reduce pharmaceutical emissions ranged from an average of 9% for STPs with primary treatment to 84% for STPs applying advanced treatment. Results of our calculations show that European-wide emission of pharmaceuticals can be reduced with 68% when large STPs are updated with advanced treatment, but spatial differences exist. We argue that adequate attention should also be paid with regards to preventing environmental impacts of STPs with a capacity <100.000 p.e. Circa 44% of total STP effluent is emitted near Natura2000 sites (EU nature protection areas). Of all surface waters receiving STP effluent for which the ecological status has been assessed under the Water Framework Directive, 77% have a status of less than good. Relatively often only primary treatment is applied to wastewater emitted into coastal waters. This analysis can be used to further model pharmaceutical concentrations in European surface waters, to identify STPs for which more advanced treatment might be required and to protect EU aquatic biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanke van Dijk
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584, CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, GE, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Stefan C Dekker
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584, CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Annemarie P van Wezel
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, GE, 1090, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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8
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Lourenço J, Gutiérrez-Cánovas C, Carvalho F, Cássio F, Pascoal C, Pace G. Non-interactive effects drive multiple stressor impacts on the taxonomic and functional diversity of atlantic stream macroinvertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115965. [PMID: 37105281 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Freshwaters are considered among the most endangered ecosystems globally due to multiple stressors, which coincide in time and space. These local stressors typically result from land-use intensification or hydroclimatic alterations, among others. Despite recent advances on multiple stressor effects, current knowledge is still limited to manipulative approaches minimizing biological and abiotic variability. Thus, the assessment of multiple stressor effects in real-world ecosystems is required. Using an extensive survey of 50 stream reaches across North Portugal, we evaluated taxonomic and functional macroinvertebrate responses to multiple stressors, including marked gradients of nutrient enrichment, flow reduction, riparian vegetation structure, thermal stress and dissolved oxygen depletion. We analyzed multiple stressor effects on two taxonomic (taxon richness, Shannon-diversity) and two trait-based diversity indices (functional richness, functional dispersion), as well as changes in trait composition. We found that multiple stressors had additive effects on all diversity metrics, with nutrient enrichment identified as the most important stressor in three out of four metrics, followed by dissolved oxygen depletion and thermal stress. Taxon richness, Shannon-diversity and functional richness responded similarly, whereas functional dispersion was driven by changes in flow velocity and thermal stress. Functional trait composition changed along a major stress gradient determined by nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion, which was positively correlated with organisms possessing fast-living strategies, aerial respiration, adult phases, and gathering-collector feeding habits. Overall, our results reinforce the need to consider complementary facets of biodiversity to better identify assembly processes in response to multiple stressors. Our data suggest that stressor interactions may be less frequent in real-word streams than predicted by manipulative experiments, which can facilitate mitigation strategies. By combining an extensive field survey with an integrative consideration of multiple biodiversity facets, our study provides new insights that can help to better assess and manage rivers in a global change context.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lourenço
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| | - C Gutiérrez-Cánovas
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Carvalho
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - F Cássio
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - C Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - G Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) / Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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9
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von Gönner J, Bowler DE, Gröning J, Klauer AK, Liess M, Neuer L, Bonn A. Citizen science for assessing pesticide impacts in agricultural streams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159607. [PMID: 36273564 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The majority of central European streams are in poor ecological condition. Pesticide inputs from terrestrial habitats present a key threat to sensitive insects in streams. Both standardized stream monitoring data and societal support are needed to conserve and restore freshwater habitats. Citizen science (CS) offers potential to complement international freshwater monitoring while it is often viewed critically due to concerns about data accuracy. Here, we developed a CS program based on the Water Framework Directive that enables citizen scientists to provide data on stream hydromorphology, physicochemical status and benthic macroinvertebrates to apply the trait-based bio-indicator SPEARpesticides for pesticide exposure. We compared CS monitoring data with professional data across 28 central German stream sites and could show that both CS and professional monitoring identified a similar average proportion of pesticide-sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa per stream site (20 %). CS data were highly correlated to the professional data for both stream hydromorphology and SPEARpesticides (r = 0.72 and 0.76). To assess the extent to which CS macroinvertebrate data can indicate pesticide exposure, we tested the relationship of CS generated SPEARpesticides values and measured pesticide concentrations at 21 stream sites, and found a fair correlation similar to professional results. We conclude that given appropriate training and support, citizen scientists can generate valid data on the ecological status and pesticide contamination of streams. By complementing official monitoring, data from well-managed CS programs can advance freshwater science and enhance the implementation of freshwater conservation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia von Gönner
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Ecosystem Services, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity, Dornburgerstr.159, 07743 Jena, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr. 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Diana E Bowler
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity, Dornburgerstr.159, 07743 Jena, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr. 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Jonas Gröning
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna-Katharina Klauer
- Saxony State Foundation for Nature and the Environment (LaNU), Riesaer Str. 7, 01129 Dresden, Germany
| | - Matthias Liess
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lilian Neuer
- Friends of the Earth Germany e.V. (BUND), Kaiserin-Augusta-Allee 5, 10553 Berlin, Germany
| | - Aletta Bonn
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Ecosystem Services, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Biodiversity, Dornburgerstr.159, 07743 Jena, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr. 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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10
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Wu J, He Y, Zhao Y, Chen K, Cui Y, Wang H. A Simple Index of Lake Ecosystem Health Based on Species-Area Models of Macrobenthos. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:9678. [PMID: 35955034 PMCID: PMC9367816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An effective biological index should meet two criteria: (1) the selected parameters have clear relationships with ecosystem health and can be measured simply by standard methods and (2) reference conditions can be defined objectively and simply. Species richness is a widely used estimate of ecosystem condition, although it is increased by nutrient enrichment, a common disturbance. Based on macrobenthos data from 91 shallow Yangtze lakes disconnected from the mainstem, we constructed an observed species (SO)-area (A) model to predict expected species richness (SE), and then developed an observed to expected index (O/E-SA) by calculating the SO/SE ratio. We then compared O/E-SA with three other commonly used indices regarding their ability to discriminate cultivated and urban lakes: (1) River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS; O/E-RF), (2) Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI), and (3) Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT). O/E-SA showed significant positive linear relationships with O/E-RF, B-IBI and ASPT. Quantile regressions showed that O/E-SA and O/E-RF had hump-shape relationships with most eutrophication metrics, whereas B-IBI and ASPT had no obvious relationships. Only O/E-SA, O/E50 and B-IBI significantly discriminated cultivated from urban lakes. O/E-SA had comparable or higher performance with O/E-RF, B-IBI and ASPT, but was much simpler. Therefore, O/E-SA is a simple and reliable index for lake ecosystem health bioassessment. Finally, a framework was proposed for integrated biological assessment of Yangtze-disconnected lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yajing He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yongjing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yongde Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hongzhu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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11
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Buss J, Achten C. Spatiotemporal variations of surface water quality in a medium-sized river catchment (Northwestern Germany) with agricultural and urban land use over a five-year period with extremely dry summers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151730. [PMID: 34800458 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Medium-sized rivers, which are used for intensive agriculture and urban infrastructure, are subject to manifold hydrochemical stressors. Identifying and monitoring these stressors is important for river basin management and a functioning ecosystem. To understand the spatiotemporal variation of surface water quality in a highly modified lowland river, the Münstersche Aa River (Northwestern Germany) with 62% of land used for agriculture and 26% urban/residential area, was exemplarily studied. A total of 519 samples were collected using two automated high-frequency samplers and five catchment-wide sampling campaigns. They covered the five-year period 2015-2020 and included two extremely dry summers. The Münstersche Aa catchment is dominated by low permeable strata resulting in surface water runoff (Baseflow Index: 0.41) which leads to a high amplitude of discharge variation (mean discharge: 0.7 m3/s) with high flow conditions in winter/spring, and low discharge during summer/fall. In wintertime, maximum nitrate concentrations (up to 73 mg NO3/L) and loads (up to 1300 t NO3/a; up to 98% in winter) correlate with high-flow conditions. δ18O and δ15N isotopic analysis indicated manure from farmland as the major source of nitrate whereas the impact of municipal wastewater treatment plants was neglectable. Increased nitrate concentrations are linked to the higher proportion of farmland in the upper catchment (77%) compared with the lower catchment (47%). In summertime, at extremely low flow conditions, surface water consisted of up to 100% of treated wastewater, resulting in the highest measured chloride, sodium and potassium concentrations. The river is impacted by strongly seasonal and different stressors, which can be expected to intensify with ongoing climate change. Results from this study may help to adapt monitoring schemes for the Münstersche Aa but also for other lowland streams with comparable land-use targeting the goals of the Water Framework Directive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Buss
- Institute of Geology and Palaeontology - Applied Geology, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Christine Achten
- Institute of Geology and Palaeontology - Applied Geology, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 24, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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12
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González Del Tánago M, Martínez-Fernández V, Aguiar FC, Bertoldi W, Dufour S, García de Jalón D, Garófano-Gómez V, Mandzukovski D, Rodríguez-González PM. Improving river hydromorphological assessment through better integration of riparian vegetation: Scientific evidence and guidelines. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 292:112730. [PMID: 33991830 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
River hydromorphology has long been subjected to huge anthropogenic pressures with severe negative impacts on related ecosystems' functioning and water quality. Therefore, improving river hydromorphological conditions represents a priority task in sustainable river management and requires proper assessment tools. It is well known that riparian vegetation plays a crucial role in sustaining river hydromorphological conditions. However, it has been nearly neglected in most hydromorphological assessment protocols, including the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). This paper reviews and synthesizes the relevance of riparian vegetation for river hydromorphology, focusing on its contribution to streamflow and sediment regime conditions. We also examine how riparian vegetation is considered in the WFD and how it is included in national hydromorphological protocols currently in use. Our findings point to a temporal mismatch between the date when the WFD came into force and the emergence of scientific and technologic advances in riparian vegetation dynamism and bio-geomorphic modeling. To overcome this misalignment, we present promising approaches for the characterization and assessment of riparian vegetation, which include the identification of vegetation units and indicators at multiple scales to support management and restoration measures. We discuss the complexity of riparian vegetation assessment, particularly with respect to the establishment of river-type-based reference conditions and the monitoring and management targets, and propose some attributes that can serve as novel indicators of the naturalness vs. artificiality of riparian vegetation. We argue that the hydromorphological context of the WFD should be revisited and offer guidance to integrate riparian vegetation in river hydromorphological monitoring and assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta González Del Tánago
- Department of Natural Systems and Resources, E.T.S Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Jose Antonio Nováis 10, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Francisca C Aguiar
- Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Walter Bertoldi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Simon Dufour
- Université Rennes 2, CNRS UMR LETG, Place Le Moal, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Diego García de Jalón
- Department of Natural Systems and Resources, E.T.S Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Jose Antonio Nováis 10, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginia Garófano-Gómez
- Institut d'Investigació per a la Gestió Integrada de Zones Costaneres (IGIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, Paranimf 1, 46730, Grau de Gandia, València, Spain; Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Dejan Mandzukovski
- Department for Forest Management Planning, PE Nacionalni šumi, Pero Nakov 128, Skopje, Macedonia
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13
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Sutela T, Vehanen T, Jounela P, Aroviita J. Species-environment relationships of fish and map-based variables in small boreal streams: Linkages with climate change and bioassessment. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:10457-10467. [PMID: 34367588 PMCID: PMC8328450 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Species-environment relationships were studied between the occurrence of 13 fish and lamprey species and 9 mainly map-based environmental variables of Finnish boreal small streams. A self-organizing map (SOM) analysis showed strong relationships between the fish species and environmental variables in a single model (explained variance 55.9%). Besides basic environmental variables such as altitude, catchment size, and mean temperature, land cover variables were also explored. A logistic regression analysis indicated that the occurrence probability of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., decreased with an increasing percentage of peatland ditch drainage in the upper catchment. Ninespine stickleback, Pungitius pungitius (L.), and three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., seemed to benefit from urban areas in the upper catchment. Discovered relationships between fish species occurrence and land-use attributes are encouraging for the development of fish-based bioassessment for small streams. The presented ordination of the fish species in the mean temperature gradient will help in predicting fish community responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapio Sutela
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)OuluFinland
| | | | | | - Jukka Aroviita
- Finnish Environment InstituteFreshwater CentreOuluFinland
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14
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Alric B, Dézerald O, Meyer A, Billoir E, Coulaud R, Larras F, Mondy CP, Usseglio-Polatera P. How diatom-, invertebrate- and fish-based diagnostic tools can support the ecological assessment of rivers in a multi-pressure context: Temporal trends over the past two decades in France. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:143915. [PMID: 33360450 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of aquatic ecosystems, induced by worldwide intensification in the use of both land and aquatic resources, has highlighted the critical need for innovative methods allowing an objective quantification and ranking of anthropogenic pressure effects on aquatic organisms. Such diagnostic tools have a great potential for defining robust management responses to anthropogenic pressures. Our objective was to explore how the outputs of three diagnostic tools (based on benthic diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fishes) could be combined to (i) disentangle the temporal effects of multiple pressures over two decades and (ii) provide policy-relevant information for stream managers and decision makers. The diagnostic tools estimated, using taxonomy- and trait-based metrics, the impairment probabilities of biotic assemblages over time by different pressure categories, describing the alteration of water quality, hydromorphology and land use related to anthropogenic activities, in French streams (number of sites = 312). The main result shows that a large proportion of the time series exhibited no significant temporal patterns over the two decades (61.5% to 87.8%, depending on the used tests). Among time series exhibiting significant change, positive trends in impairment probabilities (i.e., degradation) were less frequent than negative ones, indicating a modest improvement in water quality at national scale over the study period. However, trends can be substantially different according to hydroecoregion and pressure category. The three biological compartments displayed convergent temporal responses according to the pressure category and regional context (e.g., lowland plains vs. mountains, pristine vs. agricultural regions). Altogether, this study proposes a unifying approach to integrate a vast amount of information in a single ecological diagnosis using an unparalleled database on natural and anthropized environments. Strengthening the synthesis of biological information provided by various biological compartments should be a priority before implementing evidence-based sustainable conservation and restoration actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Alric
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France
| | - Olivier Dézerald
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystems Health, INRAE, Agrocampus Ouest, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | - Albin Meyer
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France
| | - Elise Billoir
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, F-57000 Metz, France
| | - Romain Coulaud
- Université Le Havre Normandie, UMR-I 02, SEBIO, F-76063 Le Havre, France
| | - Floriane Larras
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cédric P Mondy
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Direction Régionale Ile-de-France, F-94300 Vincennes, France
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15
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Assessing the Ecological Status of European Rivers and Lakes Using Benthic Invertebrate Communities: A Practical Catalogue of Metrics and Methods. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13030346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Water Framework Directive requires that the ecological status of surface waters be monitored and managed if necessary. A central function in ecological status assessment has the Biological Quality Elements—organisms inhabiting surface waters—by indicating human impact on their habitat. For benthic invertebrates, a wide array of national methods are used, but to date no comprehensive summary of metrics and methods is available. In this study, we summarize the benthic invertebrate community metrics used in national systems to assess the ecological status of rivers, (very) large rivers, and lakes. Currently, benthic invertebrate assemblages are used in 26 national assessment systems for rivers, 13 assessment systems for very large rivers, and 21 assessment systems for lakes in the EU. In the majority of systems, the same metrics and modules are used. In the Red Queen’s race of ecosystem management this may be a disadvantage as these same metrics and module likely depict the same stressors but there is growing evidence that aquatic ecosystems are subject to highly differentiated, complex multiple stressor impacts. Method development should be fostered to identify and rank impacts in multi-stressor environments. DNA-based biomonitoring 2.0 offers to detect stressors with greater accuracy—if new tools are calibrated.
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16
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Sabater S, Elosegi A, Ludwig R. Framing biophysical and societal implications of multiple stressor effects on river networks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 753:141973. [PMID: 32906045 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization, agriculture, and the manipulation of the hydrological cycle are the main drivers of multiple stressors affecting river ecosystems across the world. Physical, chemical, and biological stressors follow characteristic patterns of occurrence, intensity, and frequency, linked to human pressure and socio-economic settings. The societal perception of stressor effects changes when moving from broad geographic regions to narrower basin or waterbody scales, as political and ecologically based perspectives change across scales. Current approaches relating the stressor effects on river networks and human societies fail to incorporate complexities associated to their co-occurrence, such as: i) the evidence that drivers can be associated to different stressors; ii) their intensity and frequency may differ across spatial and temporal scales; iii) their differential effects on biophysical receptors may be related to their order of occurrence; iv) current and legacy stressors may produce unexpected outcomes; v) the potentially different response of different biological variables to stressor combinations; vi) the conflicting effects of multiple stressors on ecosystem services; and, vii) management of stressor effects should consider multiple occurrence scales. We discuss how to incorporate these aspects to present frameworks considering biophysical and societal consequences of multiple stressors, to better understand and manage the effects being caused on river networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain; Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Universitat de Girona (UdG), Girona, Spain.
| | - Arturo Elosegi
- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ralf Ludwig
- Ludwig Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen (LMU), Munich, Germany
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17
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Valerio C, De Stefano L, Martínez-Muñoz G, Garrido A. A machine learning model to assess the ecosystem response to water policy measures in the Tagus River Basin (Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 750:141252. [PMID: 33182174 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are seriously endangering the conservation of biodiversity worldwide, calling for urgent actions to mitigate their impact on ecosystems. We applied machine learning techniques to predict the response of freshwater ecosystems to multiple anthropogenic pressures, with the goal of informing the definition of water policy targets and management measures to recover and protect aquatic biodiversity. Random Forest and Gradient Boosted Regression Trees algorithms were used for the modelling of the biological indices of macroinvertebrates and diatoms in the Tagus river basin (Spain). Among the anthropogenic stressors considered as explanatory variables, the categories of land cover in the upstream catchment area and the nutrient concentrations showed the highest impact on biological communities. The model was then used to predict the biological response to different nutrient concentrations in river water, with the goal of exploring the effect of different regulatory thresholds on the ecosystem status. Specifically, we considered the maximum nutrient concentrations set by the Spanish legislation, as well as by the legislation of other European Union Member States. According to our model, the current nutrient thresholds in Spain ensure values of biological indices consistent with the good ecological status in only about 60% of the total number of water bodies. By applying more restrictive nutrient concentrations, the number of water bodies with biological indices in good status could increase by almost 40%. Moreover, coupling more restrictive nutrient thresholds with measures that improve the riparian habitat yields up to 85% of water bodies with biological indices in good status, thus proving to be a key approach to restore the status of the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Valerio
- Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Nováis 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Water Observatory, Botín Foundation, Calle de Castelló 18, 28001 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lucia De Stefano
- Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Nováis 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Water Observatory, Botín Foundation, Calle de Castelló 18, 28001 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Gonzalo Martínez-Muñoz
- Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Francisco Tomás y Valiente 11, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alberto Garrido
- Water Observatory, Botín Foundation, Calle de Castelló 18, 28001 Madrid, Spain; CEIGRAM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Paseo Senda del Rey 13, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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18
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Poikane S, Salas Herrero F, Kelly MG, Borja A, Birk S, van de Bund W. European aquatic ecological assessment methods: A critical review of their sensitivity to key pressures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:140075. [PMID: 32562991 PMCID: PMC7456781 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The European Union has embarked on a policy which aims to achieve good ecological status in all surface waters (i.e. rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters). In theory, ecological status assessment methods should address the effects of all relevant human pressures. In this study, we analyze the degree to which methods European countries use to assess ecological status tackle various pressures affecting European waters. Nutrient pollution is by far the best-covered pressure for all four water categories. Out of total of 423 assessment methods, 370 assess eutrophication and pressure-specific relationships have been demonstrated for 212 of these. "General degradation" is addressed by 238 methods, mostly validated by relationships to combined pressure indices. Other major pressures have received significantly less effort: hydromorphological degradation is assessed by 160 methods and pressure-specific relationships have been demonstrated for just 40 of these. Hydromorphological pressures are addressed (at least by one BQE) only by 25% countries for coastal waters and 70-80% for lakes and transitional waters. Specific diagnostic tools (i.e. single-pressure relationships) for hydromorphology have only been developed by a few countries: only 20% countries have such methods for lakes, coastal and transitional waters and less than half for rivers. Toxic contamination is addressed by 90 methods; however, pressure-specific relationships have been demonstrated for just eight of these. Only two countries have demonstrated pressure-specific acidification methods for rivers, and three for lakes. In summary, methods currently in use mostly address eutrophication and/or general degradation, but there is not much evidence that they reliably pick up the effects of other significant pressures such as hydromorphology or toxic contamination. Therefore, we recommend that countries re-examine: (1) those pressures which affect different water categories in the country; (2) relevant assessment methods to tackle those pressures; (3) whether pressure-response relationships have been developed for each of these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Poikane
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), via Fermi 2749, Ispra 21027, Italy.
| | | | - Martyn G Kelly
- Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn, Durham DH6 5QB, United Kingdom; School of Geography, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Angel Borja
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia Portualdea s/n, 20100 Pasaia, Spain
| | - Sebastian Birk
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Wouter van de Bund
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), via Fermi 2749, Ispra 21027, Italy
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19
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Feld CK, Saeedghalati M, Hering D. A framework to diagnose the causes of river ecosystem deterioration using biological symptoms. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian K. Feld
- Faculty of Biology—Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research University of Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
| | - Mohammadkarim Saeedghalati
- Faculty of Biology—Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics University of Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
| | - Daniel Hering
- Faculty of Biology—Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research University of Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
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20
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Carvalho L, Mackay EB, Cardoso AC, Baattrup-Pedersen A, Birk S, Blackstock KL, Borics G, Borja A, Feld CK, Ferreira MT, Globevnik L, Grizzetti B, Hendry S, Hering D, Kelly M, Langaas S, Meissner K, Panagopoulos Y, Penning E, Rouillard J, Sabater S, Schmedtje U, Spears BM, Venohr M, van de Bund W, Solheim AL. Protecting and restoring Europe's waters: An analysis of the future development needs of the Water Framework Directive. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 658:1228-1238. [PMID: 30677985 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a pioneering piece of legislation that aims to protect and enhance aquatic ecosystems and promote sustainable water use across Europe. There is growing concern that the objective of good status, or higher, in all EU waters by 2027 is a long way from being achieved in many countries. Through questionnaire analysis of almost 100 experts, we provide recommendations to enhance WFD monitoring and assessment systems, improve programmes of measures and further integrate with other sectoral policies. Our analysis highlights that there is great potential to enhance assessment schemes through strategic design of monitoring networks and innovation, such as earth observation. New diagnostic tools that use existing WFD monitoring data, but incorporate novel statistical and trait-based approaches could be used more widely to diagnose the cause of deterioration under conditions of multiple pressures and deliver a hierarchy of solutions for more evidence-driven decisions in river basin management. There is also a growing recognition that measures undertaken in river basin management should deliver multiple benefits across sectors, such as reduced flood risk, and there needs to be robust demonstration studies that evaluate these. Continued efforts in 'mainstreaming' water policy into other policy sectors is clearly needed to deliver wider success with WFD goals, particularly with agricultural policy. Other key policy areas where a need for stronger integration with water policy was recognised included urban planning (waste water treatment), flooding, climate and energy (hydropower). Having a deadline for attaining the policy objective of good status is important, but even more essential is to have a permanent framework for river basin management that addresses the delays in implementation of measures. This requires a long-term perspective, far beyond the current deadline of 2027.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sebastian Birk
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research and Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Kirsty L Blackstock
- Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Angel Borja
- AZTI (Marine Research Division), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Christian K Feld
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research and Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | | | | | - Bruna Grizzetti
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Daniel Hering
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research and Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | | | - Sindre Langaas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Yiannis Panagopoulos
- National Technical University, Athens and Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos, Greece
| | | | | | - Sergi Sabater
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, and Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain
| | | | - Bryan M Spears
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Edinburgh, UK
| | - Markus Venohr
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Germany
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