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Markert N, Schürings C, Feld CK. Water Framework Directive micropollutant monitoring mirrors catchment land use: Importance of agricultural and urban sources revealed. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170583. [PMID: 38309347 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
River monitoring programs worldwide consistently unveil micropollutant concentrations (pesticide, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals) exceeding regulatory quality targets with deteriorating effects on aquatic communities. However, both the composition and individual concentrations of micropollutants are likely to vary with the catchment land use, in particular regarding urban and agricultural area as the primary sources of micropollutants. In this study, we used a dataset of 109 governmental monitoring sites with micropollutants monitored across the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, to investigate the relationship between high-resolution catchment land use (distinguishing urban, forested and grassland area as well as 22 different agricultural crop types) and 39 micropollutants using Linear Mixed Models (LMMs). Ecotoxicological risks were indicated for mixtures of pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals for 100 % and for pesticides for 55 % of the sites. The proportion of urban area in the catchment was positively related with concentrations of most pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals (R2 up to 0.54), whereas the proportions of grassland and forested areas generally showed negative relations. Cropland overall showed weak positive relationships with micropollutant concentrations (R2 up to 0.29). Individual crop types, particularly vegetables and permanent crops, showed higher relations (R2 up to 0.46). The findings suggest that crop type-specific pesticide applications are mirrored in the detected micropollutant concentrations. This highlights the need for high-resolution spatial land use to investigate the magnitude and dynamics of micropollutant exposure and relevant pollution sources, which would remain undetected with highly aggregated land use classifications. Moreover, the findings imply the need for tailored management measures to reduce micropollutant concentrations from different sources and their related ecological effects. Urban point sources, could be managed by advanced wastewater treatment. The reduction of diffuse pollution from agricultural land uses requires additional measures, to prevent pesticides from entering the environment and exceeding regulatory quality targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Markert
- University Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; North Rhine-Westphalia Office of Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV NRW), 40208 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Schürings
- University Duisburg-Essen, Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, 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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Fergus CE, Brooks JR, Kaufmann PR, Herlihy AT, Hill RA, Mitchell RM, Ringold P. Disentangling natural and anthropogenic effects on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in western US streams. Ecosphere 2023; 14:1-24. [PMID: 38993516 PMCID: PMC11235210 DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Stream macroinvertebrate assemblages are shaped by natural and human-related factors that operate through complex hierarchical pathways. Quantifying these relationships can provide additional insights into stream ecological assessment. We applied a structural equation modeling framework to evaluate hypothesized pathways by which watershed, riparian, and in-stream factors affect benthic macroinvertebrate condition in the Western Mountains (WMT) and Xeric (XER) ecoregions in the United States. We developed a conceptual model grounded in theory, empirical evidence, and expert opinion to evaluate the following hypotheses: (1) macroinvertebrate assemblages are primarily driven by proximal, in-stream factors (e.g., water quality and physical habitat); (2) anthropogenic land uses affect macroinvertebrates indirectly by altering in-stream characteristics; and (3) riparian vegetation cover attenuates land use effects. We tested our model separately on three measures of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage condition: ratio of observed-to-expected taxonomic richness (O/E); a multimetric index (MMI); and richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa (EPT). In the WMT, site-level riparian cover, in-stream physical habitat (relative bed stability), and water chemistry (total nitrogen) were the top three predictors of macroinvertebrate assemblages, each having over two times the magnitude of effect on macroinvertebrates compared with watershed-level predictors. In the arid XER, annual precipitation and stream flow characteristics were top predictors of macroinvertebrate assemblages and had similar magnitudes of effect as in-stream water chemistry. Path analyses revealed that land use activities in the watershed and at the stream site degraded macroinvertebrate assemblages indirectly by altering relative bed stability, water quality, and riparian cover/complexity. Increased riparian cover was associated with greater macroinvertebrate condition by reducing land use impacts on stream flow, streambed substrate, and water quality, but the pathways differed among ecoregions. In the WMT, site-level riparian cover affected macroinvertebrate assemblages partly through indirect pathways associated with greater streambed stability and reduced total nitrogen concentrations. In contrast, in the XER, watershed-level riparian cover affected macroinvertebrate assemblages through greater specific stream power. Identifying the relative effects of and pathways by which natural and anthropogenic factors affect macroinvertebrates can serve as a framework for prioritizing management and conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Emi Fergus
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - J. Renée Brooks
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Philip R. Kaufmann
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Science, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Alan T. Herlihy
- Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Science, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ryan A. Hill
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Paul Ringold
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Makki T, Mostafavi H, Matkan AA, Valavi R, Hughes RM, Shadloo S, Aghighi H, Abdoli A, Teimori A, Eagderi S, Coad BW. Predicting climate heating impacts on riverine fish species diversity in a biodiversity hotspot region. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14347. [PMID: 37658153 PMCID: PMC10474041 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41406-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-occurring biodiversity and global heating crises are systemic threats to life on Earth as we know it, especially in relatively rare freshwater ecosystems, such as in Iran. Future changes in the spatial distribution and richness of 131 riverine fish species were investigated at 1481 sites in Iran under optimistic and pessimistic climate heating scenarios for the 2050s and 2080s. We used maximum entropy modeling to predict species' potential distributions by hydrologic unit (HU) occupancy under current and future climate conditions through the use of nine environmental predictor variables. The most important variable determining fish occupancy was HU location, followed by elevation, climate variables, and slope. Thirty-seven species were predicted to decrease their potential habitat occupancy in all future scenarios. The southern Caspian HU faces the highest future species reductions followed by the western Zagros and northwestern Iran. These results can be used by managers to plan conservational strategies to ease the dispersal of species, especially those that are at the greatest risk of extinction or invasion and that are in rivers fragmented by dams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toktam Makki
- Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Mostafavi
- Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ali Akbar Matkan
- The Center for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Research, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Robert M Hughes
- Amnis Opes Institute, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Shabnam Shadloo
- Institute for Oceans and Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Hossein Aghighi
- The Center for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Research, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asghar Abdoli
- Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azad Teimori
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Soheil Eagderi
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Brian W Coad
- Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON, K1P 6P4, Canada
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Hughes RM, Herlihy AT, Comeleo R, Peck DV, Mitchell RM, Paulsen SG. Patterns in and predictors of stream and river macroinvertebrate genera and fish species richness across the conterminous USA. KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS 2023; 424:1-16. [PMID: 37593206 PMCID: PMC10428169 DOI: 10.1051/kmae/2023014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Both native and non-native taxa richness patterns are useful for evaluating areas of greatest conservation concern. To determine those patterns, we analyzed fish and macroinvertebrate taxa richness data obtained at 3475 sites collected by the USEPA's National Rivers and Streams Assessment. We also determined which natural and anthropogenic variables best explained patterns in regional richness. Macroinvertebrate and fish richness increased with the number of sites sampled per region. Therefore, we determined residual taxa richness from the deviation of observed richness from predicted richness given the number of sites per region. Regional richness markedly exceeded average site richness for both macroinvertebrates and fish. Predictors of macroinvertebrate-genus and fish-species residual-regional richness differed. Air temperature was an important predictor in both cases but was positive for fish and negative for macroinvertebrates. Both natural and land use variables were significant predictors of regional richness. This study is the first to determine mean site and regional richness of both fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates across the conterminous USA, and the key anthropogenic drivers of regional richness. Thus, it offers important insights into regional USA biodiversity hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Hughes
- Amnis Opes Institute, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Alan T. Herlihy
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Randy Comeleo
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - David V. Peck
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Richard M. Mitchell
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, MC 4502T, Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | - Steven G. Paulsen
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Feio MJ, Hughes RM, Serra SRQ, Nichols SJ, Kefford BJ, Lintermans M, Robinson W, Odume ON, Callisto M, Macedo DR, Harding JS, Yates AG, Monk W, Nakamura K, Mori T, Sueyoshi M, Mercado‐Silva N, Chen K, Baek MJ, Bae YJ, Tachamo‐Shah RD, Shah DN, Campbell I, Moya N, Arimoro FO, Keke UN, Martins RT, Alves CBM, Pompeu PS, Sharma S. Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:355-374. [PMID: 36131677 PMCID: PMC10091732 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences are poorly quantified at the global scale. We evaluated the biological condition of rivers globally, including the largest proportion of countries from the Global South published to date. We gathered macroinvertebrate- and fish-based assessments from 72,275 and 37,676 sites, respectively, from 64 study regions across six continents and 45 nations. Because assessments were based on differing methods, different systems were consolidated into a 3-class system: Good, Impaired, or Severely Impaired, following common guidelines. The proportion of sites in each class by study area was calculated and each region was assigned a Köppen-Geiger climate type, Human Footprint score (addressing landscape alterations), Human Development Index (HDI) score (addressing social welfare), % rivers with good ambient water quality, % protected freshwater key biodiversity areas; and % of forest area net change rate. We found that 50% of macroinvertebrate sites and 42% of fish sites were in Good condition, whereas 21% and 29% were Severely Impaired, respectively. The poorest biological conditions occurred in Arid and Equatorial climates and the best conditions occurred in Snow climates. Severely Impaired conditions were associated (Pearson correlation coefficient) with higher HDI scores, poorer physico-chemical water quality, and lower proportions of protected freshwater areas. Good biological conditions were associated with good water quality and increased forested areas. It is essential to implement statutory bioassessment programs in Asian, African, and South American countries, and continue them in Oceania, Europe, and North America. There is a need to invest in assessments based on fish, as there is less information globally and fish were strong indicators of degradation. Our study highlights a need to increase the extent and number of protected river catchments, preserve and restore natural forested areas in the catchments, treat wastewater discharges, and improve river connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Feio
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreARNET, University of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Robert M. Hughes
- Amnis Opes InstituteCorvallisOregonUSA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation SciencesOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Sónia R. Q. Serra
- Department of Life Sciences, Marine and Environmental Sciences CentreARNET, University of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Susan J. Nichols
- Centre for Applied Water ScienceInstitute for Applied Ecology, University of CanberraCanberraAustralia
| | - Ben J. Kefford
- Centre for Applied Water ScienceInstitute for Applied Ecology, University of CanberraCanberraAustralia
| | - Mark Lintermans
- Centre for Applied Water ScienceInstitute for Applied Ecology, University of CanberraCanberraAustralia
| | | | - Oghenekaro N. Odume
- Unilever Centre for Environmental Water QualityInstitute for Water Research, Rhodes UniversityMakhandaSouth Africa
| | - Marcos Callisto
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e EvoluçãoInstituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrazil
| | - Diego R. Macedo
- Departamento de GeografiaUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrazil
| | - Jon S. Harding
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Adam G. Yates
- Department of BiologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
| | - Wendy Monk
- Environment and Climate Change Canada and Canadian Rivers Institute, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental ManagementUniversity of New BrunswickFrederictonCanada
| | | | - Terutaka Mori
- Aqua Restoration Research CenterPublic Works Research InstituteKakamigaharaGifuJapan
| | - Masanao Sueyoshi
- Aqua Restoration Research CenterPublic Works Research InstituteKakamigaharaGifuJapan
| | - Norman Mercado‐Silva
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y ConservaciónUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de MorelosCuernavacaMorelosMexico
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of EntomologyNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingPeople's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China SeaHainan UniversityHaikouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Min Jeong Baek
- National Institute of Biological Resources, Ministry of EnvironmentIncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Yeon Jae Bae
- Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life SciencesKorea UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Ram Devi Tachamo‐Shah
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Aquatic Ecology CentreKathmandu UniversityDhulikhelNepal
| | - Deep Narayan Shah
- Central Department of Environmental ScienceTribhuvan UniversityKathmanduNepal
| | | | - Nabor Moya
- Instituto Experimental de BiologiaUniversidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de ChuquisacaSucreBolivia
| | - Francis O. Arimoro
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal BiologyFederal University of TechnologyMinnaNigeria
| | - Unique N. Keke
- Applied Hydrobiology Unit, Department of Animal BiologyFederal University of TechnologyMinnaNigeria
| | - Renato T. Martins
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Curso de pós‐graduação em EntomologiaInstituto Nacional de Pesquisas da AmazôniaManausBrazil
| | - Carlos B. M. Alves
- Laboratório Nuvelhas, Projeto ManuelzãoUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrazil
| | - Paulo S. Pompeu
- Departamento de Ecologia e ConservaçãoUniversidade Federal de LavrasLavrasBrazil
| | - Subodh Sharma
- Aquatic Ecology Centre, School of ScienceKathmandu UniversityDhulikhelNepal
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Kaufmann PR, Hughes RM, Paulsen SG, Peck DV, Seeliger CW, Kincaid T, Mitchell RM. Physical habitat in conterminous US streams and Rivers, part 2: A quantitative assessment of habitat condition. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS 2022; 141:109047. [PMID: 35991318 PMCID: PMC9389467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Rigorous assessments of the ecological condition of water resources and the effect of human activities on those waters require quantitative physical, chemical, and biological data. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's river and stream surveys quantify river and stream bed particle size and stability, instream habitat complexity and cover, riparian vegetation cover and structure, and anthropogenic disturbance activities. Physical habitat is strongly controlled by natural geoclimatic factors that co-vary with human activities. We expressed the anthropogenic alteration of physical habitat as O/E ratios of observed habitat metric values divided by values expected under least-disturbed reference conditions, where site-specific expected values vary given their geoclimatic and geomorphic context. We set criteria for good, fair, and poor condition based on the distribution of O/E values in regional least-disturbed reference sites. Poor conditions existed in 22-24% of the 1.2 million km of streams and rivers in the conterminous U.S. for riparian human disturbance, streambed sediment and riparian vegetation cover, versus 14% for instream habitat complexity. Based on the same four indicators, the percentage of stream length in poor condition within 9 separate U.S. ecoregions ranged from 4% to 42%. Associations of our physical habitat indices with anthropogenic pressures demonstrate the scope of anthropogenic habitat alteration; habitat condition was negatively related to the level of anthropogenic disturbance nationally and in nearly all ecoregions. Relative risk estimates showed that streams and rivers with poor sediment, riparian cover complexity, or instream habitat cover conditions were 1.4 to 2.6 times as likely to also have fish or macroinvertebrate assemblages in poor condition. Our physical habitat condition indicators help explain deviations in biological conditions from those observed among least-disturbed sites and inform management actions for rehabilitating impaired waters and mitigating further ecological degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R. Kaufmann
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation
Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Robert M. Hughes
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation
Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Amnis Opes Institute, 2895 Southeast Glenn Street,
Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Steven G. Paulsen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - David V. Peck
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | | | - Tom Kincaid
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
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Kaufmann PR, Hughes RM, Paulsen SG, Peck DV, Seeliger CW, Weber MH, Mitchell RM. Physical habitat in conterminous US streams and rivers, Part 1: Geoclimatic controls and anthropogenic alteration. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS 2022; 141:109046. [PMID: 35991319 PMCID: PMC9389819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic alteration of physical habitat structure in streams and rivers is increasingly recognized as a major cause of impairment worldwide. As part of their assessment of the status and trends in the condition of rivers and streams in the U.S., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) quantify and monitor channel size and slope, substrate size and stability, instream habitat complexity and cover, riparian vegetation cover and structure, anthropogenic disturbance activities, and channel-riparian interaction. Like biological assemblages and water chemistry, physical habitat is strongly controlled by natural geoclimatic factors that can obscure or amplify the influence of human activities. We developed a systematic approach to estimate the deviation of observed river and stream physical habitat from that expected in least-disturbed reference conditions. We applied this approach to calculate indices of anthropogenic alteration of three aspects of physical habitat condition in the conterminous U.S. (CONUS): streambed sediment size and stability, riparian vegetation cover, and instream habitat complexity. The precision and responsiveness of these indices led the USEPA to use them to evaluate physical habitat condition in CONUS rivers and streams. The scores of these indices systematically decreased with greater anthropogenic disturbance at river and stream sites in the CONUS and within ecoregions, which we interpret as a response of these physical habitat indices to anthropogenic influences. Although anthropogenic activities negatively influenced all three physical habitat indices in the least-disturbed sites within most ecoregions, natural geoclimatic and geomorphic factors were the dominant influences. For sites over the full range of anthropogenic disturbance, analyses of observed/expected sediment characteristics showed augmented flood flows and basin and riparian agriculture to be the leading predictors of streambed instability and excess fine sediments. Similarly, basin and riparian agriculture and non-agricultural riparian land uses were the leading predictors of reduced riparian vegetation cover complexity in the CONUS and within ecoregions. In turn, these reductions in riparian vegetation cover and complexity, combined with reduced summer low flows, were the leading predictors of instream habitat simplification. We conclude that quantitative measures of physical habitat structure are useful and important indicators of the impacts of human activities on stream and river condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R. Kaufmann
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation
Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Robert M. Hughes
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation
Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Amnis Opes Institute, 2895 Southeast Glenn Street,
Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Steven G. Paulsen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - David V. Peck
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | | | - Marc H. Weber
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research
and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific
Ecological Systems Division, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
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The Impacts of Different Anthropogenic Disturbances on Macroinvertebrate Community Structure and Functional Traits of Glacier-Fed Streams in the Tianshan Mountains. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14081298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Macroinvertebrates are sensitive to environmental disturbances, however, the effects of human activities on macroinvertebrate community structures and functional traits in glacier-fed streams are concerning. To elucidate the effects of horse, cattle and sheep grazing, hot spring scenic development, and historic iron ore mine development on macroinvertebrate communities, we conducted a study in three glacier-fed streams of the Tianshan Mountains in northwest China in April 2021. Our results showed that the species richness and density significantly decreased due to grazing (p < 0.05). There were more taxa with resilience traits such as “small size at maturity” in the grazing stream. The EPT richness and density affected by hot spring scenic development significantly decreased compared to the undisturbed point (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in taxa with resistance traits such as “bi-or-multivoltine” in the hot spring stream. The stream affected by historic mine development is currently in the self-recovery stage following the closure of the mine ten years ago. Additionally, the species richness, EPT richness, and density at the mining site were significantly higher than the source site (p < 0.05), reflecting that the habitat fragmentation caused by previous mining activities prevented the upward dispersal of macroinvertebrates. The taxa in the mining stream were also characterized by higher resistance traits such as “abundant occurrence in drift”. These results were attributed to the impacts of human disturbance on habitat stability, habitat heterogeneity, water quality, and material cycling of stream ecosystems, indicating human disturbance on the efficiency of resource utilization and functional diversification. In addition, our results showed that functional indicators of macroinvertebrate communities are helpful for monitoring and evaluating habitat conditions.
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García-Girón J, Tolonen KT, Soininen J, Snåre H, Pajunen V, Heino J. Anthropogenic land‒use impacts on the size structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages are jointly modulated by local conditions and spatial processes. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112055. [PMID: 34536372 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Body size descriptors and associated resemblance measurements may provide useful tools for forecasting ecological responses to increasing anthropogenic land‒use disturbances. Yet, the influences of agriculture and urbanisation on the size structure of biotic assemblages have seldom been investigated in running waters. Using a comprehensive dataset on stream macroinvertebrates from 21 river basins across Western Finland, we assessed whether the structure of assemblages via changes in taxonomic composition and body size distributions responded predictably to anthropogenic land‒use impacts. Specifically, we applied a combination of resemblance measurements based on cumulative abundance profiles and spatially constrained null models to understand faunal impairment by agricultural and urban development, and the most likely mechanisms underlying the observed shifts in assemblage size structure. Anthropogenically impacted stream sites showed less variation in assemblage composition and size distributions compared with least‒disturbed sites, with strong declines in internal variation also occurring for the transition from near‒pristine to moderately impacted landscapes. These results were consistent whether based on species‒level or genus‒level data. Variation in assemblage size structure seemed to be more predictable than taxonomic composition, supporting the notion that resemblance measurements based on body size distributions can represent an improvement to more traditional approaches based on taxonomic identities alone. In addition, we showed that macroinvertebrate assemblages resulted from effects of land‒use degradation mediated through local conditions and spurious spatial structures in the distribution of anthropogenic activities across the landscape. Overall, our findings suggest that existing water policies and agri‒environment schemes should be guided not only by understanding the individual effects of agricultural and urban development on taxonomic composition at a given stream site. Rather, we should also acknowledge the size structure of stream assemblages and whether concomitant changes in local conditions and the non‒random distribution of human infrastructures are likely to mitigate or accelerate these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge García-Girón
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, PO Box 413, FI‒90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Kimmo T Tolonen
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Survontie 9A, FI-40500 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Janne Soininen
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, PO Box 64, FI‒00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Henna Snåre
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, PO Box 413, FI‒90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Virpi Pajunen
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, PO Box 64, FI‒00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Jani Heino
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, PO Box 413, FI‒90014, Oulu, Finland.
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Keskin Uslu E, Yılmaz E. Preparation and characterization of oleogels with tallow and partially hydrolyzed tallow as organogelators. GRASAS Y ACEITES 2021. [DOI: 10.3989/gya.1031192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the organogelation potential of tallow fat (TF) and partially hydrolyzed tallow fat (HTF) against saturated monoglyceride (MG) and a saturated monoglyceride + diglyceride mixture (MDG) as the organogelators. TF itself created oleogel at a 30% addition level, while HTF, MG and MDG oleogels were prepared at 10% addition levels. Fatty acid composition data showed that the oleogel of HTF (HTFO) was quite similar to those of MG and MDG oleogels. Solid fat content, free fatty acidity and peroxide values were found to be in acceptable ranges for HTFO. Thermal properties, crystal morphology and X-ray diffraction patterns were also evaluated. Rheological analyses indicated that all oleogels had higher storage modulus (G´) than loss modulus (G´´). The time-sweep test showed that after applying higher shear rates, the gels re-formed at rest. Further, all oleogels maintained their gelled consistency until around 54 °C. The results suggest that HTF could be a cheap, efficient, fast melting, safe and readily available organogelator.
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