Assemblage-based biomonitoring of freshwater ecosystem health via multimetric indices: A critical review and suggestions for improving their applicability

Water Biology and Security, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 1(3), P. 100054 - 100054

Published: May 29, 2022

Freshwater biota are more comprehensive and direct indicators of biological impacts, meaningful to the public than water quality or physical habitat surrogates. biotic data multiple developed from them offer a much richer array for assessing impacts pollution controls limited set chemical measures. In recent decades, assemblage-based assessments by ecologists, environmental scientists, agencies have been employed globally determining condition of, threats to, freshwater ecosystems. A key step in this advance has development multimetric indices (MMIs) integrity (IBIs) based on quantitative algae, macrophyte, macroinvertebrate, fish riparian bird assemblages. Europe, where assemblages mandated ecosystem health, many multimetric. However, proliferation MMIs not always occurred through application rigorous study designs monitoring protocols, nor they effectively incorporated functional metrics, stressor assessments, statistical analyses. Therefore, review, we discuss eleven major concerns with (including logistical limitations) encourage widely applicable (transferable) MMI use implementation. Specifically, our focus reference conditions; sampling effort, methods, season; trophic guild definition; metric comprehensiveness, options, screening scoring; validation. could also benefit increased attention ecological mechanisms development, further improve understanding anthropogenic as well rehabilitation effects ecosystems globally. Paying closer designs, should better facilitate degraded ecosystems, aiding conservation healthy

Language: Английский

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Causes, Responses, and Implications of Anthropogenic versus Natural Flow Intermittence in River Networks

BioScience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 73(1), P. 9 - 22

Published: Dec. 7, 2022

Abstract Rivers that do not flow year-round are the predominant type of running waters on Earth. Despite a burgeoning literature natural intermittence (NFI), knowledge about hydrological causes and ecological effects human-induced, anthropogenic (AFI) remains limited. NFI AFI could generate contrasting biological responses in rivers because distinct underlying drying evolutionary adaptations their biota. We first review show how different drivers alter timing, frequency duration drying, compared with NFI. Second, we evaluate possible differences biodiversity responses, functions, ecosystem services between AFI. Last, outline gaps management needs related to Because hydrologic characteristics impacts AFI, ignoring distinction undermine intermittent ephemeral streams exacerbate risks ecosystems societies downstream.

Language: Английский

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Non-perennial segments in river networks

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(12), P. 815 - 830

Published: Nov. 23, 2023

Language: Английский

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River flow intermittence influence biodiversity–stability relationships across spatial scales: Implications for an uncertain future

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Climate change is increasing the proportion of river networks experiencing flow intermittence, which in turn reduces local diversity (i.e., α-diversity) but enhances variation species composition among sites β-diversity), with potential consequences on ecosystem stability. Indeed, multiscale theory stability proposes that regional can be attained not only by processes also spatial asynchrony sites. However, it still unknown whether and how scale-dependent changes biodiversity associated intermittence influence across scales. To elucidate this, we here focus multiple metacommunities French rivers contrasting levels intermittence. We clearly show relative contribution to was higher for intermittent than perennial rivers. Surprisingly, mainly linked asynchronous population dynamics sites, β-diversity. This finding robust both truly aquatic macroinvertebrates taxa disperse aerially during their adult stages, implying need conserve landscape attain By contrast, inhabiting were stabilized processes. Our study provides novel evidence are operating at different demonstrate thus resulting a stabilizing effect networks. Considering climate worldwide, our results suggest managers more local-scale monitor, restore, freshwater biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Drying niches of aquatic macroinvertebrates identify potential biomonitoring indicators in intermittent and ephemeral streams

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 142, P. 109263 - 109263

Published: Aug. 5, 2022

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) compose the majority of draining networks on Earth, supporting a unique fraction biodiversity. Despite their high ecological value, IRES are increasingly threatened by global change require appropriate biomonitoring restoration tools. However, indices indicators used in routine programs often confounded drying effects. This occurs because most pollution-sensitive taxa lost over gradients, limiting utility current tools IRES. To address this challenge, there is need to evaluate which should be calculate metrics different portions gradient. Here, using high-resolution data from 33 unpolluted streams, we explored preferences macroinvertebrates identify potential as do this, characterized macroinvertebrate niches identified those with resistance sensitivity preferences. Next, evaluated capacity functional traits predict specialization affinity. Finally, for IRES, how influenced density, relative abundance richness drying-sensitive drying-resistant niches. Our results three groups (partly tolerant, generalist specialist taxa) one group taxa. We also found that had limited represent differences niches, shredding trophic body size showing strongest correlations. In addition, observed were less intensity than some partial (e.g., Lepidostoma), moderate Corduliidae) or tolerance Nemoura) can serve Taken together, our demonstrate characterizing useful strategy developing highlighting limitations taxonomic trait-based approaches.

Language: Английский

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Evaluating the response of current biotic indices and functional metrics to natural and anthropogenic predictors in disconnected pools of temporary rivers

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 948, P. 174825 - 174825

Published: July 15, 2024

Temporary rivers, forming the majority of river networks worldwide, are key biodiversity hotspots. Despite their great value for maintaining and ecosystem functioning, they often neglected in biomonitoring programs due to several challenges, such as variable hydromorphology difficulty establishing reference conditions given dynamic nature, resulting highly communities. Disconnected pools form temporary rivers when flow ceases, providing refuge aquatic taxa. Given importance conservation, revising adapting biotic indices needed. Here, we evaluate performance current biological designed perennial (macroinvertebrates, diatoms) functional metrics (macroinvertebrates) assessing quality disconnected pools. We sampled 55 Catalonia, NE Spain, covering local (e.g., physico-chemical variables, water chemistry) regional human influence, hydrological variables at body level) natural anthropogenic gradients. Only a few macroinvertebrate family richness, EPT/EPT + OCH OCH) showed strong responses predictors were unaffected by both scales, making them suitable biomonitoring. Of newly adopted communities tested, only two (i.e., redundancy predators response diversity based on total community) responded strongly predictors. The rest varying interactive effect predictors, requiring calibration efforts. Models these explained <40 % variation, likely interplay colonization/extinction dynamics density-dependent trophic interactions governing community assemblages Although some existing could potentially be used monitor ecological status pools, call further development tools specifically habitats since will become more widespread with global change.

Language: Английский

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Human impacts mediate freshwater invertebrate community responses to and recovery from drought

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 9, 2024

Abstract Drought is an increasing risk to the biodiversity within rivers—ecosystems which are already impacted by human activities. However, long‐term spatially replicated studies needed generate understanding of how anthropogenic stressors alter ecological responses drought lacking. We studied aquatic invertebrate communities in 2500 samples collected from 179 sites on rivers emerging England's chalk aquifer over three decades. tested two sets alternative hypotheses describing and recovery interaction with impacts affecting water quality, fine sediment, temperature, channel morphology, flow temporal change land use. summarized using taxa richness, index indicating tolerance degradation (average score per taxon, ASPT) deviation average composition. Responses were altered interactions impacts. Poor quality exacerbated drought‐driven reductions richness. Drought‐driven deviations community composition reduced enhanced at augmentation (e.g. effluent releases) reduction abstraction), respectively. Human post‐drought recovery. Increases richness lower abstraction higher augmented flows, particular as trajectories extended beyond 3 years. ASPT recovered faster that gained woodland compared urban land, due their greater potential, is, minimum values maximum values. Synthesis applications . show river ecosystems exposed impacts—in poor volumes use change—are particularly vulnerable drought. These results provide evidence management actions taken enhance regulate restore riparian could promote resilience groundwater‐dominated such globally rare streams other Anthropocene, they adapt a future characterized climatic extremity.

Language: Английский

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Ecological responses of freshwater macroinvertebrates to augmented drought: A literature review and projections

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 164, P. 112153 - 112153

Published: May 22, 2024

Drought significantly impacts freshwater ecosystems, disrupting all biological levels. In particular, macroinvertebrates undergo significant changes in taxonomic and functional diversity bioassessments. The effects often synergize with other stressors, such as pollution that drought can exacerbate. Several techniques have been well-developed (traditional) or the potential (innovative) to address this issue. This review provides a comprehensive description of impact primary stressor on macroinvertebrate diversity. An overview research projections are presented. Three conceptual pillars drive study: taxonomic-functional responses, simultaneous pressure dynamics, innovative techniques. Few studies conducted lentic water bodies, arid semi-arid systems, multiple continents. Common keywords across continents observed less frequently experimental than field studies. Most analyzed examine community structure, which is more common field-based Agricultural land use effect, urbanization, invasive species stressors most associated drought. Integrating traditional advanced/innovative hardly applied makes it challenging understand ecological responses comprehensively. If employed consider dynamics consistently estimate diversity, promising avenues for future could be uncovered.

Language: Английский

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Assessing stream biological integrity across gradients of flow permanence and hydrologic connectivity

Freshwater Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 000 - 000

Published: Aug. 14, 2024

Language: Английский

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eDNA metabarcoding: a non-invasive method to track temporal community dynamics in temporary rivers

Limnetica, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 45(1), P. 1 - 1

Published: Dec. 20, 2024

Temporary rivers (TRs) are dynamic ecosystems that alternate between hydrological phases (i.e. flowing, disconnected pools, and dry). They conservation refugia for aquatic species during dry seasons but often neglected in bioassessment programs. To assess the biological quality of these ecosystems, morphology methods can be invasive, disrupting communities diminishing their function as refugia. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding provides a minimally invasive method, gathering community information from eDNA water or sediment. We tested effectiveness alongside bulk to characterize macroinvertebrate pools TRs, comparing them with morphological methods. Additionally, we how patterns evolve over time using composition shifts disconnection. Biological was determined through indices widely used Spain (i.e., IBMWP, family richness, IASPT). samples were collected biweekly three TRs Catalonia, NE Spain. Macroinvertebrates sampled (connected, disconnecting, pools). Macroinvertebrate identify organisms sequence DNA. sequenced targeting mitochondrial COI gene. Although by sediment did not detect variations biotic IBMWP richness), method useful replacement EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) OCH (Odonata, Coleoptera, Heteroptera). revealed significant impacts changes on meiofauna (Ostracoda, Cladocera, Copepoda), group overlooked stream assessments. These results indicate serve valuable tool capturing transitions while preserving ecosystem integrity.

Language: Английский

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