Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 29(2), P. 355 - 374

Published: Sept. 22, 2022

Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences are poorly quantified at global scale. We evaluated biological condition of rivers globally, including largest proportion countries Global South published to date. gathered macroinvertebrate- and fish-based assessments 72,275 37,676 sites, respectively, 64 study regions across six continents 45 nations. Because were based differing methods, different systems consolidated into a 3-class system: Good, Impaired, or Severely following common guidelines. The sites in each class by area was calculated region assigned Köppen-Geiger climate type, Human Footprint score (addressing landscape alterations), Development Index (HDI) social welfare), % with good ambient water quality, protected freshwater key biodiversity areas; forest net change rate. found that 50% macroinvertebrate 42% fish Good condition, whereas 21% 29% respectively. poorest conditions occurred Arid Equatorial climates best Snow climates. Impaired associated (Pearson correlation coefficient) higher HDI scores, poorer physico-chemical lower proportions areas. quality increased forested It is essential implement statutory bioassessment programs Asian, African, American countries, continue them Oceania, Europe, North America. There need invest fish, as there less information globally strong indicators degradation. Our highlights increase extent number river catchments, preserve restore natural areas treat wastewater discharges, improve connectivity.

Language: Английский

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Integrated water availability in the conterminous United States, 2010–20

USGS professional paper, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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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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Physical habitat in conterminous US streams and Rivers, part 2: A quantitative assessment of habitat condition

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 141, P. 109047 - 109047

Published: June 30, 2022

Rigorous assessments of the ecological condition water resources and effect human activities on those waters require quantitative physical, chemical, biological data. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's river stream surveys quantify bed particle size stability, instream habitat complexity cover, riparian vegetation cover structure, anthropogenic disturbance activities. Physical is strongly controlled by natural geoclimatic factors that co-vary with We expressed alteration physical as O/E ratios observed metric values divided expected under least-disturbed reference conditions, where site-specific vary given their geomorphic context. set criteria for good, fair, poor based distribution in regional sites. Poor conditions existed 22–24% 1.2 million km streams rivers conterminous disturbance, streambed sediment versus 14% complexity. Based same four indicators, percentage length within 9 separate ecoregions ranged from 4% to 42%. Associations our indices pressures demonstrate scope alteration; was negatively related level nationally nearly all ecoregions. Relative risk estimates showed sediment, complexity, or were 1.4 2.6 times likely also have fish macroinvertebrate assemblages condition. Our indicators help explain deviations among sites inform management actions rehabilitating impaired mitigating further degradation.

Language: Английский

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Responses of multimetric indices to disturbance are affected by index construction features

Environmental Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 278 - 293

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Multimetric indices (MMIs) are used worldwide to assess the ecological conditions of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Different criteria approaches construct MMIs, resulting in widely different indices. Therefore, scientists, managers, policymakers sometimes question whether such MMIs useful for biomonitoring bioassessment programs. Crucial design issues programs include MMI responsiveness, bioindicator group used, survey design, field sampling methods, level taxonomic resolution, metric selection scoring, reference condition identification. We performed a meta-analysis on development applications analyze response disturbance factors determine degree which construction features influence their responsiveness anthropogenic disturbances. Web Science database find articles that applied an related values environmental stressor, we extracted data from 157 articles. random-effects modeling estimate overall effect responses subgroup analysis extent sizes varied as function features. found had major disturbance. The type, number metrics, ecosystem type were contributed more weakly size variance. general was little affected by group, criteria, or scoring method. These findings have important implications designing programs, including developing improving cost-effective biological indices, because they could enhance application protocols.

Language: Английский

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Distribution and Characteristics of Blackwater Rivers and Streams of the Contiguous United States

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Blackwater rivers and streams have stained or tea-colored water from tannins released by decaying plant matter. Natural conditions in these waters often differ non-blackwater systems. For example, the pH oxygen levels can be very low, but completely natural. We examined an existing USEPA data set found that blackwaters existed across contiguous United States were most common east. Water chemistry showed differences between blackwater sites, not consistent ecoregions making national scale generalizations difficult. Physical habitat analysis did show dramatic sites. typically arises drain tannin-rich bogs/muskeg wetlands, so as expected sites had a shorter Euclidean distance to wetlands than watersheds with higher percentage of wetland habitat. Blackwaters Northern Temperate Plains tended acid neutralizing capacity, conductivity, lower True Color; visual color used for purity. posit because Color Dissolved Organic Carbon at buried deposits rather contemporary habitats. Research needs may increase our understanding management include development operational definition includes classification framework reference different types, identification stressors their associated dynamics negatively impact systems, data-driven, consistent, repeatable assessment methods, including targets, protective unique streams.

Language: Английский

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Patterns in and predictors of stream and river macroinvertebrate genera and fish species richness across the conterminous USA

Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 424, P. 19 - 19

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Both native and non-native taxa richness patterns are useful for evaluating areas of greatest conservation concern. To determine those patterns, we analyzed fish macroinvertebrate data obtained at 3475 sites collected by the USEPA's National Rivers Streams Assessment. We also determined which natural anthropogenic variables best explained in regional richness. Macroinvertebrate increased with number sampled per region. Therefore, residual from deviation observed predicted given Regional markedly exceeded average site both macroinvertebrates fish. Predictors macroinvertebrate-genus fish-species residual-regional differed. Air temperature was an important predictor cases but positive negative macroinvertebrates. land use were significant predictors This study is first to mean aquatic across conterminous USA, key drivers Thus, it offers insights into USA biodiversity hotspots.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity spatial distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages is influenced by anthropogenic disturbances at multiple spatial extents

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 960, P. 178365 - 178365

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Spatial and temporal taxonomic and functional beta diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages along a tropical dammed river

Aquatic Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 87(2)

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

Language: Английский

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Waterbody connectivity: Linking science and policy for improved waterbody protection

BioScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 75(1), P. 68 - 91

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Connectivity—the flows and exchanges of organisms, materials, energy within among watersheds—is a central paradigm in ecosystem science. Changes those connections have consequences for functioning water quality downstream upstream. Therefore, connectivity is cornerstone federal protection under the United States Clean Water Act (CWA). In present article, we review science connectivity, explain history changes CWA jurisdiction defining waters States, discuss implications US policy, highlight key steps to align that policy with The Sackett v. EPA (2023) Supreme Court decision significantly reduced wetlands headwaters, disregarding their larger, protected waterbodies. To fulfill goals restore maintain chemical, physical, biological integrity U.S. waters, Congress must amend act, fully recognizing multidimensional aquatic ecosystems ultimately incorporating these into ecosystem-level policy.

Language: Английский

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