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 1: Geoclimatic controls and anthropogenic alteration

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 141, P. 109046 - 109046

Published: June 18, 2022

Anthropogenic alteration of physical habitat structure in streams and rivers is increasingly recognized as a major cause impairment worldwide. As part their assessment the status trends condition U.S., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) quantify monitor channel size slope, substrate stability, instream complexity cover, riparian vegetation cover structure, anthropogenic disturbance activities, channel-riparian interaction. Like biological assemblages water chemistry, strongly controlled by natural geoclimatic factors that can obscure or amplify influence human activities. We developed systematic approach to estimate deviation observed river stream from expected least-disturbed reference conditions. applied this calculate indices three aspects conterminous (CONUS): streambed sediment complexity. The precision responsiveness these led USEPA use them evaluate CONUS streams. scores systematically decreased with greater at sites within ecoregions, which we interpret response influences. Although activities negatively influenced all most geomorphic were dominant For over full range disturbance, analyses observed/expected characteristics showed augmented flood flows basin agriculture be leading predictors instability excess fine sediments. Similarly, non-agricultural land uses reduced ecoregions. In turn, reductions complexity, combined summer low flows, simplification. conclude quantitative measures are useful important indicators impacts on condition.

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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How to Statistically Disentangle the Effects of Environmental Factors and Human Disturbances: A Review

Water, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. 734 - 734

Published: Feb. 13, 2023

Contemporary biological assemblage composition and biodiversity are often shaped by a range of natural environmental factors, human disturbances, their interactions. It is critical to disentangle the effects individual variables stressors in data analysis support management decision-making. Many statistical approaches have been proposed used estimate predictors, which correlated interacted with one another. In this article, we review nine those terms strengths, limitations, related r packages. Among hierarchical partitioning, propensity score, sum AIC weights, structural equation modeling, tree-based machine learning algorithms. As no approach perfect, offer two suggestions: (1) reducing number predictors as low possible carefully screening all candidate based on considerations; (2) selecting or more characteristics given dataset specific research goals study, using them parallel sequence. Our could help ecologists navigate through challenging process.

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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Reservoir ecological health assessment Methods: A systematic review

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 171, P. 113130 - 113130

Published: Jan. 23, 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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Assessment of freshwater ecosystem health condition based on fish habitats using a holistic modelling approach

Discover Water, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Abstract Global biodiversity is largely dependent on aquatic habitats. The state of fish habitats and the health ecosystem as a whole are important indicators environmental quality. In recent years, implications human interference climate change environments have gained significant attention. Hydrological modifications driven by anthropogenic activities steadily degrading flow conditions threatening abundance in geographic region, while simultaneously having an impact watershed. Therefore, integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic-habitat modelling under diverse regimes can be used to assess eco-sustainability habitat suitability species. This article categorizes variables into three groups: eco-hydrological, hydrodynamic-water quality, eco-biological. categorization facilitates understanding mechanisms which each factor affects their study, first its kind, provides extensive review eco-hydrological models, quality along with relevant influencing components. It proposes scientific framework for evaluating potential hazards degradation, emphasis data-scarce regions. strategy could potentially establish basis preservation restoration ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Key Landscape Factors Influencing Stream Physical Habitats Across the Brazilian Neotropical Savanna

Ecohydrology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(3)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Improved management of small headwater streams in the Cerrado (Neotropical Savanna) biome Brazil is necessary given significant landscape transformations caused by anthropogenic activities recent decades. Thus, we aimed to determine relative influence leading natural features and pressures on physical habitat structure 174 stream sites distributed five hydrological units across Cerrado. We used multivariate statistical analysis at four different spatial extents establish likely causal relationships between explanatory variables 14 response variables. At extent, explained only 13% variation habitats, but no variation. On other hand, within units, 17–31% variation, 0–27%. Regarding catchment were most important extent hydrologic riparian local also units. Overall, terrain drainage drove differences Although vegetation cover catchment, zone, site usually secondary importance, they occurred all unit models. For conserving rehabilitating streams, it essential consider connectivity processes from levels large as largely independent systems.

Language: Английский

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Habitat Diversity Mitigates the Impacts of Human Pressure on Stream Biodiversity

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Recent decades have witnessed substantial changes in freshwater biodiversity worldwide. Although research has shown that can be shaped by habitat diversity and human‐induced pressure, the potentials for interaction between these drivers at large spatial extents remain unclear. To address issues, we employed a spatially extensive multitrophic fish insect database from 3323 stream sites across United States, to investigate ability of modulate effect human pressure on richness abundance insects. We found evidence high levels were associated with increased insects (including whole‐assemblage individual trophic guilds). also show effects tend become positive diversity. Where is low, strongly reduces abundance, whereas reductions are attenuated Structural equation modeling revealed reduced diversity, indirectly negatively affecting These findings illustrate that, addition promoting greater biodiversity, may mitigate deleterious pressures two assemblages. Overall, our study suggests maintaining useful way protect ongoing increases pressure. However, if continue increase, this will reduce further threatening

Language: Английский

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