No post-drought recovery of the macroinvertebrate community after five months upon rewetting of an irregularly intermittent Apennine River (Aterno River)

Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 23(1), P. 141 - 151

Published: Nov. 24, 2022

Language: Английский

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Are protected areas effective in preserving Alpine stream morphology and biodiversity? A field study in the oldest Italian National Park

River Research and Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(5), P. 942 - 953

Published: March 16, 2023

Abstract Global changes and local pressures related to the exploitation of water resources are significantly reducing streams' biodiversity threatening their ecological balance. This trend concerns both lowland rivers flowing in densely populated areas mountain headwaters, where effects global change dramatically evident often accompanied by alterations river hydro‐morphology. From mountains lowlands, regulation morphological such as bank reinforcement, abstractions, dams, weirs among most significant threats for ecosystems. Protected especially large national parks constitute an effective strategy face loss biodiversity, but little is known about effectiveness regarding lotic environments. To examine recent aquatic communities Alpine protected areas, we carried out biological sampling benthic hydro‐morphological status assessment 12 high‐altitude streams within oldest Italian National Park, that is, Gran Paradiso located heart Western Alps, compared results with a previous survey performed 2005, keeping same experimental design. Our detected minimal hydro‐morphology studied watercourses. Biomonitoring indices associated likewise did not provide evidence differences. Conversely, diatom were more uniform 2020 slight species turnover occurred over 15‐year interval. Despite this, our findings underline conservation running environments because they limit alterations, thus increasing resilience climate change.

Language: Английский

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Climate and landscape changes enhance the global spread of a bloom-forming dinoflagellate related to fish kills and water quality deterioration

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 133, P. 108408 - 108408

Published: Nov. 29, 2021

Global inland water biodiversity is under mounting stress facing future scenarios of climate change, biological invasions, pollution, diversion, damming rivers, and increase abstractions. Apart from having isolated effects, all these stressors threats act synergistically thus pose additional emerging to ecosystem services. Native Northern Europe, the nuisance potential toxic dinoflagellate Ceratium furcoides (Levander) Langhans 1925 a silent invader that blooms in freshwater systems; it has one most rapid spread rates globally. We propose framework determine worldwide vulnerable areas for invasion by C. shortly (2041–2060) combining change (a proxy invasiveness) derived ecological niche models with dam construction data invasibility). The nine applied four greenhouse gas emission Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 showed general suitable success furcoides. High susceptibility overlapped densely occupied large medium-size dams projects. Considering can reproduce single cell, produces resistant stages, several strategies cope local environmental constraints, early detection protocols, mitigation actions are urgently needed avoid declines related this invader.

Language: Английский

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Taxonomic and functional responses of macroinvertebrate communities to dam construction in a non-wadeable river

Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 424, P. 18 - 18

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Damming and impoundment are among the main flow-related alterations in rivers worldwide. However, compared to highland river sections where impacts associated with dams have been largely studied, still scarce evidence is available scientific literature for large, lowland rivers. In this study, ecological effects of a hydropower dam Po River (Italy) on taxonomic functional responses benthic macroinvertebrates were examined by comparing one station upstream downstream over six-year period. Weak not significant differences observed taxon richness, abundance community composition. By contrast, community-level proportion water velocity increased during medium high flow condition decreased low stations. Such also mirrored Flow-T index, that biomonitoring index recently developed assess hydraulic conditions Results study support adoption stressor-specific metrics biomonitoring.

Language: Английский

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DNA barcoding reference libraries of Italian Plecoptera: a gap analysis

The European Zoological Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 91(1), P. 162 - 171

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Plecoptera is a small order of aquatic insects that considered one the most endangered groups due to increasingly altered freshwater ecosystems. nymphs can be challenging identify at species level because diagnostic characters for are lacking, while adults difficult collect routinely given their short life span. Species identification by DNA barcoding used as an alternative morphological identification, but gaps and inaccuracies in reference databases needed taxonomic assignment undermine utility real case studies. Here we aim to: i) quantify number Italian with barcodes from specimens collected worldwide Italy; ii) perform regional assessment coverage; iii) calculate intraspecific distance among available sequences evaluate potential presence errors cryptic species. As databases, both non-curated database (BOLD) curated (MIDORI2) test effect sequence selection on availability sequences. We found 67.6% 51.8% were represented BOLD MIDORI2. Most obtained outside Italy, only 21.8% 13.5% having Italy. Endemisms poorly represented, distances some high, which suggest diversity or erroneous assignments. Our results support growing need increase international cooperation barcode initiatives promote integration between molecular biologists zoologists exploit full protect biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Quantification of large-spatial scale and in-stream factors affecting the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in mountain streams

Limnologica, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 106, P. 126172 - 126172

Published: May 1, 2024

Habitat diversity plays a crucial role in shaping the structure and distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. However, few studies have investigated concurrent effects such drivers operating at different spatial scales mountain streams. Here, we assessed which environmental factors scales, related to stream/river type substrate, influence assemblages streams rivers. Within framework aquatic investigations Biodiversity Monitoring South Tyrol (BMS) – newly-established, regional-based, long-term biodiversity monitoring program macroinvertebrates set describing water quality, hydromorphology in-stream habitat characteristics were collected analysed. The variation total density, taxonomic richness, Shannon evenness % Ephemeroptera–Plecoptera–Trichoptera taxa stream was multi-scale levels, 48 sampling sites across mountainous region Autonomous Province Bolzano/Bozen (Italy). type, substrates on community composition quantified, using stepfoward Redundancy Analysis (RDA) generalized additive models (GAMs). In addition, performed an Indicator Value analysis detect that significantly associated with specific substrate and/or type. Overall, observed significant differences biological metrics among both types. We also found least one indicator for each acting reach large-spatial scale temperature, channel stability, elevation being key patterns analysed While structures substrates, conditions particularly evident. Apart from ranking variables worth including areas, our study provides baseline practical applications. For instance, depending desired outcome heterogeneity restoration, it can suggest optimal (landscape vs. patch) prioritizing in-field interventions.

Language: Английский

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The impact of trait number and correlation on functional diversity metrics in real-world ecosystems

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(9), P. e0306342 - e0306342

Published: Sept. 23, 2024

The use of trait-based approaches to understand ecological communities has increased in the past two decades because their promise preserve more information about community structure than taxonomic methods and potential connect responses subsequent effects ecosystem functioning. Though are a powerful tool for describing communities, many important properties commonly-used trait metrics remain unexamined. Previous work with simulated distributions shows sensitivity functional diversity measures number correlation traits used calculate them, but these relationships have yet be studied actual plant realistic distribution values, ecologically meaningful covariation traits, available analysis. To address this gap, we data from six grassland Minnesota New Mexico, USA test how between calculation eight indices impact magnitude real communities. We found that most were sensitive dispersion (FDis), kernel density estimation (KDE dispersion), Rao's quadratic entropy (Rao's Q) maintained consistent rankings across range numbers. Despite correlation, there was no pattern as affected by them. recommend future evenness include analyses ensure results robust In addition, FDis, KDE dispersion, Q when applicable due ability produce among numbers

Language: Английский

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Effects of antecedent drying events on structure, composition and functional traits of invertebrate assemblages and leaf‐litter breakdown in a former perennial river of Central Apennines (Aterno River, Abruzzo, Central Italy)

Ecohydrology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 15(5)

Published: Sept. 20, 2021

Abstract Because of global change and increasing anthropogenic pressures, non‐perennial rivers streams are predicted to drastically increase in the European‐Mediterranean region. Some river basins already subject reduced levels available superficial flow may present a further reduction, with significant intermittence phenomena complete drought former perennial rivers. In this context, sound knowledge ecological effects drying events on these watercourses help better predict impacts altered regime structure functions freshwater ecosystems. paper, we assessed long‐term response invertebrate assemblages ecosystems processes antecedent (drying memory) Central Apennine (Italy). We demonstrated that compared reach, 7‐km downstream intermittent site, after more than 1 year from resumption, still conserved ‘memory’ past disturbance marked differences structure, composition functional traits which, turn, negatively influenced leaf‐litter breakdown process. Despite total abundance taxa richness were average higher at droughts determined decline shredders scrapers an collectors. addition, some sensible, semivoltine rheophile replaced by generalist, multivoltine resistant taxa. Our findings confirm extend ‘drying memory’ hypothesis suggest irregular have dramatic both lotic

Language: Английский

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Efficiency of invertebrate-based bioassessment for evaluating the ecological status of streams along a gradient of flow intermittence

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 133, P. 108440 - 108440

Published: Dec. 1, 2021

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) represent the majority of global river network, support high biodiversity provide multiple ecosystem services. However, they are being degraded at alarming rates, it may be questioned whether current invertebrate-based biomonitoring protocols, which were designed for that flow all year round, also appropriate assessing ecological status IRES. Here, we test first time efficiency French indicators to assess intermittent downstream six sewage treatment plants along a gradient intermittence (i.e., percentage without given site). We found effects drying confounded with in most cases, metrics did not distinguish between effect those drying. Except taxonomic richness invertebrates resistant drying, decreased linearly increasing intermittence. In addition, detecting was lower reaches compared perennial reaches. Last, identified biological traits responding intermittence, but effluents, further discuss implication traits-based monitoring. If protocols calibrated could still applied prone weak alternatives urgently needed integrating into national programs.

Language: Английский

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Flow Intermittency Affects Leaf Decomposition and Benthic Consumer Communities of Alpine Streams: A Case Study along the Po River

Water, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 258 - 258

Published: Jan. 16, 2022

Streams and rivers are becoming increasingly intermittent in Alpine regions due to the global climate change related increases of local water abstractions, making it fundamental investigate occurrence supraseasonal drying events their correlated effects. We aimed leaf litter decomposition, C:N ratio litter, changes associated macroinvertebrate communities three reaches Po River: One upstream, consistently perennial, a perennial mid-reach with high hydrological variability, an downstream reach. placed bags two types—chestnut oak; both showed comparable decomposition rates, but remaining mass was different attributed palatability. Furthermore, (1) reaches, decomposed faster than ones; (2) decreasing trend types, indicating that affected nitrogen consumption, therefore conditioning phase; (3) were richer more stable where higher richness abundance EPT taxa shredders observed. Our results suggest variations hydrology mountain streams caused by could significantly impact on functional processes biodiversity benthic communities.

Language: Английский

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