Abstract
Abstract Aim: Our aim in this study was evaluate the effects of flow regulation for irrigation on the macroinvertebrate assemblages in a semiarid river. Methods We sampled two reaches in Dulce River; one placed upstream a weir that diverts flow into a network of irrigation channels and the other downstream that weir, in the assessment of the fluvial discontinuity. We assess the differences among reaches and sites, environmental variables, invertebrate density, richness and Shannon-Wiener index applying non-parametric analyses of variance Kruskal Wallis. The similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) was used to identify which species contributed to the dissimilarities on macroinvertebrate assemblage structure. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was performed with the total set of samples to explore macroinvertebrate distribution in reaches and associations of the assemblages with habitat variables. Results The density, richness and Shannon index values did not show differences between the reaches located upstream and downstream. Beta diversity (Whittaker) was 0.72 among upstream sites, 0.56 among downstream sites and higher species turnover (0.73) was obtained between both reaches. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis explained 46.71% of the variance differentiating upstream sites explained by higher values of organic matter of bottom sediments and discharge, high density of Nais communis, Bothrioneurum americanum, Pelomus, Stephensoniana trivandrana, Pristina menoni, P. jenkinae, P.longidentata, P. americana, Dero obtusa, Endotribelos, Heleobia and Turbellaria. The downstream sites were associated to coarser substratum and higher density of Lopescladius, Polypedilum, Cricotopus, Thienamaniella, Cryptochironomus, Baetidae, Nematoda and Corbicula fluminea. Conclusions The low-flow disturbance had effects on the composition of the benthic invertebrate assemblages, but attributes (such as density and richness) showed a lower variability probably because of taxa replacement.
Highlights
IntroductionStreams and rivers are intensely modified due to different hydrological alteration (dam construction and water diversion) that may have large impacts on invertebrate community composition (Rosenberg et al, 2000)
Streams and rivers are intensely modified due to different hydrological alteration that may have large impacts on invertebrate community composition (Rosenberg et al, 2000)
The Canonical Correspondence Analysis explained 46.71% of the variance differentiating upstream sites explained by higher values of organic matter of bottom sediments and discharge, high density of Nais communis, Bothrioneurum americanum, Pelomus, Stephensoniana trivandrana, Pristina menoni, P. jenkinae, P.longidentata, P. americana, Dero obtusa, Endotribelos, Heleobia and Turbellaria
Summary
Streams and rivers are intensely modified due to different hydrological alteration (dam construction and water diversion) that may have large impacts on invertebrate community composition (Rosenberg et al, 2000). The river regulation alters natural flow regime (frequency, magnitude and duration) with effects on the physical-chemical characteristics, the morphology of the river, and the heterogeneity of habitats. The reduction and stabilization of the flow to a minimum in streams where the water is diverting for agricultural and industrial uses, constitutes a disturbance factor for the ecosystem process. These changes have effects on the aquatic biota, restructuring the biological assemblages according to the resilient capacity of the organisms (Dewson et al, 2007b; Resh et al, 2013)
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