Assessment of the naturalness and anthropogenic transformation of the habitats of small mountain streams in different climate zones

Eliza Płaczkowska,Qiang Zou,Yongqiang Guo,Łukasz Wiejaczka,Paweł Prokop,Zofia Rączkowska,Małgorzata Kijowska-Strugała,Jiang Hu,Jarosław Cebulski

doi:10.1007/s12665-021-09552-3

Abstract

The study compares the quality of the habitats of mountain streams in sections without visible human integration and those permanently transformed by human activity between mountain areas in different climate zones. Three mountain streams with small catchments (10–20 km2) characterized by different natural conditions were selected for the research. The selected streams are Bystrzanka (Beskid Niski, Polish Carpathians), Peshok (Darjeeling Himalaya in India), and Fanshen (Hengduan Shan in China). Field studies were carried out using the British River Habitat Survey (RHS) method. Habitat quality was analyzed based on the following indicators: Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) and Habitat Modification Score (HMS). The obtained results indicated that sections of mountain streams located in upper catchment areas show greater habitat naturalness in relation to stream sections in lower areas. This results from the greater variety and number of natural hydromorphological elements in streams and the close vicinity of channels. In both upper and lower stream sections, regardless of the degree of naturalness and anthropopressure, the same RHS attributes have the greatest impact on the HQA and HMS values. Similar regularities in the degree of naturalness and anthropogenic modifications of the habitat between the upper and lower reaches of streams can be also expected in other mountain areas, apart from areas not affected by human activities.

Highlights

Streams are important habitats that provide shelter and feeding opportunities for a wide range of organisms, such as fish, insects, plants, mollusks, birds and mam‐ mals (Gebrekiros 2016)
Studies of mountain stream habitats carried out with the River Habitat Survey (RHS) method allow the following conclusions to be drawn: 1. Sections of mountain streams located in the upper catch‐ ment areas show greater habitat naturalness in relation
Page 13 of 14 267 to sections located in lower parts; this is the result of the greater variety and number of natural hydromorpho‐ logical elements of channels and the close vicinity of streams

Summary

Introduction

Streams are important habitats that provide shelter and feeding opportunities for a wide range of organisms, such as fish, insects, plants, mollusks, birds and mam‐ mals (Gebrekiros 2016). The habitat quality of streams depends on the diversity and abundance of natural and anthropogenic elements as well as on their mutual propor‐ tions within channels, riparian zones and watersheds. The greater the predominance of natural elements, the better the stream habitat quality. Proper quantification of physical habitat characteristics in rivers is necessary to understand the physical processes that affect the physical composition and structure of habi‐ tats (Fernández et al 2011). Habitat assessment is critical in determining the limiting natural and human factors that affect water chemistry and aquatic biological communi‐ ties. These limiting factors exist at many different spatial scales, from drainage-basin characteristics to streambed conditions (Fitzpatrick et al 1998)

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Conclusion