Abstract
The abundant riparian wetlands supported by the complex river network in Pearl River Delta (PRD) are under an intensely anthropogenic disturbance that threatens the local ecological environment. This paper examined the benthic invertebrate diversity and biomass within the Pearl River through a field study. A fieldwork was conducted to assess a hydrological connectivity gradient among the main channel of the Pearl River. The responses of macroinvertebrate metrics to the connectivity gradient and the restoration history in the river channel were examined. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 0.75 to 2.08, which was the highest among most connectivity river channels. Statistical analyses (PCA and CCA) revealed that the benthic abundance in high hydrological connectivity riverine habitats is clearly distinct from the low connectivity habitats. Results demonstrated that the diversity and density of macrobenthos are determined by hydrological connectivity and time span of the restoration (river channels). Therefore, conservation and restoration efforts should focus on the macroinvertebrate response to the hydrological connectivity of the river channels in PRD.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
