Transplanting macrophytes as a rehabilitation technique for lowland streams and their influence on macroinvertebrate assemblages.

Paula Altieri,Roberto F Jensen,Alberto Rodrigues Capítulo,Laura E Paz,Jorge Donadelli

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202120191029

Paula Altieri, Roberto F Jensen + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202120191029

Copy DOI

Abstract

Lowland streams are usually affected by river engineering works that produce the loss of habitat heterogeneity. Our aim was to assess the transplantation of macrophytes with different complexity into a lowland stream which was dredged and widened. Stuckenia pectinata and Hydrocleys nymphoides were collected at an extraction site and installed at a transplant site. The growth and coverage of macrophytes beds were quantified. Taxonomic richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, abundance, composition and proportion of functional feeding groups of the macroinvertebrate assemblage presented in macrophyte beds were assessed between sites and species. The growth of both macrophytes did not differ significantly between sites and the coverage of transplanted beds increased, therefore they established at the transplant site within a short period. Regarding to macroinvertebrate assemblage, only the functional feeding groups did not show differences between sites. Moreover, the proportion of predators presented differences between macrophytes at the same site, with H. nymphoides having a higher proportion. Our study showed that this technique is suitable for reintroducing these species and is applicable in rehabilitation projects that promote the restoration of habitat heterogeneity deteriorated by river engineering works. Also, we highlight the importance of incorporate macroinvertebrate functional traits to assess the ecological status after rehabilitation.

Highlights

Streams and wetlands provide essential biological and economic services (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board 2005), over the last century they have been seriously threatened by human activity, such as water quality degradation and flow regulation (Allan 2004, Elosegi et al 2010)
The macrophyte growth at both sites were similar, LI of the two species at the two sites did not show significant differences (p = 0.295, gl = 9 for S. pectinata and p = 0.458, gl = 7 for H. nymphoides; Table I); this value was higher at the ES
A total of 29 invertebrate taxa were collected from Martín Stream.The most abundant taxa found on S. pectinata during the experiment were Ostracoda (29%, of total density), Heleobia spp. (21% of total density), and Hyalella curvispina (17% of total density)

Summary

Introduction

Streams and wetlands provide essential biological and economic services (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board 2005), over the last century they have been seriously threatened by human activity, such as water quality degradation and flow regulation (Allan 2004, Elosegi et al 2010). Streams have lost their habitat heterogeneity and have become deeper and wider (Brooker 1985, Elosegi et al 2010). These practices have had negative effects on birds, fish, phytoplankton, and periphytic and epipelic algae assemblages and have caused reductions in the density of invertebrates and the loss of aquatic plants (Lewis et al 2001, Licursi & Gómez 2009, Cabrita 2014, Grygoruk et al 2015, Kjelland et al 2015).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion