Bank Tributary Research Articles

Fluvial fragmentation and functional quality of the Guadalquivir River’s right bank tributaries (Southern Spain)

ABSTRACT The fragmentation of fish populations caused by dams has been extensively studied within the scientific community. However, there is limited data regarding the impact of riverine fragmentation on the loss of the functional quality of ecosystems, a key aspect for the optimal development of environmental, ecological, and landscape functions within river systems. In this context, an assessment of fragmentation was conducted across the Sierra Morena river network in the Guadalquivir basin using the Dendritic Connectivity Index (DCI). This analysis revealed that 88.4% of the network was disconnected from its regional base level, with 64.6% exhibiting a high degree of fragmentation. Furthermore, hydrogeomorphological alterations were investigated in three rivers from the basin – Bembézar, Guadalbarcar, and Rivera de Huéznar – characterized by different levels of fragmentation. Hydrological data from the period 2010–2021 were analyzed, and geomorphological diagrams were created to compare the functional floodplains of the three rivers in both pre-dam (1956) and post-dam (2010) conditions. Preliminary results indicate a strong correlation between the fragmentation level and various parameters: the degree of hydrological regulation (r = 0.98), reduction in flow circulation (r = 0.86), sediment retention (r = 0.92), and the loss of floodplain functionality (r = 0.86). Moreover, a very strong correlation (r = 0.999) was found between fragmentation and the decline in functional quality across the studied rivers.

Modelowanie hydrologiczne jako wsparcie dla projektowania i utrzymania infrastruktury

One of the many concerns related to climate change is its impact on infrastructure, for example in the case of structures such as bridges or culverts which are more frequently exposed to conditions like significant differences in water table levels or floods. Varying weather conditions can also cause deterioration of properties of the materials which they are made of, which coupled with higher loads (water, wind or temperature variation, depending on the structure) decreases their durability and hinders their operation. Existing infrastructure facilities were designed with the use of historical data, and those design assumptions can be out of date at the moment, moreover their validity decreases with further climate changes. In order to support the design of new infrastructure facilities and the maintenance of already existing ones, climate change should be taken into account. One of the means that can be used to assess the impact of climate change on bridges and other river infrastructure is hydrological modelling. In this paper, the authors present a hydrological model of the flow in the Ślęza River, a 78.6 km long, left- bank tributary of the Odra River, as well as in its tributaries, with a particular focus on the points where bridges are located. The model was performed with QSWAT software, taking into account two scenarios of climate change: SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 (obtained with the use of NorESM2-LM model) and calibrated with the use of historical meteorological data. The results of the model include daily flows for years 2023-2050, which allows to compare characteristic (statistical) flows and observe trends; also a change in the dynamics of the river caused by thaws can also be observed. A greater number of extreme events can be seen in the results for the SSP2-4.5 scenario, the values of flood flows are also higher for this scenario, whereas the average flows are higher for the SSP5-8.5 scenario, which is due to higher rainfall in this scenario – although the threat of short-term extreme events is lower, but nevertheless, due to increased flows, scouring development can occur in this scenario, which when left uncontrolled can pose great risks to bridges. The obtained results would be helpful for engineers who plan the maintenance of infrastructure facilities, as this analysis would provide additional data in order to choose optimal solutions for the costs of exploitation and for the environment.

Environmental assessment of Vaishav stream: a left bank tributary of river Jhelum in Kashmir Himalaya, India

The present study was carried out to assess the environmental impact including water quality parameters of Vaishav stream, one of the left bank tributary of river Jhelum. A detail study of the selected sites was undertaken for the sampling, keeping in mind the topography of the stream i.e. elevations, fast flowing areas, slow zones as well as human interferences. Three sites were selected for study purpose and samples were collected on monthly basis. A total number of 15 parameters were analyzed. Some of the parameters like temperature, pH, TDS, conductivity and 14dissolved oxygen were assessed on spot at sampling sites, while rest of parameters were determined in the laboratory by standard titration methods (APHC 2012). Low DO and higher concentration of pH, CO2, total alkalinity, hardness and nitrate, sulphate, was found at downstream site-III compared to upstream site-I, showing low concentration of these parameters except DO. WQI value varied from 41.50 to177.70 minimum at site-I and maximum at site-III. To quantify the association and co-relationship among various physico-chemical variables, correlation test (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) was carried out. Pearson’s test showed that significant positive correlation exists between pH with total hardness (r= 0.833, p<0.05). The electrical conductivity showed significant positive correlation with TDS (r=1.00, p<0.05), total hardness (r=.897, p<0.05) and sulphate (r=.917, p<0.05). The nitrate shows significant positive correlation with sulphate (r=0.947, p<0.05). The DO shows negative correlation with water temperature (r=-0.396, p<0.05), total alkalinity (r =-0.843, p<0.05) and sulphate (r=-0.902, p<0.05) respectively. Results of ANOVA showed significant level of spatial and temporal variations on the concentrations of water quality parameters (P<0.05, Turkey’s Post Hoc Test) across months at all sampling sites. Therefore, further research is needed to explore the ecological effects of these variations and develop strategies for sustainable water resource management to support ecologists, limnologists, policymakers and other stakeholders in developing long-term management programs and conservation strategies for water resources.

ГОДОВОЙ СТОК РЕК БАССЕЙНА ОБЫ И СЕВЕРНОГО СКЛОНА ХРЕБТА КАЛБА В УСЛОВИЯХ КЛИМАТИЧЕСКИХ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ

The patterns of formation of the average annual runoff in the basin of the Oba River and the rivers of the Kalbinsky Range were studied, meteorological characteristics were analyzed - average annual air temperatures and annual precipitation according to weather stations in Eastern Kazakhstan. Trends in changes in hydrometeorological indicators, and primarily the norms of these characteristics in conditions of climate warming, have been identified. The average annual water consumption of various water supplies in the modern period has been calculated. The analysis showed that over the long-term period since 1980, the annual flow of the rivers in question has decreased in the river basin. Both are 10.6% and 2.7% of the left bank tributaries of the Ertis. It should be noted that the emerging trend of increasing annual precipitation and average annual water flows of the rivers on the left bank of the Ertis since the beginning of 2010 may subsequently become stable, and in the future should lead to an increase in precipitation in the territory and the flow of the right-bank tributaries of the Ertis.

Modelling of Riverine Flooding Using HEC-RAS-A Case Study of Badri Khawar River in KPK, Pakistan

Floods are one of the most occurring disasters in the world. Pakistan gets affected by flooding due to its diverse geography and has to lose several lives of people every year. The main objective of this study was to carry out modeling of riverine flooding using HEC-RAS program to estimate the safe channel capacity of the project reach and identify the vulnerable areas along the project reach for different flooding scenarios. A 9.21 Km long reach of Badri Khawar river, a right bank tributary of Indus River in KPK province has been taken as a case study. Based on the available data, one dimensional steady flow analysis in HEC-RAS has been carried out for different flooding scenarios. By analyzing the simulated results, the safe channel capacity of the study reach was found to be in the range of 125m3/s to 100m3/s from upstream to downstream. Based on the extent of flooding in different scenarios, vulnerable areas have been delineated on a flood map devised by the help of Google Earth. There is more inundation at the left overbank as compared to the right overbank. For the worst-case scenario, the maximum estimated flood extension on left bank side was about 425m while on the right bank side it was 204m. Based on the results of this research, it is suggested to enhance the existing flood protection measures along the project reach and improve the flood warning system and emergency evacuation mechanism in the vulnerable areas for long-term flood safety.

Geospatial analysis of deforestation, land use and impacts of water resources in paragominas, Pará

Geospatial data has proven effective in identifying and monitoring deforestation, land use, and water resources in regions with a predominant focus on agriculture and livestock. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of georeferencing in identifying instances of deforestation and land use, and their respective impacts on water resources in Paragominas, Pará, during the years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2021. The methodology utilized an inductive approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods along with field observations. Georeferencing data showed that deforestation has taken place since the establishment of the municipality, resulting in an 83.64% decrease in forest cover. In 2000, the urban area occupied 1,333 hectares and in 2021 it increased to 2,026 hectares. The surface water area decreased by 207.91 hectares between 2000 and 2021. From 2010 to 2021, pastures decreased from 187,561 hectares to 125,229 hectares. Agriculture also evolved from occupying 1,342 hectares in 2000 to 103,162 hectares in 2021. Of the 11 settlement projects, five are completely located within the Uraim river basin, and two others are partially located there. The literature analyzed reveals that water originates from the Uraim River, which runs through rural properties and farming communities such as Colonia do Uraim, resulting in sediment deposition, soil compaction, reduced infiltration capacity, and basin recharge. Furthermore, the right bank tributary, the Paragominas stream, has 1.5 km of developed banks. Spatial analysis utilizing geospatial data is vital for identifying deforested areas and conducting complementary studies on land use, occupation, and water quality. These studies are instrumental in devising natural resource management plans for Paragominas.

Status and distribution of Mallotus nudiflorus (L.) Kulju & Welzen a secondary indicator species in riparian forest ecosystem of a north bank tributary of river Brahmaputra in Northeast India

Status and distribution of Mallotus nudiflorus (L.) Kulju & Welzen a secondary indicator species in riparian forest ecosystem of a north bank tributary of river Brahmaputra in Northeast India

Two New Shellear Species (Gonorhynchiformes: Kneriidae), from the Luansa River (Upper Congo Basin): Hidden Diversity Revealed by Integrative Taxonomy

Two new Kneria species, K. luansaensis sp. nov. and K. maxi sp. nov., are described from the Luansa River, a left bank tributary of the lower Luapula in the Bangweulu–Mweru ecoregion, based on an integrative approach using morphological and COI barcoding evidence. While K. luansaensis sp. nov. occurs from the source of the Luansa further downstream to above the last of the three Sanshifolo Falls, K. maxi sp. nov. only occurs downstream of all these three major falls. In Kneria, males of about ≥ 33 mm LS have an opercular and a postopercular organ. The number of lamellae on the latter seems to contain some alpha-taxonomic information, although this requires further study as allometric changes occur at about ≤ 45 mm LS. Additional external morphological characters differ between sexes, i.e., the (i) pectoral fin width (wider in males than females), (ii) dorsal fin height (longer in males than females), and (iii) length of the longest ray of the lower caudal fin lobe (longer in males than females). Agriculture, fishing with ichthyotoxines, and logging are the most pressing threats on the Luansa and thus to both the new species. Their discovery in one of the rivers of the Kundelungu Plateau and its surroundings located outside the present-day boundaries of the Kundelungu National Park highlights the need for a refined and improved protection strategy for this freshwater key biodiversity area.

QUANTITATIVE INDICES OF ZOOBENTHOS OF THE TIGROVAYA RIVER (PARTIZANSKY DISTRICT, PRIMORYE TERRITORY)

Based on the results of the annual series of collections, the process of changes in the quantitative characteristics of benthos in the section of the right–bank tributary of the Partizanskaya River –Tigrovaya River (Partizansky municipal district of Primorsky Krai) is considered. The main trends of community formation are revealed. The results obtained were compared with the literature data on the left-bank tributary of the Partizanskaya River – the “model” Frolovka River.

Spatio-temporal distribution of aquatic insects and functional feeding groups in different stretches of River Jatinga, south Assam, India

The present study investigated aquatic insect community of River Jatinga, one of the major north bank tributaries of Barak River, North east India. The objectives of this study were to find out spatial and seasonal distribution of aquatic insects and their functional feeding groups (FFG). Aquatic insects were collected seasonally in five different stretches of the river. Parameters like taxa richness, insect density, diversity indices, FFG%, riverbed sediment texture and particles sizes were determined. Total 37 and 38 numbers of aquatic insect families belonging to eight orders were recorded in the first and second year, respectively. In both years, the upstream sites with rocky substratum showed higher taxa richness (15) in pre monsoon and density (47.33 ± 8.5) in winter season than that of downstream sites with sandy substratum. The size of particles gradually decreased from upstream sites to downstream sites. Boulders, cobbles, pebbles and granules mostly dominated the upstream sites (US1 and US2) while boulders and cobbles were totally absent in both downstream sites. Trichoptera, Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera and Diptera were the major orders and the major families were Psephenidae, Elmidae, Baetidae, Hydropsychidae, Leptophlebiidae, Gerridae and Simuliidae. The number of FFG types was higher in upstream sites than that of midstream and downstream sites in both years indicating preference for heterogenous habitat. The predators being mostly tolerant occurred across sites and seasons while sensitive groups like scrapers, shredders were found only in the upstream sites. Predators showed highest percentage (97.56) followed by piercers-herbivores, predators/scrapers (83.33). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed distinctive association between the insect community and particle sizes.

On the occurrence of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Neeru stream of Chenab catchment, Jammu & Kashmir, India

This communication reports the first photographic record of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra in a hill stream in Jammu & Kashmir, putting an end to doubts over its presence in the upper Chenab catchment. Three individuals were photographed during a limited camera trap survey conducted in Neeru stream, a left bank tributary of river Chenab during mid-October 2020. We argue that rapid human population influx, infrastructure expansion, and pollution have altered the hydro morphology of Neeru stream, affecting the otter population. This observation calls for more intensive otter surveys in the nearby smaller basins of Neeru, Kalnai, & Sewa and other large tributaries of Chenab River, combining occupancy surveys with camera traps for improved conservation and management of the species in the region.

Preliminary Assessment on Water Quality of Kolar River with Physico Chemical Analysis

River water quality is very essential as it is used for drinking and domestic purposes. For the public health safety it is necessary to check the pollution level in the water bodies. The study was conducted to assess the water quality of Kolar River (A right bank tributary of wholly Narmada River). During the present study a number of physiochemical parameters including Temperature, pH, EC, TDS, DO and Chloride, were measured on field, so that the accuracy of the result will be appropriate while as Nitrate and Phosphate were measured in the lab. The water samples were collected in plastic container of 500 ml capacity from eight (8) different selective sampling stations along the Kolar River. The mean value of such respective parameters compared with the water quality standards as set by the WHO and BIS.

An overview of the taxonomic instability of endangered Golden and Zhobi mahseer in Pakistan.

In South and South East Asia three genera of fish species i.e. Tor, Neolissochilus and Naziritor are commonly known as Mahseer with at least 47 species. Among these 23 belongs to genus Tor, 22 to Neolissochilus and one to Naziritor i.e. Naziritor zhobensis. Recently another species added to genus Naziritor is Naziritor chelynoides in India. Among Tor species Tor putitora (Hamilton) is the most widely distributed Mahseer in Pakistan and other countries of the Indian subcontinent. However, based alone on morphological characters some authors identify the Pakistani counterparts as Tor macrolepis (Heckel), (a species presumed to be found exclusively in the Indus River system) distinct from Tor putitora (a species found in Ganga Brahmaputra River system). In order to resolve this taxonomic ambiguity, present study carried out meristic and morphometric measurements of Mahseer collected from a total of 11 water bodies of Pakistan. Ratios between the morphometric characters were calculated and statistically analyzed using t-test and correlation coefficient. Two species identified as Tor putitora and Naziritor zhobensis were the sole Mahseer inhabitants of Indus system in Pakistan. Tor putitora occurred at all surveyed sites while Nazirtor zhobensis had a distribution range from river Zhob to tributaries of river Gomal the right bank tributaries of River Indus. The study corroborates that there are no unequivocal morphological synapomorphies in any existing populations of both species. The study further demonstrates that head length, a character frequently used in Mahseer taxonomy, is not a good measure for species identification. Finally the present study establishes that Naziritor zhobensis still exists in the water bodies of Pakistan and that golden Mahseer occurring in Indus riverine system of Pakistan is Tor putitora.

Monitoring channel dynamics of Burhi Dihing River using multi-temporal satellite data

River channel is considered as a dynamic entity in the fluvial system. The Burhi Dihing river is an important south bank tributary of the river Brahmaputra, characterized by highly dynamic and unstable channel variations. The present study deals with the channel dynamics of river Burhi Dihing from Miau, Arunachal Pradesh to Dihingmukh, Assam using remote sensing techniques. Study of channel area, channel length, braiding index, sandbars and fill and erosion has been carried out for the period 1989-1999,1999-2008 and 2008- 2018 by dividing the study area into 6 grid at 15’ longitudinal interval. The river is witnessing more progression changes then regression changes as in last three decade the total amount of deposition done by the river is 3935.964 hectares whereas the total amount of erosion done by the river is only 1552.961 hectares. The area of the channel is decreasing from 102.78 sq km in the year 1989 to 78.949 sq km in the year 2018. During the last three decade, i.e. from 1989 to 2018 the river have has become more braided as in the year 1989 the B.I was 1.76 which have increased to 1.96 in the year 2018 as well as the total number of sandbars have also increased from 208 in the 1989 to 405 in 2018. The outcome of the study is obtained by using the Toposheet, LANDSET ETM image and Google earth images in QGIS 2.14 software.

NEW ASSOCIATION OF WOODED SWAMP WITH ALNUS INCANA WHTHIN THE IRTYSH FLOOD PLAIN (WESTERN SIBERIA)

Gray alder Alnus incana (L.) Moench (Betulaceae) in the taiga zone of Western Siberia is a rare species located on the northern and eastern borders of its area. Alnus incana occurs sporadically in the floodplain of the Irtysh [Flora , 1992; Gordeev, 1999; Kapitonova et al., 2017], the Ob River [Taran et al., 2004], and the valleys of small rivers of its left bank tributaries [Lapshina et al., 2018].
 A new association Carici juncellaeAlnetum incanae ass. nov. of treed floodplain swamps, with the participation of gray alder (Fig. 1, 2) was described in the right-bank floodplain of the Irtysh River in its lower reaches (60.73 N; 69.81 E). The association combines rare birch-alder-tussock sedge communities of floodplain swamps that develop under conditions of flooding by river waters and moderately rich ground water supply.
 Differentiating species combination: Alnus incana, Carex juncella, C. canescens, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonella cuspidata, Climacium dendroides, Haplocladium microphyllum, Lewinskya elegans, Pylaisia polyantha (Table 1).
 Communities similar in floristic composition were recently described on the territory of the Malaya Sosva Nature Reserve under the name of ass. Alno incanae-Betuletum pubescentis Lapshina et al. 2018 [Lapshina et al., 2018]. The main difference of the new association is a taller tree layer, the development of a dense layer of gray alder (up to 70%), the dominance of tussock-forming sedges, and the complete absence of Sphagnum mosses (Table 1), caused by differences in the ecological conditions of habitats (more favorable microclimatic conditions, variability of the moistening and higher richness of peat soils in the floodplain of the Irtysh).
 The new association is assigned to the alliance Salici pentandraeBetulion pubescentis Clausnitzer in Dengler et al. 2004 (order Salici pentandrae-Betuletalia pubescentis Clausnitzer in Dengler et al. 2004) of the class Alnetea glutinosae Tx. 1937. The order and its central alliance combine low-lying eutrophic and mesoeutrophic birch swamps and swampy low forests of Eurasia fed by ground water and river water.
 The good condition of gray alder in the communities of floodplain swamps (high projective cover, flowering, fruiting) allows us to expect a wider distribution of communities of this association in Western Siberia under conditions of climate warming.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of suspended particulate matter in the middle Niger River using in-situ and satellite radiometric measurements

Study Region: Middle Niger River Basin (MNRB), Ansongo to Niamey, Sahel, West Africa.Study Focus: Although MNRB hydrology and the red flood phenomena have been addressed in the past literature, water quality parameters and suspended particulate matter (SPM) dynamics remain poorly known. SPM impacts dam silting, exacerbating flooding, and microbial water quality. This study couples in-situ SPM measurements to radiometric measurements by in-situ and satellite sensors to analyse the temporal and spatial evolution of SPM in the MNRB and assess the contribution of the local flood (red flood) to SPM in Niamey.New Hydrological Insights for the Region: SPM is composed of very fine kaolinites with a major mode around 200–300 nanometers which results in high reflectance in the visible and infrared bands. Radiometric measurements by both radiometer and Sentinel-2 MSI sensors are well correlated to in-situ SPM, allowing efficient spatio-temporal monitoring of SPM concentration. SPM increases very rapidly at the beginning of the rainy season, reaching a peak, characterized by very high SPM values, about one month before the red flood. Satellite data highlight the significant contribution of the right bank tributaries to SPM in the MNRB during this period. SPM then decreases and remains low despite the second runoff increase (black flood) arriving in Niamey after the end of the rainy season from the upper basin.

Description of a new species of miniature catfish of the genus Ammoglanis (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from rio Tapajós basin, Brazil

Abstract A new species of Ammoglanis is described from the rio Aruri Grande, rio Jamanxim drainage, a right bank tributary to the middle rio Tapajós, Pará State, Brazil. The new species is identified and defined through morphological characters such as color pattern, consisting of eight or nine transverse dark bars regularly spaced along the dorsum; skeletal morphology; numbers of premaxillary teeth, vertebrae, and dorsal- and pectoral-fin rays; presence of cranial fontanel and two small, finger-like papillae on chin anterior to the gular apex. The new species probably is an additional example of endemism in the rio Tapajós basin.

THE FIND OF ANCIENT COINS IN THE TIASMYN RIVER BASIN FROM THE SIXTH TO THE FIRST CENTURY BC

THE FIND OF ANCIENT COINS IN THE TIASMYN RIVER BASIN FROM THE SIXTH TO THE FIRST CENTURY BC

Dissolved inorganic carbon isotopes of a typical alpine river on the Tibetan Plateau revealing carbon sources, wetland effect and river recharge

AbstractThe Nyangqu River, the largest right bank tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, was representative of an alpine riverine carbon cycle experiencing climate change. In this study, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) spatial and seasonal variations, as well as their carbon isotopic compositions (δ13CDIC) in river water and groundwater were systematically investigated to provide constraints on DIC sources, recharge and cycling. Significant changes in the δ13CDIC values (from −2.9‰ to −23.4‰) of the water samples were considered to be the result of different contributions of two dominant DIC origins: soil CO2 dissolution and carbonate weathering. Three types of rock weathering (dissolution of carbonate minerals by H2CO3 and H2SO4, and silicate dissolution by H2CO3) were found to control the DIC input into the riverine system. In DIC cycling, groundwater played a significant role in delivering DIC to the surface water, and DIC supply from tributaries to the main stream increased from the dry season to the wet season. Notably, the depleted δ13CDIC ‘peak’ around the 88.9° longitude, especially in the September groundwater samples, indicated the presence of ‘special’ DIC, which was attributed to the oxidation of methane from the Jiangsa wetland located nearby. This wetland could provide large amounts of soil organic matter available for bacterial degradation, producing 13C‐depleted methane. Our study provided insights regarding the role of wetlands in riverine carbon cycles and highlighted the contribution of groundwater to alpine riverine DIC cycles.

Fishes of the Lower Lulua River (Kasai Basin, Central Africa): A Continental Hotspot of Ichthyofaunal Diversity under Threat

The ichthyofauna of the Lulua River, a large right bank tributary of the Kasai River in central Africa, is among the most poorly documented in the Kasai ecoregion. To remedy this lack of knowledge, sampling was carried out between 2007 and 2014 along the main channel and in many tributaries. A total of 201 species distributed in 81 genera, 24 families, and 12 orders are reported from the lower reaches of the Lulua. The species richness reported in this study represents a substantially improved documentation of the Lulua ichthyofauna (historically estimated at only 79 species). Here, 129 species are recorded for the first time, bringing the total number of known species to 208. Among these, five have recently been described: Raiamas brachyrhabdotos Katemo Manda, Snoeks, Choca Manda, and Vreven 2018, Distichodus kasaiensis Moelants, Snoeks, and Vreven, 2018, Distichodus polli Abwe, Snoeks, Choca Manda, and Vreven 2019, Epiplatys atractus Van Der Zee, Mbimbi, and Sonnenberg 2013, and Hypsopanchax stiassnyae Van Der Zee, Sonnenberg, and Mbimbi 2015; numerous additional taxa are currently under investigation. Recognized here as a continental hotspot of ichthyofaunal diversity, the Lulua is under extreme threat from exploitation of forest products for building materials, deforestation for shifting agriculture and charcoal exploitation, destructive fishing practices, and mining, all of which are rapidly increasing in the watershed. The present study provides baseline documentation for use in conservation planning and future developmental projects in the Kasai ecoregion in general and Lulua River basin in particular.