Conservation Of Aquatic Ecosystems Research Articles

Fishes move to transient local refuges, not persistent landscape refuges during river drying experiment

Abstract Anthropogenically driven flow intermittency is increasing in freshwater streams, with important implications for the management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems. Because most freshwater fishes are mobile, they are expected to emigrate from intermittent reaches, but this may not be true in streams transitioning from perennial to intermittent. Here, we attempt to determine if riverine fishes vacate drying reaches before intermittency or remain in local refuges. We implemented a controlled, in situ experimental flow reduction resulting in intermittency, reducing flows from ~1.0 to 0 m3/s over a 3‐week period. We monitored fish and fish‐habitat changes over a 5‐week period before, during and after flow reductions. During flow reductions, total wetted habitat was ultimately reduced by 91%. Habitat loss over time was not equal among habitat types: pool habitat increased slightly as run habit was lost, and backwater and isolated pool habitats were not strongly related to discharge. Likewise, water depth in run habitats decreased faster than other habitats. Only the river carpsucker Carpiodes carpio appeared to move upstream during flow recession; seven other species remained within drying sites. Habitat loss negatively affected fish populations, but at a lower rate than that at which habitat was lost, until sites dried completely. Overall, two species, red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis and western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis, had increased population growth during the study, whereas the remaining species had population declines. Fishes were able to find transient local refuges during flow reductions but did not vacate sites before intermittent conditions. Accounting for lack of emigration from anthropogenic flow‐intermittent reaches will be important for designing conservation actions for fishes threatened by increasing flow intermittency. Creation of refuge habitats may not be effective for widely dispersed species that do not actively seek refuge habitats, unless those habitats support enough individuals to maintain resilience following the intermittent conditions.

Water quality drives the reconfiguration of riverine planktonic microbial food webs

The food web is a cycle of matter and energy within river ecosystems. River environmental changes resulting from human activities are increasingly threatening the composition and diversity of global aquatic organisms and the multi-trophic networks. How multiple environmental factors influence food web patterns among multi-trophic microbial communities in rivers remains largely unknown. Using water quality evaluation and meta-omics techniques, we investigated the composition, structure and interaction characteristics, and drivers of food webs of microorganisms (archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, metazoa, viridiplantae and viruses) at multiple trophic levels in different water quality environments (Classes II, III, and IV). First, water quality deterioration led to significant changes in the composition of the microbial community at multiple trophic levels, which were represented by the enrichment of Euryarchaeota in the archaeal community, the increase of r-strategists in the bacterial community, and the increase of the proportion of predators in the protist community. Second, deteriorating water quality resulted in a significant reduction in the dissimilarity of community structure (homogenization of community structure in Class III and IV waters). Of the symbiotic, parasitic, and predatory networks, the community networks in Class II water all showed the most stable symbiotic, parasitic, and predatory correlations (higher levels of modularity in the networks). In Class III and IV waters, nutrient inputs have led to increased reciprocal symbiosis and decreased competition between communities, which may have the risk of a positive feedback loop driving a system collapse. Finally, inputs of phosphorus and organic matter could be the main drivers of changes in the planktonic microbial food web in the Fen River. Overall, the results indicated the potential ecological risks of exogenous nutrient inputs, which were important for aquatic ecosystem conservation.

A Survey of Ecto-Parasites in Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nile Tilapia) in Zobe Reservoir, Katsina State

This study examined the occurrence and severity of ectoparasitic infestations in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) sourced from Zobe Artificial Lake in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State. A total of 108 Nile tilapia specimens were collected from Zobe Reservoir in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina, Nigeria at bi-weekly intervals during the period from July- September; 2023 for the discovery of ectoparasites and subjected to thorough parasitological examination. Experimental samples was range between 10.0-15.0cm fry, 16.1-20.0cm fingerlings, 21.0-25.0cm adults. Among the examined male Nile tilapia, 40 (45.45%) were found to be infected with ecto-parasites, while a higher infection rate of 75.00% was observed among the females. Overall infection of 55 (50.92%) was recorded in this study. Among the examined individuals, 21 (46.67%) were infected with Trichodina spp on the skin. Trichodina spp also infected 8 individuals (17.78%) in the gills. No individuals were infected with Gyrodactylus spp on the skin. Gyrodactylus spp infected 16 individuals (35.55%) in the gills. An overall infection rate, the total infection rate on the skin is 46.67%. While the total infection rate in the gills is 53.33%. The outcomes of this survey serve up as a reference point for upcoming research, offering valuable information for fisheries management and the sustainable conservation of aquatic ecosystems in Zobe Reservoir. High prevalence of ectoparasites was recorded in this study. There is need for proper handling of Nile tilapia from Zobe Reservoir before consumption.

Water quality analysis based on the presence of aquatic macroinvertebrates applied to water springs covered with soil-cement technique

Human activities, such as deforestation and inappropriate waste disposal have had negative impact on watercourses, including water spring areas. The soil-cement technique is a low-cost and easily implementable option to safeguard water springs and to preserve watercourses. The aim of the preset study is to assess water quality in water springs in Prudentópolis City, Brazil by using this technique based on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities and land use in this location. In total, 1,236 macroinvertebrates belonging to 18 taxa were collected from 5 water springs. Species belonging to family Chironomidae prevailed in points A, B, C and E, since they represent approximately 42% of all collected insects. Tree Cover was the primary land use form in the assessed points. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), different taxonomic groups had different responses to the assessed environmental factors. In conclusion, soil preservation, sustainable management and the cement technique, in combination to a set of preventive actions, were effective measures to ensure the conservation of aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

Sustainability of Duero Water Systems for Crop Production in Spain

In recent decades, increased water demand combined with the effects of climate change has endangered water availability in many regions. In this context, sustainable water management has become a priority, seeking to balance human needs with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. In the Duero basin (Spain), the availability of water is especially relevant for agricultural purposes, representing 93% of the total water needs. This study focuses on identifying and assessing the short-term sustainability of irrigated crop production in the Duero River basin. The maximum potential availability of surface water for irrigation was estimated and compared with the short-term agricultural surface water demand. The analysis was based on the use of a high-spatial-resolution (500 × 500 m) GIS-based model named WAAPA, and three indexes were used to evaluate and analyze the results. The results show that by analyzing the river basin in an aggregate form, the demands for irrigation were met, in which the reservoirs played an important role. When the analysis was downscaled to tributaries or even small streams, non-sustainable situations were identified. This shows the importance of using high-spatial-resolution models to improve, maintain, and achieve sustainability in the production of irrigated crops.

Conventional net tow versus environmental DNA for metabarcoding-based analysis of plankton-environment interactions in polluted aquatic ecosystems

Human societal development has caused rapid degradation of freshwater ecosystems, resulting in significant biodiversity decline globally. The conservation of aquatic ecosystems, particularly the management of biodiversity in urban areas, has become an increasingly significant issue for ensuring the sustainability of these ecosystems. The restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems relies on a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between biological communities and multiple stressors derived from human activities. Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based methods have emerged as effective tools for dissecting complex community-environment interactions. Nevertheless, potential causes for technical disparities and conclusions drawn from conventional sampling versus eDNA-based methods remain inadequately evaluated. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive survey of plankton communities along the environmental gradient of the North Canal River in Northern China to assess causes and consequences for any disparities between conventional plankton net tow and eDNA sampling for metabarcoding-based analysis of plankton-environment interactions. Our findings demonstrated that eDNA-metabarcoding was effective for characterizing both biodiversity and geographical distribution. Both methods exhibited general consistency in elucidating community structure and identifying the key environmental factors influencing geographical distribution of both zooplankton and phytoplankton. As we explored lower taxonomic ranks, we found inconsistent patterns at certain levels (e.g., phylum or order) within some taxa (e.g., Bacillariophyta and Rotifera), even substantial variability for several taxonomic groups (e.g., Euglenozoa and Apicomplexa). The varied environmental prevalence and persistence of eDNA, biological and ecological characteristics of diverse taxa in plankton, and sampling efficiency of both methods likely contributed to the observed disparities. Given its higher biodiversity recovery capacity, efficiency, sampling convenience, and capability to identify influential factors driving the geographical distribution of biodiversity, eDNA-based metabarcoding is recommended for studying plankton-environment interactions, particularly in studies involving a large number of samples at extended geographical scales.

Combatting cyanobacteria: unraveling the potency of 316L-Cu stainless steel in inhibiting Microcystis aeruginosa growth.

Harmful algal blooms, particularly those of Microcystis aeruginosa, present significant ecological and health risks. To address this issue, this study utilized a custom static algal growth assessment apparatus to investigate the anti-algal performance of a copper-alloyed 316L stainless steel (SS), named 316L-Cu SS. This material was compared with traditional 316L SS, which is widely utilized in freshwater systems for its corrosion resistance. Algal growth dynamics were monitored through optical density (OD) and chlorophyll A concentration measurements. Notably, 316L-Cu SS exhibited superior inhibitory effects on Microcystis aeruginosa growth compared to 316L SS and control groups. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirmed that the copper ion release from 316L-Cu SS played a critical role in this algal suppression, which interfered with photosynthesis, induced oxidative stress, and damaged algal cell membranes. In contrast, other metal ions (Ni, Cr, Fe) had a negligible impact on algal growth. The study highlights 316L-Cu SS as a promising material for mitigating harmful algal blooms, thereby offering potential benefits for both aquatic ecosystem conservation and public health protection.

Effect of water stratification and mixing on phytoplankton functional groups: a case study of Xikeng Reservoir, China

A shift in reservoir stratification and mixing significantly affects the water column ecosystem, which in turn leads to changes in phytoplankton abundance and community structure. To explore the effects of stratification and mixing on the phytoplankton community structure of a diversion reservoir, a 1-year survey was divided into a stratification period in 2020, a mixing period in 2020, and a stratification period in 2021, and redundancy analysis (RDA), variance partitioning analysis (VPA) and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyse the key drivers affecting the phytoplankton functional groups, using Xikeng Reservoir as a case study. During the study period, 8 phyla, 69 genera and 9 major functional groups were observed in this reservoir. The dominant functional groups varied significantly, being X1 in the stratified period in 2020; P and D in the mixing period in 2020; and D, X1, and M in the stratified period in 2021. The phytoplankton diversity index was greater in the mixing period than in the stratification period, in agreement with the results of the aquatic ecological status evaluation (Q index, higher in the mixing period than in the stratification period). However, phytoplankton diversity of Xikeng Reservoir was of limited value in assessing the degree of water pollution, so should be considered in combination with the Q index. Water temperature (WT), mixing depth (Zmix), nitrogen–phosphorus ratio (N/P), and total nitrogen (TN) were important drivers of phytoplankton functional group dynamics in different periods. The study provides a valuable reference for assessing the relationship between environmental factors and phytoplankton communities, as well as for the evaluation and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in southern China's water diversion reservoirs.

Editorial: Advances in marine and freshwater monitoring to support aquatic ecosystem conservation and restoration

Editorial: Advances in marine and freshwater monitoring to support aquatic ecosystem conservation and restoration

Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems by Constraining Nitrogen Pollution through Aquaculture Effluents

Recirculated aquaculture systems (RAS) have increased in preponderance in producing fish and shrimp protein. Yet, the economic sustainability of constraining RAS from negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems remains challenging. The future of RAS agriculture will eventually be settled by the relationship between water treatment costs and the impacts on downstream ecosystems. We present a user-friendly simulator of the costs of the treatment of water from RAS farms. This open-source freeware accounts for consumables and energy needed to protect the fish stock from ammonia and nitrite distress, as well as the cost of effluent treatments for specific nitrogen emission targets. This simulation platform uses information inflows about a RAS farm's layout, filters’ performance, toxicity limits, and operational costs. It monitors the budget of water, ammonium, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, as well as the cumulative costs of management decisions for controlling nitrogen inorganics. In combination with local environmental regulations, such an assessment is essential for making business projections that correspond with acceptable impacts on downstream ecosystems. This simulator helps determine whether a specific RAS farm is both financially sound and environmentally sustainable. Such analyses are key to constraining pollution in the surrounding ecosystems and contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.

Status of aquatic organisms resources and their environments in Yangtze River system (2017–2021)

The Yangtze River is the mother river of China. To promote the aquatic ecosystem protection of the great river, the Project of Yangtze Fisheries Resources and Environment Investigation (2017–2021) supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P. R. China carried out by 24 institutes and universities that located in the Yangtze River basin surveys the status of (1) fish species composition and spatial distribution, (2) current fish abundance, (3) endangered fishes, (4) Yangtze finless porpoise, (5) aquatic eco-environments, (6) water-level fluctuation areas, (7) capture fisheries and recreational fisheries of the Yangtze River mainstream and 10 of its main tributaries, including Yalong River, Heng River, Min River (including Dadu River), Chishui River, Tuo River, Jialing River, Wu River, Han River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. The results showed that there were 443 fish species (belonging to 163 genus, 37 families, and 18 orders) before 2017, but only 323 fish species (including 15 new recorded exotic species) were recorded in the project of 2017–2021. Among them, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Coilia brachygnathus, Silurus asotus, Saurogobio dabryi, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Pelteobagrus nitidus, Hemiculter leucisculus, Siniperca chuatsi, Coreius heterodon, Culter alburnus, Parabramis pekinensis, and Aristichthys nobilis were the dominant species across the whole Yangtze River system. It is estimated that there were 886 million individuals weighing 124.8 million kg, merely equivalent to 27.3% of the resources in 1950s, 30.9% of the resources in 1960s, or 58.7% of the resources in 1980s. In the new list of protected fishes that recorded in the Yangtze River system, only 15 of 29 were collected in this project of 2017–2021. Psephurus gladius has been affirmed to be Extinct by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The wild individuals of Tenualosa reevesii and Luciobrama macrocephalus have disappeared for many years and maybe have been extinct already. Acipenser dabryanus has been affirmed to be Extinct in the Wild by IUCN. The natural propagations of A. sinensis, Myxocyprinus asiaticus and Trachidermus fasciatus have been interrupted for many years. The populations of Yangtze finless porpoise in the Yangtze River mainstream, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake have steadily rising sizes and expanding distributions in 2017–2021. Parts of them migrate from one region to another with the seasons, which would result in the fluctuation of Yangtze finless porpoise population within some regions. The conventional indicators of water quality in the Yangtze River system were good and conformed to the water quality criteria of fishery in 2017–2021. In the last 40 years, the maximum surface water area in the Yangtze River basin extended to approximately 63,360 km2, the minimum surface water area covered approximately 26,396 km2, and the seasonal water-level fluctuation areas occupied approximately 36,964 km2. Compared with 1984–2000 period, the 2001–2020 period witnessed an overall decreasing trend in the frequency of surface water occurrence within about 25,869 km2 of aquatic areas. From 1984 to 2000 period to 2001–2020 period, permanent surface water has decreased by nearly 8,750 km2. In 2017, the fishermen were mainly 40–60 years old and their educational levels were mainly lower than junior high school. In 2017, most anglers were older than 40 and used hand rod and/or sea rod. Their average catch of each time was mainly less than 1 kg. Results suggested that the fishing ban in key waters of the Yangtze River basin is not only an ecological project of aquatic ecosystem conservation, but also a livelihood project for the fisherman to embrace industrial transformation and improve their living conditions. After the implementation of the fishing ban, the fisheries resources would gradually recover, and the Yangtze finless porpoise population size would also see a steady increase. However, the endangered species would remain threatened for a long time. The degraded waterbodies and water-level fluctuation areas would be the key restrictive factors for future aquatic ecosystem recovery in the Yangtze River basin. Since this survey was carried out before the fishing ban, the current results could provide a baseline for future evaluation of the effect of the Yangtze River fishing ban.

Long-term remote observations of particulate organic phosphorus concentration in eutrophic Lake Taihu based on a novel algorithm

Monitoring the long-term spatiotemporal variations in particulate organic phosphorus concentration (CPOP) is imperative for clarifying the phosphorus cycle and its biogeochemical behavior in waters. However, little attention has been devoted to this owing to a lack of suitable bio-optical algorithms that allow the application of remote sensing data. In this study, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, a novel absorption-based algorithm of CPOP was developed for eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. The algorithm yielded a promising performance with a mean absolute percentage error of 27.75% and root mean square error of 21.09 μg/L. The long-term MODIS-derived CPOP demonstrated an overall increasing pattern over the past 19 years (2003–2021) and a significant temporal heterogeneity in Lake Taihu, with higher value in summer (81.97 ± 3.81 μg/L) and autumn (82.07 ± 3.8 μg/L), and lower CPOP in spring (79.52 ± 3.81 μg/L) and winter (78.74 ± 3.8 μg/L). Spatially, relatively higher CPOP was observed in the Zhushan Bay (85.87 ± 7.5 μg/L), whereas the lower value was observed in the Xukou Bay (78.95 ± 3.48 μg/L). In addition, significant correlations (r > 0.6, P < 0.05) were observed between CPOP and air temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration and cyanobacterial blooms areas, demonstrating that CPOP was greatly influenced by air temperature and algal metabolism. This study provides the first record of the spatial-temporal characteristics of CPOP in Lake Taihu over the past 19 years, and the CPOP results and regulatory factors analyses could provide valuable insights for aquatic ecosystem conservation.

High temperature frequently increases facilitation between aquatic foundation species: A global meta‐analysis of interaction experiments between angiosperms, seaweeds and bivalves

Abstract Many studies have quantified the ecological impacts of individual foundation species (FS). However, emerging data suggest that FS often co‐occur, potentially inhibiting or facilitating one another, thereby causing indirect, cascading effects on surrounding communities. Furthermore, global warming is accelerating, but little is known about how interactions between co‐occurring FS vary with temperature. Shallow aquatic sedimentary systems are often dominated by three types of FS: slower‐growing clonal angiosperms, faster‐growing solitary seaweeds and shell‐forming filter‐ and deposit‐feeding bivalves. Here, we tested the impacts of one FS on another by analyzing manipulative interaction experiments from 148 papers with a global meta‐analysis. We calculated 1942 (non‐independent) Hedges' g effect sizes, from 11,652 extracted values over performance responses, such as abundances, growth or survival of FS and their associated standard deviations and replication levels. Standard aggregation procedures generated 511 independent Hedges' g that were classified into six types of reciprocal impacts between FS. We found that (i) seaweeds had consistent negative impacts on angiosperms across performance responses, organismal sizes, experimental approaches and ecosystem types; (ii) angiosperms and bivalves generally had positive impacts on each other (e.g. positive effects of angiosperms on bivalves were consistent across organismal sizes and experimental approaches, but angiosperm effect on bivalve growth and bivalve effect on angiosperm abundance were not significant); (iii) bivalves positively affected seaweeds (particularly on growth responses); (iv) there were generally no net effects of seaweeds on bivalves (except for the positive effect on growth) or angiosperms on seaweeds (except for the positive effect on ‘other processes’) and (v) bivalve interactions with other FS were typically more positive at higher temperatures, but angiosperm‐seaweed interactions were not moderated by temperature. Synthesis. Despite variations in experimental and spatiotemporal conditions, the stronger positive interactions at higher temperatures suggest that facilitation, particularly involving bivalves, may become more important in a future warmer world. Importantly, addressing research gaps, such as the scarcity of FS interaction experiments from tropical and freshwater systems and for less studied species, as well as testing for density‐dependent effects, could better inform aquatic ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts and broaden our knowledge of FS interactions in the Anthropocene.

UV-aged microplastics induces neurotoxicity by affecting the neurotransmission in larval zebrafish

Microplastics (MPs) are nearly ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and may affect aquatic organisms. In this study, virgin and aged polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) of size 1 μm were selected to analyze their adverse effects on larvae zebrafish. Exposure to PS-MPs significantly reduced the average swimming speed of zebrafish, and the behavioral effects caused by aged PS-MPs on zebrafish were more pronounced. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that 10–100 μg/L of PS-MPs accumulated in tissues of zebrafish. As an endpoint of neurotransmitter concentration, exposure to aged PS-MPs at doses ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg/L significantly increased the dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholine (ACh) levels in zebrafish. Similarly, exposure to aged PS-MPs significantly altered the expression of genes related to these neurotransmitters (e.g., dat, 5ht1aa, and gabral genes). According to Pearson correlation analyses, neurotransmissions was significantly correlated with neurotoxic effects of aged PS-MPs. Thus, aged PS-MPs cause neurotoxicity in zebrafish through their effects on DA, 5-HT, GABA, and ACh neurotransmissions. The results highlight the importance of the neurotoxicity of aged PS-MPs in zebrafish, which has important implications for the risk assessment of aged MPs and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.

Hydrology and water quality shape macroinvertebrate patterns and facilitate non-native species dispersals in an inter-basin water transfer system

Understanding biotic assemblage variations resulting from water diversions and other pressures is critical for aquatic ecosystem conservation, but hampered by limited research. Mechanisms driving macroinvertebrate assemblages were determined across five lakes along China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project, an over 900-km water transfer system connecting four river basins. We assessed macroinvertebrate patterns from 59 sites in relation to water quality, climatic, spatial, and hydrologic factors. Macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and species richness increased from upriver to downriver lakes, and were higher during the water transfer period than in the non-water transfer period. Non-native species including Nephtys sp., Paranthura japonica, Potamillacf acuminata, Capitekkidae spp. and Novaculina chinensis, were distributed along the entire study system, some become dominant in upriver lakes. High species turnover occurred in two upriver lakes. Hydrology and water quality are critical factors in shaping these macroinvertebrate patterns. Hydrological disturbance by water transfer boosted macroinvertebrate abundance during the water transfer period while facilitated non-native species dispersals and increased biotic homogenization. This study indicates the need for: 1) an effective ecosystem monitoring system; 2) unified system management standards; 3) external pollution controls; and 4) limiting the dispersal of non-native species.

Current Status of Ponds in India: A Framework for Restoration, Policies and Circular Economy.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13157-022-01624-9.

Onchorynchus mykiss alter nutrient dynamics in high-altitude headwater streams in Boyacá, Colombia through displacement of the native fish community

A primary global threat to aquatic ecosystem conservation and biodiversity is the introduction of fish species, both deliberate and unintentional. Much of the research conducted on large predatory fish introductions has focused primarily on top-down controls that regulate the abundance and composition of native species assemblages, yet exotic species that alter ecosystem structure and function may pose an even greater threat. The objective of this study was to examine whether an introduced piscivorous fish alters nitrogen cycles in high elevation freshwater streams in the tropics by displacing the native species community through predation. To test this, we measured biomass and ammonium (NH4+-N) remineralization rates for introduced Onchorynchus mykiss and the two native species found in the area; Trichomycterus bogotensis and Grundulus bogotensis in six study sites along an elevation gradient in the Pómeca River Basin in Boyacá, Colombia. Nonnative O. mykiss populations remineralized ammonium at a rate that was 20 times higher than native G. bogotensis and 47 times higher than T. bogotensis. Our results indicate that high biomass of an introduced predatory fish species can have important implications in nutrient dynamics in freshwater streams through reduction in native species biomass when combined with differential nutrient remineralization rates.

Perception of the local community: What is their relationship with environmental quality indicators of reservoirs?

Evaluating the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, especially those which serve to supply, has been carried out using a variety of tools. However, the perception of water quality by the local community which lives in direct contact with water resources has not been considered with enough importance. This study analysed the relationship between the conservation status of reservoirs as perceived by the local community and their conservation status according to physical, chemical, and biological indicators. To do so, we calculated the Trophic State Index (TSI) of the reservoirs, the diversity and richness of benthic macroinvertebrate and we analysed the human influence in the riparian zone. Thus, we created the Community Conservation Perception Index (CCPI) to quantitatively associate the perception of the local community with environmental quality indicators (TSI, diversity, richness and anthropogenic influences in the riparian zone). We found that interviewee perception of reservoir conservation (using the CCPI) was related to trophic state, richness and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate, and the presence of residences and agriculture in the riparian zone. It is necessary to consider the environmental perception of the local community as a relevant factor in management programmes and the conservation of ecosystems, even if artificial, as is the case with reservoirs. These communities can significantly contribute to maintaining the environmental quality through their performance in participatory management in projects such as: participating in the investigation of pollution in reservoirs, collecting parameters related to water quality, and community action in designing conservation strategies.

DNA Barcodes Applied to a Rapid Baseline Construction in Biodiversity Monitoring for the Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems in the Sian Ka’an Reserve (Mexico) and Adjacent Areas

This study is focused on the aquatic environments of the Sian Ka’an reserve, a World Heritage Site. We applied recently developed protocols for the rapid assessment of most animal taxa inhabiting any freshwater system using light traps and DNA barcodes, represented by the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI). We DNA barcoded 1037 specimens comprising mites, crustaceans, insects, and fish larvae from 13 aquatic environments close or inside the reserve, with a success rate of 99.8%. In total, 167 barcode index numbers (BINs) were detected. From them, we identified 43 species. All others remain as a BIN. Besides, we applied the non-invasive method of environmental DNA (eDNA) to analyze the adult fish communities and identified the sequences obtained with the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). All round, we found 25 fish species and other terrestrial vertebrates from this region. No alien species was found. After comparing the BINs from all systems, we found that each water body was unique with respect to the communities observed. The reference library presented here represents the first step for future programs to detect any change in these ecosystems, including invasive species, and to improve the knowledge of freshwater zooplankton, enhancing the task of compiling the species barcodes not yet stored in databases (such as BOLD or GenBank).

Two for One: Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems With Buffers Protects Terrestrial Ecosystems

Abstract We evaluated how three widths of buffer zones on greater than or equal to 100-ha wetlands (240, 300, and 390 m) and rivers (10, 20, and 30 m) would help meet watershed conservation goals in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA, and whether doing so also would protect each of the predominant types of terrestrial natural communities across the landscape. The use of buffer zones (even the narrowest widths assessed) around wetlands and riparian zones met or exceeded conservation targets in 75% of watersheds and greater than or equal to 85% of subwatersheds evaluated. Wetlands and riparian zones with buffers captured each of the predominant types of terrestrial natural community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but not proportionately to their availability across the entire landscape. Our work demonstrates that a landscape-conservation approach focused on wetlands and riparian zones with buffers can conserve terrestrial, wetland, and riparian ecosystems across Michigan's Upper Peninsula and may also be applicable in other areas where mapping of wetlands and rivers occurs.