Running Water Sites Research Articles

New Faunal Data for Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae), with the Evidence of COI Sequences, from Mediterranean Region of Türkiye

The present study provides faunal data for Turkish Black flies (Simuliidae, Diptera) from the Central and Western Mediterranean Region in Türkiye. Among the specimens collected from 221 different running water sites, 17 species in 3 genera and 5 subgenera were identified. Two species, Simulium (Nevermannia) ibleum (Rivosecchi 1966) and Simulium (Nevermannia) brevidens (Rubtsov 1956), were recorded for the first time from Türkiye, and 5 additional species were reported from the study area for the first time. The morphological identifications were tested by phylogenetic analyzes using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcode sequences. The COI analysis results overlapped with the morphotaxonomic identification results for eight of the 15 species. The first genetic data of 4 species (for World) and 5 species (from Türkiye) were stored in GenBank (NCBI).

Mapping biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities for the Euro-Mediterranean headwater ecosystems, as inferred from diversity and distribution of a water beetle lineage

Euro-Mediterranean running water ecosystems represent a highly threatened habitat due to draining, construction, agriculture, eutrophication, pollution and climate changes. Thereby, the associated biodiversity is often more threatened compared to any other ecosystem and the identification of biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities for running water fauna is therefore a primary target. Here we focused on invertebrates, as important indicators of ecosystem functions, modelling a lineage of water beetles and investigating the conservation status of Euro-Mediterranean headwater ecosystems. We selected the “Haenydra” lineage (Hydraenidae, genus Hydraena) as representative taxon (92 species overall, known to occur from Iberian Peninsula to W Iran), analysing a geographic database including literature, field-collecting and Museums data in order to map the distribution of biodiversity hotspots in Euro-Mediterranean headwater systems and locate the running water sites potentially important for invertebrates conservation. We hence assessed the conservation priorities assigning IUCN threat Categories—following IUCN guidelines—to all the species of the lineage, together with a herein introduced Conservation Score (CS) computed using a procedure tailored specifically for water beetles, also analysing historical series. We found that threatened categories (VU or higher), with high CSs, should be assigned to >70 % of the species, suggesting that, considering this lineage a representative model, the headwaters conservation status in Euro-Mediterranean areas is alarming. Cantabria, Pyrenees, Alps and Central Apennines were identified as biodiversity hotspots, whereas the combination of IUCN categories and CSs revealed that the areas with highest conservation concern are distributed in W-Alps, E-Alps, Apennines, Central Spain, Greece and N-Turkey. Our analyses suggested a dramatic worsening of running water ecosystems in several Mediterranean regions and in particular in Italy, Greece and Turkey. The comparison between the IUCN categories and the newly introduced CSs evidenced the importance of taking into account the ecological, hydro-geological and historical features when assessing conservation strategies for running water organisms.

Wood decay rates and macroinvertebrate community structure along contrasting human pressure gradients (Waikato, New Zealand)

Mass loss rates of wooden sticks (Betula platyphylla Sukaczev) and macroinvertebrate community composition were measured in the Waikato Region of northern New Zealand at 53 running water sites draining native forest catchments (reference), or characterised by urban, industrial, agroforestry or hydrological stressors. Overall wood substrates retained 80% of initial dry mass over 2–3 month incubation periods, equating to average daily decay coefficients (kd) of 0.0027 or 0.0002 when adjusted for degree days (kdd). There were no statistically significant differences in decay rates between stressor types and native forest reference sites. In contrast, macroinvertebrate richness and compositional metrics varied significantly from reference conditions for several stressor types. Wood decay rates were weakly related to macroinvertebrate community composition, while kdd was weakly but significantly related to % ‘worms’, %EPT* abundance and Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Community Index. The results indicate weak correspondence between macroinvertebrate indicators and wood decay rates, with spatial and temporal factors potentially masking stressor responses. Before wood decay can be widely used as an indicator of lotic ecosystem health there needs to be an improved understanding of environmental factors affecting breakdown rates.

Testing a typology system of running waters for conservation planning in Hungary

Landscape and site classifications are increasingly being used in conservation planning and biodiversity management. We examined the utility of a simple typology system for predicting the conservation value of running-water sites in Hungary using aquatic invertebrates. Aquatic invertebrates (444 species) were collected by kick and sweep sampling technique, in a few cases also with a net, at 317 running-water sites covering the entire area of Hungary. On the basis of three criteria (naturalness, altitude and size of catchment area) we obtained a typology scheme distinguishing five running-water types: artificial lowland stream, natural highland river, natural highland stream, natural lowland river and natural lowland stream. We expressed the conservation value of each site using the numbers of native species, unique native species, red-list species, protected species and alien species. Furthermore, the conservation value of each river type was expressed by a measure of beta diversity. Our results show that any interpretation of the effect of a single criterion might be misleading. Consequently, the use of the whole typology system is recommended. The study revealed that all stream types are valuable to a certain extent because they maintain distinct biological communities. We found that the conservation value of artificial watercourses is comparable to that of natural running-water sites. We identified that natural lowland rivers and artificial lowland streams are the ones mostly exposed to species invasions. These findings are essential in maintaining and protecting conservation values of any freshwater ecosystem, and may contribute to management decisions on running waters in Hungary.

流水域におけるトウキョウサンショウウオの卵嚢分布状況およびその流失割合

The Tokyo salamander (Hynobius tokyoensis) indigenous in the Miura peninsula, is threatened with extirpation due to habitat loss from development. Artificial breeding sites in running water were introduced; however, many of the sites are not considered to be high quality breeding habitat. This species normally deposits its egg-sacs in still water, attached to a suitable twig, leaf or grass stem. We studied the retention of egg-sacs at two different types of running water sites. Our study showed that 48.7% of egg-sacs were washed away at natural stream sites, and 76.8% of egg-sacs were washed away by small streams created by erosion at abandoned rice paddy sites. We created still water sites in the abandoned rice paddies, and the results showed that only 5.3% of the egg-sacs were washed away. For conservation of this species, it may be necessary to protect a wide variety of riparian zones, groundwater systems, and forested areas.

Relationships between algae taxa and physico-chemical characteristics of water in wetlands and waterbodies

A study of algae flora was performed on 16 samples collected in different aquatic environments in Bamenda (Cameroon) in order to evidence the relationships between algae assemblages and physico-chemical parameters of the milieu. A total of 22 algae species were identified, the most represented class being Bacillariophyceae (8 species), followed by the Cyanophyceae (5 species), Zygnemataceae (4 species), Euglenophyceae (3 species) and finally Chlorophyceae (2 species). Physicochemical analyses of water samples suggest evidences of organic pollution related to anthropogenic activities, running waters being less affected than stagnant ones. This organic pollution is inferred from highest values of TDS and conductivity. The Correspondence Analysis (CA) displayed four groups of algae on the two first axes. On axis 1 the discriminating factor is the current, because running water sites are opposed to stagnant water ones. Unfortunately measured values of water current are not available to precise that hypothesis, our interpretations in this paper are based on relative data. The second axis reveals the opposition between oligotrophic and eutrophic waters, and could be considered as a gradient of organic pollution. The species Navicula sp, Gomphonema sp, Ulothrix sp., Nostoc sp., Amphora sp., Pinnularia sp., Tabellaria sp. and Lyngbya sp. are associated to low values of TDS and conductivity while Phacus sp., Closterium sp., Euglena sp. and Trachelomonas sp. thrive better in high polluted waters. The distribution of these algae identified as indicators of high organic pollution, evidenced a spatial variability of organic pollution in accordance with the water physicochemical parameters monitored. This variability is probably modulated by the presence in the sampling sites of macrophytes that are efficient in removing pollutants. Keywords : Bamenda, algae, correspondence analyse, organic pollution, phytoremediation CaJEB Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 70-79

Partitioning the diversity of riverine fish: the roles of habitat types and non‐native species

Summary1. Quantifying how biological diversity is distributed in the landscape is one of the central themes of conservation ecology. For this purpose, landscape classifications are being intensively used in conservation planning and biodiversity management, although there is still little information about their efficacy.2. I used data from 158 running water sites in Hungary to examine the contribution of six a priori established habitat types to regional level diversity of fish assemblages. Three community measures [species richness, diversity (Shannon, Simpson indices), assemblage composition] were examined at two assemblage levels (entire assemblage, the native assemblage). The relative role of non‐native species was quantified to examine their contribution to patterns in diversity in this strongly human influenced landscape.3. Additive diversity partitioning revealed the primary importance of beta diversity (i.e. among‐site factors) to patterns in species richness. Landscape‐scale patterns in species richness were best explained by between‐habitat type (beta2: 41.2%), followed by within‐habitat type (beta1: 37.7%) and finally within‐site (alpha: 21.1%) diversity. Diversity indices showed patterns different from species richness, indicating the importance of relative abundance distributions on the results. Exclusion of non‐natives from the analysis gave similar results to the entire‐assemblage level analysis.4. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates, complemented with indicator species analysis justified the separation of fish assemblages among the habitat types, although classification error was high. Multivariate dispersion, a measure of compositional beta diversity, showed significant differences among the habitat types. Contrary to species diversity (i.e. richness, diversity indices), patterns in compositional diversity were strongly influenced by the exclusion of non‐natives from the analyses.5. This study is the first to quantify how running water habitat types contribute to fish diversity at the landscape scale and how non‐native species influence this pattern. These results on riverine fish assemblages support the hypothesis that environmental variability (i.e. the diversity of habitat types) is an indication of biodiversity and can be used in large‐scale conservation designs. The study emphasises the joint application of additive diversity partitioning and multivariate statistics when exploring the contribution of landscape components to the overall biodiversity of the landscape mosaic.

Spatial structure in lotic macroinvertebrate communities in England and Wales: relationship with physical, chemical and anthropogenic stress variables

We describe the relationship between macroinvertebrate community composition, the physicochemical environment and anthropogenic impacts, in running water sites across a range of water qualities in England and Wales. We have also investigated the degree of spatial structure present in both the macroinvertebrate community and the measured environment. Selected explanatory variables could account for 26% of the variation in lotic macroinvertebrate assemblage composition across England and Wales. The explanatory power of the CCA model was based predominantly on a combination of local scale variables (substrate, alkalinity, urban run-off) and regional scale variables (discharge category, northing). The physicochemical gradient associated with changes in stream type from headwaters to estuary dominated assemblage composition. The influence of pollution and habitat modification were of secondary importance. There was a substantial level of spatial structure to both the physicochemical (47% of its explanatory power spatially structured) and anthropogenic stress data (63% of its explanatory power spatially structured), which resulted in a high level of predictable spatial structuring in macroinvertebrate assemblages. Almost 40% of the variation in assemblage composition accounted for by the explanatory model exhibited spatial structure. Positive spatial autocorrelation in macroinvertebrate community composition extended to sites up to 150km apart. As a consequence, community composition could be described from northing and easting with 75% of the explanatory power of the eight physicochemical variables. Our study has confirmed the importance of the longitudinal gradient within catchments, as well as the geographical position of the catchment to macroinvertebrate communities. We have also demonstrated how quantifying the spatial structure in the dataset can improve our understanding of the factors influencing macroinvertebrate community structure.

Biological trait composition of European stream invertebrate communities: assessing the effects of various trait filter types

Understanding the action of filters on the biological trait composition of communities is constrained by the multitude of filter types (e.g. abiotic vs biotic, actual vs historical) that may cause changes of a multitude of traits (e.g. small vs large body size, short vs long life cycle) at a multitude of spatial scales (e.g. continent vs landscape vs local site). Using published data on the as natural as possible abundances and 11 biological traits (described through 63 categories) of 254 European stream invertebrate genera, we assessed how already available knowledge can serve to identify the importance of the action of different types of trait filters at two spatial scales. Therefore, we analysed observed and simulated abundance‐weighted trait compositions at the local scale of 384 running water sites (RWS) and at the landscape scale of 14 large biogeographical regions (LER). Actual abiotic filters acted significantly and independently of the taxonomic richness on the invertebrate traits at the RWS‐ and LER‐scale, whereas biotic filters had no significant effect. Evidence for the action of historical trait filters across Europe was only weak at both scales. Size, reproductive cycle, respiration and locomotion technique, feeding habits and vulnerability to disturbance responded to altitude and stream width of the RWS according to existing views about the effects of riparian, physiological, interstitial or disturbance controls of these traits. These controls acted independently on trait categories that did not co‐occur within the genera, because correlations of size categories with other trait categories were higher in the abundance‐weighted trait array (across communities) than in the original trait array (across genera). Overall, many of the 63 trait categories were scarcely affected by the trait filters considered in this study. Therefore, we briefly discuss potential effects of continental filters and of stream system‐specific, local physical filters, as the latter should produce similar trait patterns on a global scale. Our study suggests that analyses of the currently available knowledge can simplify the complicated hypothetical framework on trait filter actions, which sharpens the focus on future research needs.

A regional diatom-based trophic state indication system for running water sites in Upper Austria and its overregional applicability

(2001). A regional diatom-based trophic state indication system for running water sites in Upper Austria and its overregional applicability. SIL Proceedings, 1922-2010: Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 3376-3380.

Macroinvertebrate frequency data for the RIVPACS III sites in Northern Ireland and some comparisons with equivalent data for Great Britain

1. A total of 313 macroinvertebrate taxa were recorded from the 70 running-water sites in the River InVertebrate Prediction And Classification System (RIVPACS III) dataset for Northern Ireland, after the application of a standardization procedure to ensure that all samples were identified to the same taxonomic level. The listing includes a small number of oligochaetes not previously reported from Ireland. The frequency of occurrence of the 313 taxa within the Northern Ireland dataset is also presented. 2. The taxonomic composition and frequency of occurrence of taxa in the Northern Ireland dataset were then compared with the 614 site dataset for Great Britain, which included 637 taxa, and a 75 site subset within Britain at a similar latitude to Northern Ireland with 333 taxa. 3. The macroinvertebrate fauna of Northern Ireland is dominated by taxa recorded at the highest frequencies of occurrence in Britain. Some notable absences are highlighted and, in particular, a small number of lotic mayflies and stoneflies which are common in Great Britain. There is documentary evidence of the introduction by man of a number of non-insect taxa, either deliberately or by accident. 4. A detailed knowledge of the present composition of the macroinvertebrate fauna of running-water sites in Northern Ireland, and an active research programme on the potential for new colonists to pose a threat to native species, are important factors in the future conservation of the freshwater fauna. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Macroinvertebrate richness at running-water sites in Great Britain: a comparison of species and family richness

Macroinvertebrate richness at running-water sites in Great Britain: a comparison of species and family richness

Seasonal variation in the composition of aquatic organic matter in some Nova Scotian brownwaters: a nuclear magnetic resonance approach

Using a novel concentration technique (reverse osmosis and freeze-drying) as well as a standard analytical technique little used with limnological samples (solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance), we studied the chemical structure of aquatic organic matter from four closely located freshwater sites in Nova Scotia. The main conclusions drawn from the data are that: (a) the aromatic C fraction which is assumed to be refractory remains at less than 10% of the total, with a slight increase in relative importance in the fall, (b) less structurally complex aliphatic carbon decreases from winter to spring and remains at lower levels into later fall, (c) carbohydrates are at a maximum during the summer, (d) the carboxylic C fraction is at a minimum in the summer and maximum in the fall and winter. Results show roughly the same annual patterns of C composition for the two running water sites. Our data suggest that the hydrological processes which carry terrestrial and wetland DOM to streams and lakes allow a selective adsorption process of DOM to occur in soils. We compare our data to those from other freshwater studies and suggest that the importance of aromatic carbon in freshwaters has probably been overestimated in the past, with a corresponding underestimate of the more biologically labile carbohydrate and aliphatic material.

Classification of running-water sites in Austria based on benthic algal community structure

Classification of running-water sites in Austria based on benthic algal community structure

The running-water beetles (Coleoptera) of a river catchment in northern England

202 running-water sites in the catchment of the River Rede, a tributary of the River Tyne in northern England, were sampled for invertebrates in 1990. The distributions of water beetle species were investigated using logistic regression with several environmental factors. A number of site structure characteristics were assessed and the presence or absence of silt (as peat or clay) was found to be the most important single variable. Shingle, pebbles, cobbles, boulders and the amount of vegetation present were less important substrate variables. The distance from stream source reflected substrate structure and site gradient was a poor determinant of species distribution. A composite variable, termed the exposure index, was derived from all the site structure characteristics using an ordination and was found to be useful in explaining species distribution. Water pH also affected distributions considerably. Two variable analyses using the exposure index and water pH gave the best explanation of species distribution. The two variables used together were a reflection of productivity and disturbance, the two main components of habitat templates and strategy theory. The distribution of water beetle species in the Rede catchment was a product of these factors, which, in turn, were a product of the geography of the catchment.

New procedures for identifying running-water sites subject to environmental stress and for evaluating sites for conservation, based on the macroinvertebrate fauna

New procedures for identifying running-water sites subject to environmental stress and for evaluating sites for conservation, based on the macroinvertebrate fauna

Ordination or typology — The search for a stable classification of running water communities

Data on chironomid communities from 42 running water sites in Europe are analyzed by DCA and TWINSPAN methods. The sites are well separated in mountain or northern sites and lowland sites. The DCA method appears robust with respect to different levels in identification of the material. Typological classifications seem more stable and better suited for partial modifications and extensions.

Vertical distribution of fauna in the bed sediment of three running water sites: Influence of physical and trophic factors

AbstractRelationships between invertebrates, substrate characteristics and trophic factors were investigated, with special emphasis on the hyporheic habitat, in order to characterize the functioning of different running waters ecosystems.Three contrasting study sites were chosen in catchments exhibiting different features: (1) a meandering reach of the Loire River in its alluvial floodplain, upstream of the ‘Bec d'Allier’; (2) a reach of the Galaure with a fairly developed riparian corridor, a small sinuous foothill river; and (3) a braided reach of the Drac, an alpine torrential stream.Each site was sampled once using the freezing‐core technique with previous electro‐positioning of the invertebrates. In each site, four 60 cm cores were extracted, each one from different morphodynamic units.In the Loire and Galaure rivers, most invertebrates are found in the first 15 cm of the sediment, with the exception of some particular taxa or morphodynamic units (riffle head). Conversely, in the Drac lotic units, maximum density of invertebrates occurs between 15 and 30 cm and more than 75 per cent of all organisms are found at a depth > 15 cm. The vertical distribution of organisms does not follow a uniform pattern in different streams.In the substrate, the vertical distribution of macroinvertebrates is very closely related to porosity in contrast with trophic parameters that always decrease with depth. The porosity is negatively correlated with the percentage of sand in the sediment and seems to be important in determining the vertical distribution of fauna, and should be integrated in a functional typology of running waters.The trophic parameters and the structure of invertebrate community with its dominant feeding groups allow discrimination of the different sites.

Distribution of benthic invertebrates in acid, brown water streams in the South Island of New Zealand

Acid, brown water streams are common on the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand. Acid precipitation is not a significant problem in this region where stream water acidity is brought about by high concentrations of humic substances. The interrelationships between pH, alkalinity, conductivity, DOC and total reactive aluminium were investigated at 45 running water sites. pH (range 3.5–8.1) was strongly correlated with alkalinity (range 0–49 g·m−3 CaCO3) and less strongly with conductivity (range 2.0–9.7 mS·m−1). A strong positive correlation was found between DOC and total reactive aluminium concentration both of which were correlated negatively with pH. In all brown water streams, most aluminium was probably in the non-toxic, organically complexed form. Benthic invertebrate assemblages were examined at 34 sites. Taxonomic richness was not correlated with pH and similar numbers of ephemeropteran, plecopteran and trichopteran taxa were taken from acidobiontic (pH ⩽ 5.5), acidophilic (pH 5.6–6.9) and moderately alkaline (pH ⩾ 7.0) groups of streams. Many species occurred over a wide pH range and had a lower limit of about pH 4.5. The mayfly, Deleatidium occurred at 33 sites and was amongst the five most abundant taxa at 32 of them. The stoneflies, Zelandobius confusus, Austroperla cyrene and Stenoperla maclellani, an elmid, Hydora sp. and a caddisfly, Psilochorema sp. also occurred in over half the streams and frequently were abundant. Few habitat specialists were found. Benthic assemblages were not associated strongly with measured physicochemical factors but streams in close proximity tended to have similar faunas. This suggests that the availability of suitable colonizers sets the limits to species richness and is important in determining the composition of benthic assemblages at a particular locality.

The use of prediction to assess macroinvertebrate response to river regulation

A technique, which uses environmental data to predict the macroinvertebrate fauna of running water sites, was used to investigate the response of faunal communities to flow regulation below a set of upland reservoirs in Great Britain. Five variables (total oxidised nitrogen, alkalinity, chloride, substratum type and site distance from stream source) were used to predict family presence and abundance at 30 regulated sites. The predictions were compared with the observed fauna recorded in samples taking in spring, summer and autumn. Of the 37 commonly occurring families 22 showed statistically significant trends. Twelve of these occurred at lower abundances than predicted and the effect was greatest in Heptageniidae, Simuliidae, Elminthidae, Perlodidae and Rhyacophilidae. Ten families were more more abundant than predicted and these included Polycentropodidae, Sphaeriidae, Sialidae and some groups of chironomids and oligochaetes. Fifteen families showed no significant trends. Most families showed little difference in the observed and expected frequency of occurrence in the 30 sites but Taeniopterygidae and Perlidae amongst others occurred at less than the expected number of sites and Hydridae, Prodiamesinae and Muscidae occurred more commonly than expected. These faunal responses are discussed in relation to environmental changes arising from flow regulation. The possible uses of the predictive technique in simulating and assessing the effects of regulation on downstream fauna are outlined.