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Li C, Miao L, Adyel TM, Wu J, Hou J. Transformation of Biofilm to Carbon Sinks after Prolonged Droughts Linked with Algal Biodiversity Change. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15487-15498. [PMID: 37807898 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change significantly increased the duration of droughts in intermittent rivers, impacting benthic microbial-mediated biogeochemical processes. However, the impact of prolonged droughts on the carbon contribution of intermittent rivers remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of varying drought gradients (ranging from 20 to 130 days) on benthic biofilms community structure (algae, bacteria, and fungi) and their carbon metabolism functions (ecosystem metabolism and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission fluxes) using mesocosm experiments. Our findings indicate that longer drought durations lead to reduced alpha diversity and community heterogeneity, tighter interdomain networks, and an increased role of stochastic processes in community assembly, with a discernible threshold at around 60 days. Concurrently, the biofilm transforms into a carbon sink following a drought period of 60 days, as evidenced by the transformation of CO2 emission fluxes from 633.25 ± 194.69 to -349.61 ± 277.79 mg m-2 h-1. Additionally, the partial least-squares path model revealed that the resilience of algal communities and network stability may drive biofilm's transformation into a carbon sink, primarily through the heightened resilience of autotrophic metabolism. This study underscores the significance of the carbon contribution from intermittent rivers, as the shift in carbon metabolism functions with increasing droughts could lead to skewed estimations of current riverine carbon fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoran Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingzhan Miao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Tanveer M Adyel
- STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes 5095, SA, Australia
| | - Jun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
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2
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Jiménez L, Freixa A, Besolí N, Sabater S. Resistance but not recovery is related to the role of specialist taxa in river communities submitted to hydric stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:161952. [PMID: 36740050 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
One of the main effects of global change is the human interference in the global water cycle, which alters river hydrological dynamics and submits their biological communities to hydric stress. Hydric stress is a pulse disturbance with potential multiple effects on biodiversity and functions in river ecosystems. The presence of habitat specialists may support the response of biological communities to pulse disturbances, maintaining ecological functions more consistently than other communities only having generalists. We tested this general hypothesis in stream communities submitted to increasing hydric stress (normal conditions vs humidity vs desiccation). We used communities with variable proportion of specialist algal and cyanobacterial taxa and tested their resistance to hydric stress by analyzing potential changes on their number of species, biovolume, proportion of intact cells, and photosynthetic variables (basal fluorescence, photosynthetic yield). We also evaluated the recovery of ecological functions (net community primary production, community respiration, phosphorus uptake) once hydric stress conditions ended. Hydric stress caused a slight decrease in the number of species and biovolume of assemblages, but the proportion of intact cells did not significantly change because of the disturbance. Basal fluorescence and photosynthetic yield under hydric stress decreased more markedly in communities without specialist taxa, while communities with habitat specialists resisted better. Metabolism did not remarkably decrease under moderate hydric stress, but dropped by half under desiccation in all communities, having or not specialist taxa. Overall, specialist taxa did provide higher resistance to stress but did not support a distinct recovery of ecological functions. We suggest that this characteristic response is related to the high plasticity of biofilm structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jiménez
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Freixa
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Girona, Spain; Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Neus Besolí
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Girona, Spain
| | - Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Girona, Spain; Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.
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Li C, Miao L, Adyel TM, Huang W, Wang J, Wu J, Hou J, Wang Z. Eukaryotes contribute more than bacteria to the recovery of freshwater ecosystem functions under different drought durations. Environ Microbiol 2023. [PMID: 36916068 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change mostly impacts river ecosystems by affecting microbial biodiversity and ecological functions. Considering the high functional redundancy of microorganisms, the unknown relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions obstructs river ecological research, especially under the influence of increasing weather extremes, such as in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES). Herein, dry-wet alternation experiments were conducted in artificial stream channels for 25 and 90 days of drought, both followed by 20 days of rewetting. The dynamic recovery of microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functions (represented by ecosystem metabolism and denitrification rate) were determined to analyse biodiversity-ecosystem-function (BEF) relationships after different drought durations. There was a significant difference between bacterial and eukaryotic biodiversity recovery after drought. Eukaryotic biodiversity was more sensitive to drought duration than bacterial, and the eukaryotic network was more stable under dry-wet alternations. Based on the establishment of partial least squares path models, we found that eukaryotic biodiversity has a stronger effect on ecosystem functions than bacteria after long-term drought. Indeed, this work represents a significant step forward for further research on the ecosystem functions of IRES, especially emphasizing the importance of eukaryotic biodiversity in the BEF relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoran Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 210098, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingzhan Miao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 210098, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tanveer M Adyel
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, 5095, Mawson, Australia
| | - Wei Huang
- China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, 100038, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 210098, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, 210098, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Wang
- Center for Eco-Environmental Research, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, National Energy Administration, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Water Resources, 210029, Nanjing, China
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4
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Simultaneous production of γ-linolenic acid and carotenoids by a novel microalgal strain isolated from the underexplored habitat of intermittent streams. ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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5
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Miao L, Li C, Adyel TM, Huang W, Wu J, Yu Y, Hou J. Effects of the Desiccation Duration on the Dynamic Responses of Biofilm Metabolic Activities to Rewetting. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1828-1836. [PMID: 36637413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Global climate changes have increased the duration and frequency of river flow interruption, affecting the physical and community structure of benthic biofilms. However, the dynamic responses of biofilm metabolism during the dry-wet transition remain poorly understood. Herein, the dynamic changes in biofilm metabolic activities were investigated through mesocosm experiments under short-term (25 day) and long-term drought (90 day), followed by a 20 day rewetting. The biofilm ecosystem metabolism, as measured by gross primary production and community respiration, was significantly inhibited and turned heterotrophic during the desiccation phase and then recovered, becoming autotrophic during the rewetting period regardless of the desiccation periods due to the high resilience of the autotrophic community. However, long-term drought decreased the recovery rate of the ecosystem metabolism and also caused irreparable damage to the biofilm carbon metabolism, measured using Biolog Eco Plates. Specifically, the recovery of the total carbon metabolic activity is related to the specific carbon source utilized by biofilm microorganisms, such as polymers, carbohydrates, and carboxylic acids. However, the divergent changes of amino acids caused the failure of the total carbon metabolism in long-term drought treatments to recover to the control level even after 20 days of rewetting. This research provides direct evidence that the increased duration of non-flow periods affects biofilm-mediated carbon biogeochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingzhan Miao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaoran Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Tanveer M Adyel
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | - Wei Huang
- China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Jun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, People's Republic of China
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6
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Drought and nutrient pollution produce multiple interactive effects in stream ecosystems. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269222. [PMID: 35834507 PMCID: PMC9282443 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drought and nutrient pollution can affect the dynamics of stream ecosystems in diverse ways. While the individual effects of both stressors are broadly examined in the literature, we still know relatively little about if and how these stressors interact. Here, we performed a mesocosm experiment that explores the compounded effects of seasonal drought via water withdrawals and nutrient pollution (1.0 mg/L of N and 0.1 mg/L of P) on a subset of Ozark stream community fauna and ecosystem processes. We observed biological responses to individual stressors as well as both synergistic and antagonistic stressor interactions. We found that drying negatively affected periphyton assemblages, macroinvertebrate colonization, and leaf litter decomposition in shallow habitats. However, in deep habitats, drought-based increases in fish density caused trophic cascades that released algal communities from grazing pressures; while nutrient enrichment caused bottom-up cascades that influenced periphyton variables and crayfish growth rates. Finally, the combined effects of drought and nutrient enrichment interacted antagonistically to increase survival in longear sunfish; and stressors acted synergistically on grazers causing a trophic cascade that increased periphyton variables. Because stressors can directly and indirectly impact biota—and that the same stressor pairing can act differentially on various portions of the community simultaneously—our broad understanding of individual stressors might not adequately inform our knowledge of multi-stressor systems.
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7
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Courcoul C, Leflaive J, Ferriol J, Boulêtreau S. The sensitivity of aquatic microbial communities to a complex agricultural contaminant depends on previous drought conditions. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 217:118396. [PMID: 35413563 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In intermittent rivers, which represent a prominent part of worldwide rivers, aquatic organisms are exposed to sequential disturbances including flow cessation, potentially associated with water warming, desiccation process and flow resumption. At flow resumption, pollutants stored in soil and washed by rainfalls can reach fresh waters. The interaction between contamination and river intermittency is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed at understanding in what extent the intensity of dry period combined or not to water warming drives the sensitivity of aquatic communities to a complex agricultural run-off (ARO) during rewetting. Phototrophic biofilms, at the basis of freshwater food webs, were chosen as a model of community. Biofilms grown in laboratory were first exposed to a disturbance crossing two temperature conditions (not warmed, 22°C or warmed, 32°C) and three dry periods (no drying, short (3 days), or long (3 months)). Then they were exposed to a chemical mix of nitrates, copper and 3 pesticides at 6 gradual concentrations. Various descriptors associated with biofilm structure and function were assessed one week after ARO addition. When undisturbed biofilms were exposed to ARO, they shifted toward a more heterotrophic state as they lost algal richness and diversity, and gross primary production tended to decrease. Warming alone only slightly modified the sensitivity of biofilms to ARO, with lower effects on algal richness and a trend to increase the effect on gross primary production. In contrast, the association of warming and a dry period strongly modified the sensitivity to ARO, certainly due to the selection of generalist species and/or physiological acclimation inducted by the first disturbance. This study emphasizes the importance of considering water intermittency in the management of the ecological risk of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Courcoul
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5245, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France.
| | - Joséphine Leflaive
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5245, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jessica Ferriol
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5245, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphanie Boulêtreau
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5245, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
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8
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DelVecchia AG, Shanafield M, Zimmer MA, Busch MH, Krabbenhoft CA, Stubbington R, Kaiser KE, Burrows RM, Hosen J, Datry T, Kampf SK, Zipper SC, Fritz K, Costigan K, Allen DC. Reconceptualizing the hyporheic zone for nonperennial rivers and streams. FRESHWATER SCIENCE (PRINT) 2022; 41:167-182. [PMID: 35846249 PMCID: PMC9280706 DOI: 10.1086/720071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nonperennial streams dominate global river networks and are increasing in occurrence across space and time. When surface flow ceases or the surface water dries, flow or moisture can be retained in the subsurface sediments of the hyporheic zone, supporting aquatic communities and ecosystem processes. However, hydrological and ecological definitions of the hyporheic zone have been developed in perennial rivers and emphasize the mixing of water and organisms, respectively, from both the surface stream and groundwater. The adaptation of such definitions to include both humid and dry unsaturated conditions could promote characterization of how hydrological and biogeochemical variability shape ecological communities within nonperennial hyporheic zones, advancing our understanding of both ecosystem structure and function in these habitats. To conceptualize hyporheic zones for nonperennial streams, we review how water sources and surface and subsurface structure influence hydrological and physicochemical conditions. We consider the extent of this zone and how biogeochemistry and ecology might vary with surface states. We then link these components to the composition of nonperennial stream communities. Next, we examine literature to identify priorities for hydrological and ecological research exploring nonperennial hyporheic zones. Lastly, by integrating hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecology, we recommend a multidisciplinary conceptualization of the nonperennial hyporheic zone as the porous subsurface streambed sediments that shift between lotic, lentic, humid, and dry conditions in space and time to support aquatic-terrestrial biodiversity. As river drying increases in extent because of global change, we call for holistic, interdisciplinary research across the terrestrial and aquatic sciences to apply this conceptualization to characterize hyporheic zone structure and function across the full spectrum of hydrological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G. DelVecchia
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708 USA
| | - Margaret Shanafield
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Ring Road, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042 Australia
| | - Margaret A. Zimmer
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1156 High Street, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064 USA
| | - Michelle H. Busch
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, Oklahoma 73019 USA
| | - Corey A. Krabbenhoft
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, Minnesota 55108 USA
| | - Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS United Kingdom
| | - Kendra E. Kaiser
- Geosciences Department, Boise State University, 1295 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725 USA
| | - Ryan M. Burrows
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Burnley, Victoria 3121 Australia
| | - Jake Hosen
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 195 Marsteller Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 USA
| | - Thibault Datry
- French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, UR-RiverLy, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Centre Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 5 rue de la Doua CS70077, 69626 Villeurbanne CEDEX France
| | - Stephanie K. Kampf
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, 1476 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 USA
| | - Samuel C. Zipper
- Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas 66047 USA
| | - Ken Fritz
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Mailstop 585, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 USA
| | - Katie Costigan
- School of Geosciences, University of Louisiana, 611 McKinley Street, Hamilton Hall 323, P.O. Box 43717, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504USA
| | - Daniel C. Allen
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, 311 Forestry Resources Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 USA
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Peralta-Maraver I, Stubbington R, Arnon S, Kratina P, Krause S, de Mello Cionek V, Leite NK, da Silva ALL, Thomaz SM, Posselt M, Milner VS, Momblanch A, Moretti MS, Nóbrega RLB, Perkins DM, Petrucio MM, Reche I, Saito V, Sarmento H, Strange E, Taniwaki RH, White J, Alves GHZ, Robertson AL. The riverine bioreactor: An integrative perspective on biological decomposition of organic matter across riverine habitats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 772:145494. [PMID: 33581537 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Riverine ecosystems can be conceptualized as 'bioreactors' (the riverine bioreactor) which retain and decompose a wide range of organic substrates. The metabolic performance of the riverine bioreactor is linked to their community structure, the efficiency of energy transfer along food chains, and complex interactions among biotic and abiotic environmental factors. However, our understanding of the mechanistic functioning and capacity of the riverine bioreactor remains limited. We review the state of knowledge and outline major gaps in the understanding of biotic drivers of organic matter decomposition processes that occur in riverine ecosystems, across habitats, temporal dimensions, and latitudes influenced by climate change. We propose a novel, integrative analytical perspective to assess and predict decomposition processes in riverine ecosystems. We then use this model to analyse data to demonstrate that the size-spectra of a community can be used to predict decomposition rates by analysing an illustrative dataset. This modelling methodology allows comparison of the riverine bioreactor's performance across habitats and at a global scale. Our integrative analytical approach can be applied to advance understanding of the functioning and efficiency of the riverine bioreactor as hotspots of metabolic activity. Application of insights gained from such analyses could inform the development of strategies that promote the functioning of the riverine bioreactor across global ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Peralta-Maraver
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain; Department of Life Sciences, Roehampton University, London, UK.
| | - Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Shai Arnon
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Pavel Kratina
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Stefan Krause
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Vivian de Mello Cionek
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Nei Kavaguichi Leite
- Department of Ecology and Zoology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Aurea Luiza Lemes da Silva
- Department of Ecology and Zoology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | - Malte Posselt
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Andrea Momblanch
- Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
| | - Marcelo S Moretti
- Laboratory of Aquatic Insect Ecology, Universidade Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo L B Nóbrega
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | | | - Mauricio M Petrucio
- Department of Ecology and Zoology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Isabel Reche
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Victor Saito
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hugo Sarmento
- Department of Hydrobiology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Emily Strange
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ricardo Hideo Taniwaki
- Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - James White
- River Restoration Centre, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK
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10
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Tornés E, Colls M, Acuña V, Sabater S. Duration of water flow interruption drives the structure and functional diversity of stream benthic diatoms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:144675. [PMID: 33736405 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Flow cessation affects river ecosystems submitted to low precipitation and increased water demand, and creates unfavourable conditions to aquatic biological communities. Diatoms are amongst the most sensitive biological groups to hydric stress, making them good indicators of preceding hydrological conditions. We here analyse the response of diatom assemblages to the duration and frequency of non-flow periods in 23 Mediterranean temporary streams. All of them experienced a strong decrease in water flow during summer, leading to a period of flow cessation. In addition, other ten permanent streams (zero dry days during the study period) were included in the study for comparative purposes. Temporary and permanent streams showed similar diatom species richness, evenness, and alpha diversity. However, beta diversity was higher in temporary than permanent streams, regardless rare taxa (<1% occurrence) had similar numbers in the two types of streams. Alpha diversity, richness, and evenness of diatom assemblages in the temporary streams changed with the duration of the non-flow period. Durations of 50-100 days were associated to higher alpha diversity, richness, and evenness, but longer non-flow periods caused their decrease. Diatoms thriving under the most extreme conditions were mostly aerophilic, pioneer, and motile taxa. The proportion of aerophilic diatom taxa increased beyond 100 dry days, particularly in those sites receiving more intense solar radiation. Overall, the taxonomical and functional composition of diatom assemblages mostly responded to the duration of the non-flow period, irrespectively of these being consecutive or not. This study shows that diatom assemblages from temporary streams contain taxa adapted to non-flow conditions, but remain vulnerable to further reductions of water flow associated to climate or global change. 'Unimpacted' watercourses in the Mediterranean region, independently of their flow regime, should be urgently protected and used as taxonomical and functional early indicators of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Tornés
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003, Girona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain.
| | - Miriam Colls
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Vicenç Acuña
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain; University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Sergi Sabater
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003, Girona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
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11
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Defining Dry Rivers as the Most Extreme Type of Non-Perennial Fluvial Ecosystems. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12177202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We define Dry Rivers as those whose usual habitat in space and time are dry channels where surface water may interrupt dry conditions for hours or a few days, primarily after heavy rainfall events that are variable in time and that usually lead to flash floods, disconnected from groundwater and thereby unable to harbor aquatic life. Conceptually, Dry Rivers would represent the extreme of the hydrological continuum of increased flow interruption that typically characterizes the non-perennial rivers, thus being preceded by intermittent and ephemeral rivers that usually support longer wet phases, respectively. This paper aims to show that Dry Rivers are ecosystems in their own right given their distinct structural and functional characteristics compared to other non-perennial rivers due to prevalence of terrestrial conditions. We firstly reviewed the variety of definitions used to refer to these non-perennial rivers featured by a predominant dry phase with the aim of contextualizing Dry Rivers. Secondly, we analyzed existing knowledge on distribution, geophysical and hydrological features, biota and biogeochemical attributes that characterize Dry Rivers. We explored the capacity of Dry Rivers to provide ecosystem services and described main aspects of anthropogenic threats, management challenges and the conservation of these ecosystems. We applied an integrative approach that incorporates to the limnological perspective the terrestrial view, useful to gain a better understanding of Dry Rivers. Finally, we drew main conclusions where major knowledge gaps and research needs are also outlined. With this paper, we ultimately expect to put value in Dry Rivers as non-perennial rivers with their own ecological identity with significant roles in the landscape, biodiversity and nutrient cycles, and society; thus worthy to be considered, especially in the face of exacerbated hydrological drying in many rivers across the world.
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Stubbington R, Acreman M, Acuña V, Boon PJ, Boulton AJ, England J, Gilvear D, Sykes T, Wood PJ. Ecosystem services of temporary streams differ between wet and dry phases in regions with contrasting climates and economies. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology Nottingham Trent University Nottingham UK
| | | | - Vicenç Acuña
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) Girona Spain
- University of Girona Girona Spain
| | | | - Andrew J. Boulton
- School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
| | - Judy England
- Research, Analysis and Evaluation Environment Agency Wallingford UK
| | - David Gilvear
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
| | - Tim Sykes
- Romsey District Office Environment Agency Romsey UK
| | - Paul J. Wood
- Geography and Environment Loughborough University Loughborough UK
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13
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Gionchetta G, Artigas J, Arias-Real R, Oliva F, Romaní AM. Multi-model assessment of hydrological and environmental impacts on streambed microbes in Mediterranean catchments. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:2213-2229. [PMID: 32227440 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microbes inhabiting intermittent streambeds are responsible for controlling and developing many biogeochemical processes essential for the ecosystem functions. Although streambed microbiota is adapted to intermittency the intensification of water scarcity and prolonged dry periods may jeopardise their capacity to cope with hydrological changes. This study aims to evaluate whether, and to what extent, the duration of dry periods affects streambed microbial density, diversity, composition (16S rRNA gene diversity) and functions (extracellular enzyme activities and respiration). Our results highlight the fact that hydrology modulates the community composition and, to some extent, the functions carried out under different environmental conditions. The relative abundance of certain taxa inhabiting the driest intermittent communities differs significantly from those found at sites with continuous flow. Microbial functional metrics revealed a progressive increase in recalcitrant carbon degradation activity at sites with an extended dry phase. In contrast, bacterial density and diversity were mainly influenced by the catchment land use, agriculture enhanced density but reduced diversity, and the presence of riparian vegetation supported greater streambed bacterial diversity. From this perspective, a combination of prolonged dryness with reduced riparian vegetation and increased agricultural land cover could compromise the ecosystem functioning by threaten microbially mediated processes linked to the carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gionchetta
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Joan Artigas
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Genome et Environnement, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Rebeca Arias-Real
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Oliva
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Maria Romaní
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain
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Acuña V, Jorda‐Capdevila D, Vezza P, De Girolamo AM, McClain ME, Stubbington R, Pastor AV, Lamouroux N, Schiller D, Munné A, Datry T. Accounting for flow intermittency in environmental flows design. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vicenç Acuña
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) Girona Spain
- Universitat de Girona (UdG) Girona Spain
| | - Dídac Jorda‐Capdevila
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) Girona Spain
- Universitat de Girona (UdG) Girona Spain
| | - Paolo Vezza
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) Politecnico di Torino Torino Italy
| | | | - Michael E. McClain
- Department of Water Science and Engineering IHE Delft Institute for Water Education Delft The Netherlands
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Delft University of Technology Delft The Netherlands
| | - Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology Nottingham Trent University Nottingham UK
| | - Amandine V. Pastor
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C) Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Modelling (CCIAM) Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | | | - Daniel Schiller
- Professor Serra Húnter Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences Faculty of Biology University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
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Wastewater Biofilm Photosynthesis in Photobioreactors. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7080252. [PMID: 31405172 PMCID: PMC6723877 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7080252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic performance of algal-bacterial biofilms from an Italian wastewater treatment plant was studied in a flow-lane photobioreactor at different irradiances, temperatures, and flow regime to evaluate the effects of these environmental parameters on biofilms’ functioning, in view of application of these communities in wastewater biological treatment. Pulse amplitude modulated fluorescence was used to estimate the effective quantum yield of PSII (ΔF/Fm’) of the light-acclimated biofilms and to perform rapid light curves (RLCs) for the determination of the photosynthetic parameters (rel.ETRmax, α, Ik). Chl a, ash free dry weight (AFDW), and dry weight (DW) were measured to assess phototrophic and whole biofilm biomass development over time. From the analysis of photosynthetic parameter variation with light intensity, temperature and flow rate, it was possible to identify the set of experimental values favoring biofilm photosynthetic activity. Biomass increased over time, especially at the highest irradiances, where substrata were fastly colonized and mature biofilms developed at all temperatures and flow conditions tested.
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