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Sabater S, Freixa A, Jiménez L, López-Doval J, Pace G, Pascoal C, Perujo N, Craven D, González-Trujillo JD. Extreme weather events threaten biodiversity and functions of river ecosystems: evidence from a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:450-461. [PMID: 36307907 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Both gradual and extreme weather changes trigger complex ecological responses in river ecosystems. It is still unclear to what extent trend or event effects alter biodiversity and functioning in river ecosystems, adding considerable uncertainty to predictions of their future dynamics. Using a comprehensive database of 71 published studies, we show that event - but not trend - effects associated with extreme changes in water flow and temperature substantially reduce species richness. Furthermore, event effects - particularly those affecting hydrological dynamics - on biodiversity and primary productivity were twice as high as impacts due to gradual changes. The synthesis of the available evidence reveals that event effects induce regime shifts in river ecosystems, particularly affecting organisms such as invertebrates. Among extreme weather events, dryness associated with flow interruption caused the largest effects on biota and ecosystem functions in rivers. Effects on ecosystem functions (primary production, organic matter decomposition and respiration) were asymmetric, with only primary production exhibiting a negative response to extreme weather events. Our meta-analysis highlights the disproportionate impact of event effects on river biodiversity and ecosystem functions, with implications for the long-term conservation and management of river ecosystems. However, few studies were available from tropical areas, and our conclusions therefore remain largely limited to temperate river systems. Further efforts need to be directed to assemble evidence of extreme events on river biodiversity and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Sabater
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Freixa
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain
| | - Laura Jiménez
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Julio López-Doval
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Giorgio Pace
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Pascoal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Núria Perujo
- Catalan Institute of Water Research (ICRA), Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain
- University of Girona, Plaça de Sant Domènec 3, 17004, Girona, Spain
| | - Dylan Craven
- Centro de Modelación y Monitoreo de Ecosistemas, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
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Coulson LE, Feldbacher E, Pitzl B, Weigelhofer G. Effects of intermittent flow on biofilms are driven by stream characteristics rather than history of intermittency. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157809. [PMID: 35934041 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intermittent streams are found all over the world, however most studies focus on intermittency in hot, arid climates. As flow intermittency is expected to increase with climate change, it is important to understand how stream biofilms in temperate regions respond to these changing conditions. In this study, 20 different streams from around Austria were sampled under flowing and non-flowing conditions to evaluate the effect of intermittency on temperate stream biofilms. These streams encompassed two distinct stream types: fine-grained with high agricultural land use and coarse sediments from relatively pristine areas. Half of these streams were historically intermittent and half historically perennial. Samples were taken from all streams during the spring and fall, when the intermittent streams were flowing and dry, respectively. Subsets of the sediments were subjected to controlled drying to evaluate the effects of history of intermittency on the biofilms. Samples were analyzed for respiration, extracellular enzyme activities, and extracellular polysaccharides in the wet and dry sediments from the field, as well as the lab-dried sediments. This study found that lab-dried perennial sediments showed similar responses to the intermittent sediments, indicating that history of intermittency does not affect biofilm response to drought. This study also found that the effects of grain size, seasonal growth, and nutrient levels have a larger impact on the biofilms than moisture content and history of intermittency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Coulson
- Wassercluster Lunz - Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, Austria; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Eva Feldbacher
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Vienna, Austria; Wassercluster Lunz - Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, Austria
| | - Beate Pitzl
- Wassercluster Lunz - Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, Austria
| | - Gabriele Weigelhofer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Vienna, Austria; Wassercluster Lunz - Biologische Station GmbH, Lunz am See, Austria
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Luo X, Yang Y, Xie S, Wang W, Li N, Wen C, Zhu S, Chen L. Drying and rewetting induce changes in biofilm characteristics and the subsequent release of metal ions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 433:128832. [PMID: 35390615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drying and rewetting can markedly influence the microbial structure and function of river biofilm communities and potentially result in the release of metal ions from biofilms containing metals. However, little information is available on the response of metal-enriched biofilms to drying and rewetting over time. In this study, natural biofilms were allowed to develop in four rotating annular bioreactors for 2-11 weeks, followed by drying for 5 days and rewetting for another 5 days. Subsequently, we assessed Zn, Cd, and As desorption from the biofilms and other related parameters (microbial community structure, biofilm morphology, enzyme activity, and surface components as well as characteristics). High-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the biofilm architecture and bacterial communities were distinct in different growth phases and under drying and rewetting conditions (permutational multivariate analysis of variance; p = 0.001). Proteobacteria was the dominant bacterial phylum, accounting for 69.7-90.1% of the total content. Kinetic experiments revealed that the drying and rewetting process increased metal desorption from the biofilm matrix. The desorption of heavy metals was affected by the age of the biofilm, with the maximum amount of metal ions released from 2-week-old biofilms (one-way ANOVA, Zn: p < 0.001; Cd: p = 0.008; As: p < 0.001). The modifications in biofilm properties and decreased diversity of the bacterial community (paired t-test, p < 0.05) after drying and rewetting decreased the number of specific binding sites for metal ions. In addition, negatively charged arsenate and other anions in the liquid phase could compete with As ions for adsorption sites to promote the release of As(V) and/or reductive desorption of As(III). The results of this study and their interpretation are expected to help refine the behaviors of heavy metals in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Luo
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Yuanhao Yang
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shanshan Xie
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Nihong Li
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Chen Wen
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shijun Zhu
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Liqiang Chen
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Kunming 650500, China.
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Chen X, Zhou W, Luo G, Luo P, Chen Z. Spatial and temporal variations of the diatom communities in megacity streams and its implications for biological monitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:37581-37591. [PMID: 32607991 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09743-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Diatoms have been proven to be good indicators of natural stream conditions, but little is known about the seasonal variability of diatom communities in megacity streams. We investigated the spatial and temporal variation of diatom communities along an urban-to-rural gradient in megacity streams, Beijing, China. We found that the composition and diversity of diatom community was significantly different along the urban-to-rural gradient in streams of Beijing city. The diatom community was subtle temporal variation in the reference stream and urban upstream, but the temporal variation of diatoms was relatively greater in the urban downstream. Overall, the composition of the diatom community was relatively stable in the streams among different seasons, and the dominant species did not change much over seasons. For example, during the sampling periods, the species Achnanthidium minutissimum in reference streams had the average relative abundance of 20.3 ± 3.5%; the species Pseudostaurosira brevistriata and Staurosira construens var. venter in urban upstream had average relative abundances of 17.0% ± 0.9% and 17.3% ± 1.2%, respectively; and the species Nitzschia palea in urban downstream had average relative abundances of 18.8 ± 4.7%. There were significant correlations between the relative abundances of the dominant species and environmental variables, suggesting that the environmental variables had significant effects on the diatom distribution. Our results demonstrate that the diatom communities are relatively stable among seasons in different sampling areas, suggesting that diatoms can be used as reliable indicators for the biological monitoring of water quality in megacity streams across seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
- Hunan Institute of Water Resource and Hydropower Research, Changsha, 410007, Hunan Province, China
| | - Weiqi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
| | - Guoping Luo
- Hunan Institute of Water Resource and Hydropower Research, Changsha, 410007, Hunan Province, China
| | - Pei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, Changsha Research Station for Agricultural & Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Hunan Institute of Water Resource and Hydropower Research, Changsha, 410007, Hunan Province, China
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