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Fox JT, Magoulick DD. Fish beta diversity associated with hydrologic and anthropogenic disturbance gradients in contrasting stream flow regimes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 945:173825. [PMID: 38857792 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173825] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the role of hydrologic variation in structuring aquatic communities is crucial for successful conservation and sustainable management of native freshwater biodiversity. Partitioning beta diversity into the additive components of spatial turnover and nestedness can provide insight into the forces driving variability in fish assemblages across stream flow regimes. We examined stream fish beta diversity across hydrologic and anthropogenic disturbance gradients using long-term (1916-2016) site occurrence records (n = 17,375) encompassing 252 species. We assessed total beta diversity (Sørensen dissimilarity), spatial turnover, and nestedness of fish assemblages in contrasting stream flow regimes across a gradient of decreasing flow stability: groundwater stable (n = 77), groundwater (n = 67), groundwater flashy (n = 175), perennial runoff (n = 141), runoff flashy (n = 255), and intermittent (n = 63) streams. Differences in total beta diversity among the stream flow regimes were driven predominantly (>86 %) by spatial turnover (i.e. species replacement) as opposed to nestedness (i.e. species loss or gain). Total fish beta diversity and spatial turnover were highest in streams with intermediate flow stability (groundwater flashy), while more flow-stable streams (groundwater stable and groundwater) had lower turnover and higher nestedness. Species turnover was also strongly associated with seasonal variation in hydrology across all flow regimes, but these relationships were most evident for assemblages in intermittent streams. Distance-based statistical comparisons showed significant correlations between beta diversity and anthropogenic disturbance variables, including dam density, dam storage volume and water withdrawals in catchments of groundwater stable streams, while hydrologic variables were more strongly correlated with beta diversity in streams with runoff-dominated and flashy flow regimes. The high spatial turnover of species implies that fish conservation actions would benefit from watershed-focused approaches targeting multiple streams with wide spatial distribution, as opposed to simply focusing on preserving sites with the greatest number of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Tyler Fox
- Arkansas Cooperative and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA.
| | - Daniel D Magoulick
- U.S. Geological Survey, Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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Ganea IV, Nan A, Roba C, Baciu C. Characterization of a Neoteric Clay-Based Composite for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Mining Water. ANAL LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2022.2051713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Iolanda-Veronica Ganea
- Physics of Nanostructured Systems Department, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, “Babeș-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandrina Nan
- Physics of Nanostructured Systems Department, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Carmen Roba
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, “Babeș-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin Baciu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, “Babeș-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Rolls RJ. Assessing Effects of Flow Regulation and an Experimental Flow Pulse on Population Size Structure of Riverine Fish with Contrasting Biological Characteristics. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 67:763-778. [PMID: 33547920 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-021-01428-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite effects of dams and water extraction on river hydrology and consequences of aquatic ecosystems being broadly appreciated, empirical evidence is lacking for many regions (e.g. subtropics). Evidence is necessary to determine (i) the circumstances where environmental flows are necessary to protect or improve ecological processes and (ii) what hydrological events are required to achieve those ecological characteristics. Here, temporal variation in the size structure of two small-bodied fish species with contrasting ecological characteristics (Australian smelt, Cox's gudgeon) was compared between two pairs of unregulated and regulated rivers in subtropical Australia. Frequency of in-channel flow pulses in each regulated river was lower compared to paired unregulated rivers. An experimental flow pulse was delivered to one regulated river to assess the ecological outcomes of in-channel flow pulses and inform future decisions about the use of environmental water allocations. Temporal changes in the population size structure of both species were similar between unregulated and regulated rivers and showed no response to the experimental pulse. While the experimental flow briefly suppressed in-stream temperature, changes in temperature were not beyond the thresholds at which spawning occurs or the thermal tolerances for either species. Similar population structure between unregulated and regulated rivers can be attributed to the magnitude of flow regulation being insufficient to alter the physico-chemical conditions, habitat and trophic mechanisms supporting population dynamics during the study period. This suggests current regulated hydrology is protective of local populations of Australian smelt and Cox's gudgeon in these study rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Rolls
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia.
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Truchy A, Sarremejane R, Muotka T, Mykrä H, Angeler DG, Lehosmaa K, Huusko A, Johnson RK, Sponseller RA, McKie BG. Habitat patchiness, ecological connectivity and the uneven recovery of boreal stream ecosystems from an experimental drought. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:3455-3472. [PMID: 32124522 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing climate change is increasing the occurrence and intensity of drought episodes worldwide, including in boreal regions not previously regarded as drought prone, and where the impacts of drought remain poorly understood. Ecological connectivity is one factor that might influence community structure and ecosystem functioning post-drought, by facilitating the recovery of sensitive species via dispersal at both local (e.g. a nearby habitat patch) and regional (from other systems within the same region) scales. In an outdoor mesocosm experiment, we investigated how impacts of drought on boreal stream ecosystems are altered by the spatial arrangement of local habitat patches within stream channels, and variation in ecological connectivity with a regional species pool. We measured basal ecosystem processes underlying carbon and nutrient cycling: (a) algal biomass accrual; (b) microbial respiration; and (c) decomposition of organic matter, and sampled communities of aquatic fungi and benthic invertebrates. An 8-day drought event had strong impacts on both community structure and ecosystem functioning, including algal accrual, leaf decomposition and microbial respiration, with many of these impacts persisting even after water levels had been restored for 3.5 weeks. Enhanced connectivity with the regional species pool and increased aggregation of habitat patches also affected multiple response variables, especially those associated with microbes, and in some cases reduced the effects of drought to a small extent. This indicates that spatial processes might play a role in the resilience of communities and ecosystem functioning, given enough time. These effects were however insufficient to facilitate significant recovery in algal growth before seasonal dieback began in autumn. The limited resilience of ecosystem functioning in our experiment suggests that even short-term droughts can have extended consequences for stream ecosystems in the world's vast boreal region, and especially on the ecosystem processes and services mediated by algal biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Truchy
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Romain Sarremejane
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Timo Muotka
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Finnish Environment Institute, Freshwater Centre, Oulu, Finland
| | - Heikki Mykrä
- Finnish Environment Institute, Freshwater Centre, Oulu, Finland
| | - David G Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Kaisa Lehosmaa
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ari Huusko
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Paltamo, Finland
| | - Richard K Johnson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ryan A Sponseller
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Brendan G McKie
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Rolls RJ, Baldwin DS, Bond NR, Lester RE, Robson BJ, Ryder DS, Thompson RM, Watson GA. A framework for evaluating food-web responses to hydrological manipulations in riverine systems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2017; 203:136-150. [PMID: 28783010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.040] [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: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Environmental flows are used to restore elements of the hydrological regime altered by human use of water. One of the primary justifications and purposes for environmental flows is the maintenance of target species populations but, paradoxically, there has been little emphasis on incorporating the food-web and trophic dynamics that determine population-level responses into the monitoring and evaluation of environmental flow programs. We develop a generic framework for incorporating trophic dynamics into monitoring programs to identify the food-web linkages between hydrological regimes and population-level objectives of environmental flows. These linkages form the basis for objective setting, ecological targets and indicator selection that are necessary for planning monitoring programs with a rigorous scientific basis. Because there are multiple facets of trophic dynamics that influence energy production and transfer through food webs, the specific objectives of environmental flows need to be defined during the development of monitoring programs. A multitude of analytical methods exist that each quantify distinct aspects of food webs (e.g. energy production, prey selection, energy assimilation), but no single method can provide a basis for holistic understanding of food webs. Our paper critiques a range of analytical methods for quantifying attributes of food webs to inform the setting, monitoring and evaluation of trophic outcomes of environmental flows and advance the conceptual understanding of trophic dynamics in river-floodplain systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Rolls
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Darren S Baldwin
- The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, La Trobe University, PO Box 821, Wodonga, VIC 3689, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Nick R Bond
- The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, La Trobe University, PO Box 821, Wodonga, VIC 3689, Australia
| | - Rebecca E Lester
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, PO Box 423, Warrnambool, VIC 3280, Australia
| | - Barbara J Robson
- CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Daren S Ryder
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - Ross M Thompson
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Garth A Watson
- The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, La Trobe University, PO Box 821, Wodonga, VIC 3689, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Rolls RJ, Heino J, Ryder DS, Chessman BC, Growns IO, Thompson RM, Gido KB. Scaling biodiversity responses to hydrological regimes. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 93:971-995. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Rolls
- Institute for Applied Ecology; University of Canberra; Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
- School of Environmental and Rural Science; University of New England; Armidale New South Wales 2351 Australia
| | - Jani Heino
- Finnish Environment Institute, Natural Environment Centre, Biodiversity; Oulu Finland
| | - Darren S. Ryder
- School of Environmental and Rural Science; University of New England; Armidale New South Wales 2351 Australia
| | | | - Ivor O. Growns
- School of Environmental and Rural Science; University of New England; Armidale New South Wales 2351 Australia
| | - Ross M. Thompson
- Institute for Applied Ecology; University of Canberra; Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Keith B. Gido
- Division of Biology; Kansas State University; Manhattan KS U.S.A
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Li JY, Zhang YF, Yang Z, Wang M. Bacterial diversity in Shahu lake, northwest China is significantly affected by nutrient composition rather than location. ANN MICROBIOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-017-1276-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Growns I. The implementation of an environmental flow regime results in ecological recovery of regulated rivers. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivor Growns
- Department of Primary Industry - Water; New South Wales Office of Water; PO Box 68 Armidale NSW 2350 Australia
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