Responses of macroinvertebrate communities to long‐term flow variability in a Sonoran Desert stream

Current global models predict a hotter and drier climate in the southwestern United States with anticipated increases in drought frequency and severity coupled with changes in flash flood regimes. Such changes would likely have important ecological consequences, particularly for stream and riparian ecosystems already subject to frequent hydrologic disturbance. This study assessed the potential response of aquatic macroinvertebrates to interannual variation in hydrology in a spatially intermittent desert stream (Sycamore Creek, AZ). We compiled data on the recovery of macroinvertebrate communities following spring floods, with successional sequences captured 11 times over a 16‐year period (1983–1999). This period encompassed a transition from perennial to intermittent flow in this system, and included a record drought in 1989–1990. Results show that while the size of floods initiating sequences had little explanatory power, changes in macroinvertebrate community structure during postflood succession were closely associated with antecedent flooding and drought. Year‐to‐year differences in benthic communities integrated taxon‐specific responses to antecedent disturbance, including differential resistance to channel drying, use of hyporheic refugia, and variable rates of recovery once stream flow resumed. The long‐term consequences of drying on community structure were only evident during later stages of postflood succession, illustrating an interaction between flood and drought recovery processes in this system. Our observations highlight the potential for predicted climate changes in this region to have marked and long‐lasting consequences for benthic communities in desert streams.     

The effect of drought on benthic invertebrate communities in a lowland river

Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled at regular intervals from rural and urban sections of the River Roding, Essex, England, in 1975 and 1976. During the latter year a severe drought led to a marked decline in flows and to desiccation of parts of the river bed. In general, drought conditions resulted in an increase in invertebrate populations and possible reasons for this are presented. A considerable number of individuals of certain groups such as cased caddisfly larvae and prosobranch molluscs were, however, eliminated from the river at this time, mainly as a result of stranding and chemical changes in the environment. The effect of reduced flows on river faunas is briefly discussed.     

基于NDVI的云南省2009-2010年干旱遗产效应研究

气候变化正导致干旱事件发生的强度、频度显著改变,极端气候事件发生的不确定性直接影响陆地生态系统关键生态过程。我国西南地区在2009-2010年发生百年一遇的极端干旱,目前关于植被生长在长时间尺度对此次干旱事件的响应尚不明确。以云南省为研究区,基于多年Normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)影像数据以及长时间序列气象资料对此次极端事件的干旱遗产效应开展研究,分析了干旱遗产效应的持续时间以及不同植被类型的响应差异。结果表明:1)云南省植被生长在极端干旱事件发生后受到的抑制时间大约持续1-2年,受影响区域主要集中在遭遇降水严重减少的地区;2)海拔2000 m附近为植被对干旱响应最为敏感的区域,海拔高于4000 m的植被生长几乎未受到干旱影响;3)较之草地和农田,森林植被受到的抑制作用更为强烈。研究揭示了极端干旱对云南省植被生长造成的影响,为该地区未来应对极端干旱并有效开展植被恢复提供理论依据。     

Estimating colonization potential of migrant tree species

Plant populations migrating in response to climate change will have to colonize established communities. Even if a population disperses to a new region with a favorable climate, interactions with other species may prevent its establishment and further spread. The potential of these species to grow along with residents will be a critical factor controlling their response to climate change. To determine the capacity of migrating species to colonize established communities we conducted extensive long-term transplant experiments where potential tree migrant species, i.e. species within 'migration range,' were planted side by side with resident ones. Potential immigrants were selected to be representative species of their native communities. For both groups, residents and potential migrants (17 species), we compared their growth response along gradients in soil moisture and light availability. Rather than manipulate climate directly, we exploited natural microclimatic gradients and the fluctuations in climate that occurred during the 5-year experiment. Experimental results were used to estimate growth in the context of novel climate and relevant establishment factors. Results suggest that potential immigrant species had similar growth rates in the new environment than those from resident species ensuring their ability to establish in the area. However, contrary to our expectations, the soil moisture requirements for the immigrant group were similar to those of the resident species. These results could have major implications for vegetation changes under the predicted drier climate for the region. If it is the case that neither resident species nor potential migrants are able to maintain stable populations, the region may experience a decline in local biodiversity.     

黄河上中游植被动态及其对干湿转换的响应

利用改进帕尔默干旱指数和标准化降水蒸发指数表征气象干旱,采用土壤水分亏缺指数表征农业干旱,采用线性回归、变点检验以及最大相关系数等方法,明确了黄河上中游不同地理分区植被动态及干旱演变特征,深入探讨了植被对区域干旱演变的响应规律。结果表明:1)1982-2015年流域整体趋于变湿,植被演变和研究区干湿特征于2006年存在突变,表现为由趋于变干转变为趋于变湿;2)2006年后退耕还林力度降低,而年均归一化植被指数由0.006/10a的速率增至0.021/10a(P<0.05),强调了除人类活动外暖湿化进程对黄河上中游植被的加速绿化的重要作用;3)植被对不同干旱类型的响应存在空间异质性,内蒙古高原西部、青藏高原北部和黄土高原北部地区,植被受干旱影响较大,NDVI与干旱指数呈现正相关。研究结果可为黄河流域生态可持续发展提供理论依据和数据支撑。     

Incorporating Natural Variability into the Assessment of Ecological Health in Australian Dryland Rivers

Dryland rivers occur over much of Australia’s inland and have some of the most variable patterns of flow in the world. Despite their dominance in terms of Australia’s river types, dryland rivers have not been the focus of the recent increase in research on indicators of river health, mostly owing to their spatial remoteness and relatively low levels of water resource development and human disturbance. Most rivers in arid and semi-arid regions are ephemeral, and only carry significant flows during the wetter months or following infrequent but intense rainfall events. It is not known which, if any, of the existing approaches to river health assessment can be used to accurately assess the health of these large ephemeral rivers. This paper considers why the standard methods for interpreting the currently-used indicators for river health may need to be adapted for variable systems and suggests the use of trends that recognise natural variation in indicator values for undertaking this.     

Forecasting phenology under global warming

As a consequence of warming temperatures around the world, spring and autumn phenologies have been shifting, with corresponding changes in the length of the growing season. Our understanding of the spatial and interspecific variation of these changes, however, is limited. Not all species are responding similarly, and there is significant spatial variation in responses even within species. This spatial and interspecific variation complicates efforts to predict phenological responses to ongoing climate change, but must be incorporated in order to build reliable forecasts. Here, we use a long-term dataset (1953–2005) of plant phenological events in spring (flowering and leaf out) and autumn (leaf colouring and leaf fall) throughout Japan and South Korea to build forecasts that account for these sources of variability. Specifically, we used hierarchical models to incorporate the spatial variability in phenological responses to temperature to then forecast species'' overall and site-specific responses to global warming. We found that for most species, spring phenology is advancing and autumn phenology is getting later, with the timing of events changing more quickly in autumn compared with the spring. Temporal trends and phenological responses to temperature in East Asia contrasted with results from comparable studies in Europe, where spring events are changing more rapidly than are autumn events. Our results emphasize the need to study multiple species at many sites to understand and forecast regional changes in phenology.     

西南地区不同植被类型归一化植被指数与气候因子的相关分析

基于中国西南地区1982—2006年的归一化植被指数(NDVI)遥感数据集和气象数据,运用GIS技术对年均气温、年降水量和干旱指数进行插值,分析了西南地区不同植被类型(沼泽、灌丛、草丛、草原、草甸、针叶林、阔叶林、高山植被、栽培植被)NDVI的年际变化及其与气候因子的相关性.结果表明:研究期间,西南地区NDVI、年均气温、年降水量总体呈上升趋势,其中,年均气温的上升趋势达极显著水平,干旱指数则呈下降趋势;在9种植被类型中,沼泽和草丛NDVI呈下降趋势,且草丛的下降趋势达显著水平,其他7种植被类型的NDVI均呈上升趋势,且针叶林、草甸和高山植被的NDVI上升趋势达显著水平,灌丛NDVI呈极显著上升趋势.9种植被类型所在地区的年均气温均显著上升;年降水量的变化均不显著;沼泽、草丛和栽培植被所在地区的干旱指数呈上升趋势,草甸和高山植被所在地区的干旱指数显著下降,其他4种植被类型所在地区的干旱指数呈不明显的下降趋势.研究区灌丛和针叶林NDVI与年均气温呈显著正相关,灌丛和草甸NDVI与干旱指数呈显著负相关.在保持其他2个气候因子不变的情况下,针叶林、阔叶林、高山植被NDVI与年均气温的相关性最大,草丛NDVI与年降水...     

Hydro-climate and ecological behaviour of the drought of Amazonia in 2005

In 2005, southwestern Amazonia experienced the effects of an intense drought that affected life and biodiversity. Several major tributaries as well as parts of the main river itself contained only a fraction of their normal volumes of water, and lakes were drying up. The consequences for local people, animals and the forest itself are impossible to estimate now, but they are likely to be serious. The analyses indicate that the drought was manifested as weak peak river season during autumn to winter as a consequence of a weak summertime season in southwestern Amazonia; the winter season was also accompanied by rainfall that sometimes reached 25% of the climatic value, being anomalously warm and dry and helping in the propagation of fires. Analyses of climatic and hydrological records in Amazonia suggest a broad consensus that the 2005 drought was linked not to El Niño as with most previous droughts in the Amazon, but to warming sea surface temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean.     

Assessment of the biological health of the Brantas River, East Java, Indonesia using the Australian River Assessment System (AUSRIVAS) methodology

This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the Australian River Assessment System (AUSRIVAS) bioassessment methodology to assess the biological health of streams in the upper-middle Brantas River catchment, East Java, Indonesia. A total of 84 `minimally disturbed' reference sites were selected and sampled for macroinvertebrates in riffle habitats. Sampling of macroinvertebrates and identification to family level was conducted by local biologists following intensive training, and under supervision. A quality control protocol was introduced to ensure the data were reliable and reproducible. A suite of `potential predictor' and `monitoring' environmental variables were also measured at each site. The macroinvertebrate data were used to develop a predictive AUSRIVAS model for the upper-middle Brantas river, and the model was then used to assess the `health' of 15 test sites in the catchment. Bioassessment outputs – Observed (O)/Expected (E) ratios – were found to be broadly related to measures of physical disturbance from land use and riparian degradation. Through the process of local reference site selection and sampling, model development, validation and subsequent use, the Australian AUSRIVAS rapid bioassessment method was assessed as being highly applicable to the upper-middle catchment sections of Indonesian river systems.