Decomposition dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in the lower Atchafalaya, a large floodplain river

Decomposition of aquatic macrophytes can considerably influence carbon cycling and energy flow in shallow freshwater aquatic ecosystems. The Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) is a large floodplain river in southern Louisiana that experiences a seasonal floodpulse and is spatially composed of a mosaic of turbid riverine and stagnant backwater areas. During two seasons, winter and fall of 1995, we examined decomposition of four common aquatic macrophytes in the ARB: water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), arrowhead (Sagittaria platyphylla), coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). To determine decay rates, we used litter bags of two mesh sizes (5 mm and 0.25 mm) and analyzed data with a single exponential decay model. Analysis of decay rates established several trends for aquatic macrophyte decomposition in the ARB. First, macrophytes decayed faster in fall than winter due to the effect of increased temperature. Second, macroinvertebrates were the primary decomposers of macrophytes in riverine sites and microbes were the primary decomposers in backwater areas. These trends may have been related to decomposer-habitat interactions, with well-oxygenated riverine sites more hospitable to invertebrates and backwater areas more favorable to microbes because of high organic inputs and reduced flow. Decay rates for macrophytes, ranked from slowest to fastest, were E. crassipes<S. platyphylla<C. demersum<H. verticillata. Slower decomposition of E. crassipes was probably a result of microbial inhibition by the waxy-cutin outer layer and low nutritional value. The accelerated decomposition of C. demersum and H. verticillata was most likely a function of the large surface area of the highly dissected leaves. Macroinvertebrate numbers were twice as high in riverine sites compared to backwater sites. In the winter, amphipods Gammarus spp. and Hyallela azteca composed a large percentage of the total density on detritus. In the fall, Caenis sp. was prevalent in the backwater habitat and dipterans were abundant in the riverine site. We investigated the microbial component involved in the decomposition of E. crassipes and S. platyphylla and found that the highest microbial respiration rates occurred early in the winter at the backwater site. Bacterial density in the winter on E. crassipes and S. platyphylla averaged 1.4×10⁶ cm^-2 after two days and decreased to 2.0×10⁵ cm^-2 after 28 d. Our results emphasized the importance of the microbial community in the decomposition of macrophytes in the ARB, especially in backwater habitats and in the early stages of decay.     

Species richness and taxonomic distinctness of lake macrophytes along environmental gradients in two continents

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Effects of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation on Macrozoobenthos in a Coastal Lagoon of the Southwestern Atlantic

The freshwater‐dominated part of Rocha coastal lagoon recently experienced sudden colonization by submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Macrophytes may be beneficial or detrimental for the zoobenthos, and both assemblages may in turn affect the food availability for birds and fishes. With the aim of evaluating the effect of SAV on water conditions and on the composition, abundance and diversity of macrozoobenthos, vegetated areas (V, up to 500 g DW m^–2) were compared with vegetation‐free areas (N). The benthic abundance was higher in V (up to 5000 ind m^–2) than in N (up to 2200 ind m^–2). Species richness and abundance of amphipods, gastropods and chironomids were also higher at V compared with N. Conversely, the abundance of Tanais stanfordi (Crustacea), Erodona mactroides (Bivalvia) and Laeonereis culveri (Polychaeta), and the Shannon diversity were higher at N. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Aquatic macrophytes diversity in lagoons of a tropical floodplain: The role of connectivity and water level

Abstract The goal of this research is to evaluate how the assemblages of aquatic macrophytes in marginal floodplain habitats, with different degrees of connectivity to the main river, respond to water level fluctuations. Samples were carried out quarterly (May 2000 to March 2002) in seven lagoons of the Upper Paraná River floodplain (22°30′ and 22°45′‐S and 53°15′ and 53°30′‐W) with different degrees of connectivity (connected and disconnected to the main river). In each lagoon, a shore‐pelagic zone transect was marked and at every 2 m the depth and the cover of each aquatic macrophyte species were recorded (Domin‐Krajina scale) in a quadrat of 0.25 m². A total of 29 aquatic macrophyte species and an unusual decrease in water level were recorded in August 2001. Drawdown had a negative impact on species richness, only in connected lagoons, which was shown by a positive relationship between depth and species number (r‐Spearman = 0.86; P < 0.01). Depth affected Beta diversity positively (r‐Spearman = 0.79; P < 0.05). Drawdown affected the connected and disconnected lagoons differently, which can be attributed to their different morphometry. In this period, ‘habitat contraction’ was higher on connected lagoons. Positive correlation between mean species number and depth, and between beta diversity and depth, are factors that support this affirmation. Indicator species analysis showed that for disconnected lagoons, Oxycaryum cubense (Cyperaceae), Polygonum meissnerianum (Polygonaceae) and P. ferrugineum, with indicator values (IndVal) of 53, 30 and 25%, respectively, were indicator species. Salvinia spp. (Salvinaceae) (62%), P. acuminatum (44%) and the Ricciaceae Ricciocarpus natans (0%) were the indicator species of the connected lagoons.     

Evaluating effects of weed cutting on water level and ecological status in Danish lowland streams

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Abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates and fish in the Tamiraparani river, South India

Occurrence of macroinvertebrates and fish was studied at 11 stations along the course of a tropical river, Tamiraparani, South India. Monthly variations in macroinvertebrate density were studied during 1991. Among macroinvertebrates, hemipterans were the dominant group at all sites, except site 2. Using an ordination technique, density and occurrence of macroinvertebrates were correlated with dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand. A total of 36 species of fish was recorded and their diversity in undisturbed and disturbed regions of the river was compared on a spatial scale. Different diversity indices were calculated to assess fish response to pollution and to determine species richness and composition.     

Effects of water velocity on photosynthesis and dark respiration in submerged stream macrophytes

The effects of flow velocities on dark respiration and net photosynthesis of eight submerged stream macrophytes were examined in a laboratory oxygen chamber. The shoots/leaves were exposed to saturating free-CO₂ concentrations and were attached basally so that they could move in the flowing water. Net photosynthesis declined by 34–61% as flow velocity increased from 1 to 8.6cm s^?1, while dark respiration increased 2.4-fold over the same range. The increase in dark respiration could only account for between 19 and 67% of the decrease in net photosynthesis. The relationship between flow velocity (U) and net photosynthesis (P) was described by: P=b×U^a. The exponent, a, varied from -0.20 to –0.48 and showed a negative correlation to the surface: volume (SA: V) ratio of the plants, i.e. species with high SA: V ratio were more sensitive to flow. In contrast, net photosynthesis of plants firmly attached to a supporting frame was not significantly affected by increasing flow velocity. This result indicates that the physical stress imposed on the plants by agitation or stretching in the flowing water is a key factor for the observed response.     

Aquatic macrophytes of Lake Bled: changes in species composition,distribution and production

The macrophytes of Lake Bled were studied from 1987 to 1990. Three main factors influenced the decline of the aquatic vegetation in the lake during that period: (1) reduced light in the littoral zone due to an increase in phytoplankton (2) grazing by herbivorous fish and waterfowl, and (3) direct human impact.     

Comparative monitoring of diatoms, macroinvertebrates and macrophytes in the Woluwe River (Brussels, Belgium)

The river Woluwe in Brussels and Flanders (Belgium) is a small tributary of 15 km length that drains an area of 9400 ha in the Schelde river basin. The headwaters of the Woluwe are highly fragmented by diverse pond systems and are vaulted in the Brussels agglomeration. Hyporheic zones locally influence the water quality. The downstream stretch of the river receives sewage waters from households and industry. As the river Woluwe within a short distance represents a typical gradient from groundwater-fed sources in the forest towards severely polluted water, a comparative monitoring using diatoms, macroinvertebrates and macrophytes was done. The saprobic index based on diatoms, the Belgian Biotic Index (BBI) for macroinvertebrates and a macrophyte index based on the N-values of Ellenberg were used in this comparison and for estimating the correlation with the bimonthly measured chemical variables in 16 sampling stations. The diatom saprobic index and the macrophyte index were strongly correlated. Both groups showed strong correlations with phosphate, ammonium and chemical oxygen demand. The Belgian Biotic Index showed lower correlations with the nutrient variables, but was slightly better correlated to chemical oxygen demand, chloride and dissolved oxygen. None of the indices showed a correlation with nitrate. Local substrate or light conditions could interfere with the indicator system, especially for the macrophytes and occasionally for the macroinvertebrates. It was concluded that at least in this particular river system, the indices based on the primary producers were more indicative for the trophic status, whereas the BBI showed a broader relationship to the general degree of pollution. Therefore, these three indices are considered as complementary for monitoring the biological quality and the ecological status of a river system.     

Aquatic macrophytes and phytoplankton of a quarry lake in the upper Vicenza range: preliminary study

Abstract

The work was carried out during 1995 in a quarry-lake and 13 samplings were performed to gather data on the aquatic flora. Sampling locations both along the shores and in the water provided data to define the position and the amount of covering by macrophytes. As regards the microphytes, considered as the sole phytoplankton component, the composition and the seasonal abundance were evaluated.     

Influence of water chemistry and environmental degradation on macroinvertebrate assemblages in a river basin in south-east Brazil

Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, water chemistry variables and environmental degradation were investigated in an Atlantic Forest region in Brazil. Seven sites of the Guapimirim river basin were studied during three sampling periods based on the rain regime: end of wet season (May 1998), dry season (August 1998), and wet season (January 1999). Four substrates were collected at each site: sand, stony substrates, litter in pool areas and litter in riffle areas. Relationships between macroinvertebrate assemblages, water chemistry variables and environmental degradation were examined using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). According to CCA, concentrations of dissolved oxygen and chloride, and the environmental degradation, measured by the Riparian Channel Environment index, exhibited the strongest relationship to macroinvertebrate assemblages. Overall, the loss of community diversity measured by the Shannon Index along the degradation gradient was observed. Some taxa were shown to be sensitive to water pollution, especially among Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera and some Ephemeroptera, while others such as Simuliidae, Odonata and molluscs were tolerant to moderate levels of pollutants. The Chironomidae were the only group tolerant to a high level of pollutants and degradation.     

Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage composition and distribution pattern in the upper Mthatha River,Eastern Cape,South Africa

Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled and environmental variables measured at Langeni Forest and Kambi Valley, two sites of varying degrees of human impact in the upper Mthatha River, South Africa, in 2010–2011. Four species, Simulium adersi Pomeroy, Baetis harrisoni Barnard, Pseudocloeon sp. and Tricorythus sp., occurred at all site sampling units. Specimen counts increased from the rainy months of January to April/May, and higher numbers of individuals occurred at Langeni. Species occurrences per site were directly or indirectly affected by season, substrate and habitat heterogeneity. Canonical correspondence analysis results showed that conductivity, pH, flow, substrate and marginal vegetation were important in determining species distribution patterns. Both rare/habitat-restricted and common/widespread benthic macroinvertebrates identified in this study can be used as indicators for assessing the ecological integrity of the Mthatha River. Habitat management along the river should aim at preserving indigenous vegetation, especially during the summer season when habitat requirements are optimal for growth stages of most benthic macroinvertebrate fauna. The practicality of using species-level surveys on a routine basis can be challenging, given the lack of taxonomic expertise and time constraints. It might be advisable to select a few indicator species and to monitor them as surrogates for the whole community.     

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.     

The effect of plant density on epiphytic macroinvertebrates associated with a submerged macrophyte,Lagarosiphon ilicifolius Obermeyer,in Lake Kariba,Zimbabwe

The effect of variations in the density of a submerged macrophyte, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius, on epiphytic macroinvertebrate community structure in the shallow waters of a sheltered bay of Lake Kariba were investigated. The body size class distributions of a mayfly, Cloeon (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), and the damselfly family, Coenagrionidae, were also assessed with respect to variation in vegetation density. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from low-, moderate- and high-density beds of L. ilicifolius. There were no significant differences in individual taxon and total macroinvertebrate abundances, macroinvertebrate richness and diversity with respect to vegetation density. In all three density categories the functional feeding group (FFG) composition was dominated by collector-gatherers and collector-filterers. The abundance of the two FFGs did not change significantly within each, as well as among, the three vegetation-density categories (ANOVA, p > 0.05). The largest size class of Cloeon occurred only in high-density beds, whereas the largest coenagrionid individuals were obtained from low- and moderate-density beds and were absent from high-density beds. The results suggest that variation in the density of Lagarosiphon does not affect epiphytic macroinvertebrate community structure, but does affect body-size distributions of macroinvertebrate taxa, probably by affecting predator-prey interactions.     

Effects of logging on macroinvertebrate production in a sand-bottomed, low-gradient stream

1. Macroinvertebrate production and macrophyte growth were studied in logged and unlogged sections of a sand‐bottomed, low‐gradient, blackwater stream on the Coastal Plain of Virginia, U.S.A. A section of the catchment had been clear‐cut 3 years prior to sampling. No logging occurred in the upstream area of the catchment, which had experienced almost no land disturbance by humans for over 100 years. 2. A primary difference among the logged and unlogged sections of the stream was in the abundance of macrophytes. The combined biomass of Sparganium americanum and of Chara sp. was over 300‐times greater in the logged than the unlogged section. 3. Annual macroinvertebrate production in the sediment was higher in the unlogged section (41 g dry mass m^–2) than in the logged section (25 g m^–2). 4. Annual macroinvertebrate production on Sparganium was higher in the logged section (10 g m^–2 of plant surface area) than in the unlogged section (6 g m^–2). Annual production associated with Chara, which occurred only in the logged section, was 196 g m^–2 of stream bottom covered by this plant. 5. Whole‐stream annual macroinvertebrate production, calculated by summing habitat‐specific production that was weighted by habitat availability, was greater in the logged section (103 g m^–2) than in the unlogged section (41 g m^–2). Sediments supported 99% of the annual production in the unlogged section, whereas macrophytes supported 76% in the logged section. 6. Much of the additional macroinvertebrate production in the logged section was by collector‐filterers living on macrophytes. Production by collector‐gatherers was also greater in the logged section, whereas production by other functional feeding groups changed little with logging. 7. Although logging along high‐gradient, rocky streams also results in increased macroinvertebrate production, that increase often is stimulated by greater periphyton growth rather than the macrophyte growth observed in this low‐gradient stream.     

The effects of macroinvertebrate taxonomic resolution in large landscape bioassessments: an example from the Mid-Atlantic Highlands, U.S.A.

1. During late spring 1993–1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) sampled 490 wadeable streams in the mid‐Atlantic Highlands (MAH) of the U.S. for a variety of physical, chemical and biological indicators of environmental condition. We used the resulting data set to evaluate the importance of differing levels of macroinvertebrate taxonomic resolution in bioassessments by comparing the ability of family versus genus to detect differences among sites classified by type and magnitude of human impact and by stream size. We divided the MAH into two physiographic regions: the Appalachian Plateau where mine drainage (MD) and acidic deposition are major stressors, and the Ridge and Valley where nutrient enrichment is a major stressor. Stream sites were classified into three or four impact classes based on water chemistry and habitat. We used stream order (first to third Strahler order) in each region as a measure of stream size. Ordination, 2 × 2 chi‐square and biotic metrics were used to compare the ability of family and genus to detect differences among both stressor and size classes. 2. With one notable exception, there were only a small number of different genera per family (interquartile range = 1–4). Family Chironomidae, however, contained 123 different genera. As a result, significant information loss occurred when this group was only classified to family. The family Chironomidae did not discriminate among the predefined classes but many chironomid genera did: by chi‐square analysis, 10 and 28 chironomid genera were significant in discriminating MD and nutrient impacts, respectively. 3. Family and genus data were similar in their ability to distinguish among the coarse impacts (e.g. most severe versus least severe impact classes) for all cases. Though genus data in many cases distinguished the subtler differences (e.g. mixed/moderate impacts versus high or low impacts) better than family, differences in significance levels between family and genus analyses were relatively minor. However, genus data detected differences among stream orders in ordination analyses that were not revealed at the family level. In the ordinations, both family and genus levels of analysis responded to similar suites of environmental variables. 4. Our results suggest that identification to the family level is sufficient for many bioassessment purposes. However, identifications to genus do provide more information in genera‐rich families like Chironomidae. Genus or finer levels of identification are important for investigating natural history, stream ecology, biodiversity and indicator species. Decisions about the taxonomic level of identification need to be study specific and depend on available resources (cost) and study objectives.     

Heavy metals contamination and accumulation in submerged macrophytes in an urban river in China

Deteriorating urban water quality has attracted considerable attention in China. We investigated the contamination levels and distribution of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Yuxi River water and sediments, and assessed the heavy metal accumulation capability of five species of submerged macrophytes: Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara, Potamogeton pectinatus L., Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle, Myriophyllum spicatum L., and Potamogeton crispus L. Samples were collected from upstream and downstream locations in different season. The results showed that the levels of heavy metals in the downstream areas were higher than in the upstream areas. Heavy metal concentrations in the river water during the dry seasons were higher than those during the rainy seasons, and the opposite results appeared in sediments and submerged macrophytes. In general, the river was slightly contaminated by heavy metals, and the concentrations of Pb and Ni in this river should serve as a warning, while Cd and Zn pollution in the sediments desperately needs to be removed. Furthermore, Potamogeton pectinatus L. showed a higher accumulation capacity for these metals among the five native submerged macrophytes and could be defined as a hyperaccumulator for Cd. Therefore, the potential use of native aquatic plants in contaminated rivers is worth further exploration.     

Abundance trends for river macroinvertebrates vary across taxa,trophic group and river typology

There is mounting evidence that terrestrial arthropods are declining rapidly in many areas of the world. It is unclear whether freshwater invertebrates, which are key providers of ecosystem services, are also declining. We addressed this question by analysing a long-term dataset of macroinvertebrate abundance collected from 2002 to 2019 across 5009 sampling sites in English rivers. Patterns varied markedly across taxonomic groups. Within trophic groups we detected increases in the abundance of carnivores by 19% and herbivores by 14.8%, while we estimated decomposers have declined by 21.7% in abundance since 2002. We also found heterogeneity in trends across rivers belonging to different typologies based on geological dominance and catchment altitude, with organic lowland rivers having generally higher rates of increase in abundance across taxa and trophic groups, with siliceous lowland rivers having the most declines. Our results reveal a complex picture of change in freshwater macroinvertebrate abundance between taxonomic groups, trophic levels and river typologies. Our analysis helps with identifying priority regions for action on potential environmental stressors where we discover macroinvertebrate abundance declines.     

Replicate DNA metabarcoding can discriminate seasonal and spatial abundance shifts in river macroinvertebrate assemblages

The delivery of consistent and accurate fine-resolution data on biodiversity using metabarcoding promises to improve environmental assessment and research. Whilst this approach is a substantial improvement upon traditional techniques, critics note that metabarcoding data are suitable for establishing taxon occurrence, but not abundance. We propose a novel hierarchical approach to recovering abundance information from metabarcoding, and demonstrate this technique using benthic macroinvertebrates. To sample a range of abundance structures without introducing additional changes in composition, we combined seasonal surveys with fish-exclusion experiments at Catamaran Brook in northern New Brunswick, Canada. Five monthly surveys collected 31 benthic samples for DNA metabarcoding divided between caged and control treatments. A further six samples per survey were processed using traditional morphological identification for comparison. By estimating the probability of detecting a single individual, multispecies abundance models infer changes in abundance based on changes in detection frequency. Using replicate detections of 184 genera (and 318 species) from metabarcoding samples, our analysis identified changes in abundance arising from both seasonal dynamics and the exclusion of fish predators. Counts obtained from morphological samples were highly variable, a feature that limited the opportunity for more robust comparison, and emphasizing the difficulty standard methods also face to detect changes in abundance. Our approach is the first to demonstrate how quantitative estimates of abundance can be made using metabarcoding, both among species within sites as well as within species among sites. Many samples are required to capture true abundance patterns, particularly in streams where counts are highly variable, but few studies can afford to process entire samples. Our approach allows study of responses across whole communities, and at fine taxonomic resolution. We discuss how ecological studies can use additional sampling to capture changes in abundance at fine resolution, and how this can complement broad-scale biomonitoring using DNA metabarcoding.     

河西走廊水生植物多样性格局、群落特征及影响因素

水生植物是湿地生态系统重要组成部分,研究水生植物多样性分布格局及其影响因素对地区水生植物资源保护具有重要意义。通过野外调查并结合气候等环境因素,研究了河西走廊主要水生植物群落类型、数量特征、水生植物多样性分布格局及影响因素,并对中域效应假说进行了验证。研究结果表明:(1)河西走廊地区共有水生植物29科42属84种,群落的聚类分析可将河西走廊水生植物群落划分为15个主要群落类型;(2)河西走廊水生植物群落类型主要受到水温、海拔、经纬度等环境因子影响,群落物种多样性指数与盐度以及溶解性固体总量呈显著性相关;(3)河西走廊水生植物多样性空间格局呈现出"∩"型的单峰格局,中域效应模型能较好地解释该地区水生植物多样性水平的纬度格局及海拔垂直分布格局,对该区域水生植物物种丰富度在纬度和海拔梯度上的变异解释率分别为57.56%、63.5%。分析表明,河西走廊水生植物物种丰富度格局由几何(边界)限制和随机过程及其他未知因素共同控制,且几何(边界)限制和随机过程贡献率较大;同时本研究中未考虑的环境异质性、气候、人为干扰等因素也对河西走廊水生植物多样性空间分布产生重要影响。