Phases in the development of riverine plankton: Examples from the rivers Rhine and Meuse

Observations on phyto and zooplankton in two hydrographically different rivers were compared in order to discriminate phases in plankton development. Along the longitudinal axis of the River Rhine a gradual increase in the development of phytoplankton was observed, which reached its maximumca. 100 km before the river flows into its artificial sedimentation area. The development of rotifer populations was slightly retarded as compared with that of phytoplankton and highest population densities were only reached in the sedimentation area. Crustaceans developed in significant numbers, not until the river water had entered the sedimentation area. Development of zooplankton coincided here with a strong decrease in the density of phytoplankton. A similar trend in plankton development was observed in the River Meuse, although in this river the highest densities of phyto and zooplankton already occurred in its middle reaches. The differences in the timing of plankton growth in the two rivers are probably caused by differences in flow regime between both rivers. The River Rhine, which is fed by rainwater and melting of glaciers in the Alps, has a relatively constant discharge. On the other hand, the low discharge of the rain-fed River Meuse combined with an increased residence time of the water as a consequence of large numbers of weirs, allows a full cycle of plankton development long before its discharge into the sea. This phenomenon was also reflected in the silicate cycle in the Meuse, where the consumption by planktonic diatoms and the regeneration of silicate of deposits seem to be important. In contrast, in the main branches of the River Rhine only the effects of silicate consumption were detectable.     

Monitoring of algae in Dutch rivers: does it meet its goals?

Observations on phytoplankton in the lower reaches of the rivers Rhine and Meuse were carried out in the framework of the national monitoring programme of the main water systems in The Netherlands. Seasonal changes in density and species composition were analysed to detect the major variables and to discuss whether this monitoring meets its goals. Phytoplankton reached peak densities of 140 and 65 μg L^-1 Chl a in the Rhine and Meuse, respectively. Overall density was correlated with seasonal variation in water discharge rather than with nutrient concentrations, that are high in both rivers. The position of sampling sites in relation to the downstream development of the plankton was very important, especially in the regulated Meuse. Despite hydrographic and chemical differences between the two rivers, many species, predominantly diatoms and green algae, were shared. The occurrence of the diatom Skeletonema subsalsum in the Rhine and the green algae Neodesmus danubialis, Micractinium pusillum and Pseudotetrastrum punctatum in the Meuse (1992, but not 1996) was interpreted as a feature related, respectively, to the high salinity of the Rhine and specific riverine conditions of the Meuse. In general the potamoplankton was characterised as an opportunistic assemblage exploiting the high nutrient contents and disturbed hydrography of both rivers. Nevertheless, the phytoplankton contributed to the characterisation of the present river communities, ones that differ rather strongly in historic records. Although year to year variation in phytoplankton density is mainly related to variation in water discharge, phytoplankton biomass did increase as a result of eutrophication over a period of decades. The widespread nature of many of today's potamoplankton species in the two rivers render these organisms less useful for indicating short-term changes in water quality. However the importance of phytoplankton in trophic relationships merits its inclusion in the monitoring of riverine ecosystems. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Impact of hydrology on phyto- and zooplankton community composition in floodplain lakes along the Lower Rhine and Meuse

Floodplain lakes along the rivers Lower Rhine and Meuse in TheNetherlands can be categorized according to their hydrologyand geomorphology. The impact of hydrology on the summer planktoncommunity composition in 100 floodplain lakes was studied bymultivariate analyses (TWINSPAN, FLEXCLUS, DCA) of relativeabundance data of plankton. The phyto- and zooplankton communitycomposition in floodplain lakes is clearly related to hydrology,relevant nutritional resources and habitat characteristics,mainly via input of N and P from the eutrophic main channelsduring floods. The plankton species richness was related tothe complexity of habitats formed by the presence of aquaticvegetation. There was a good agreement between the ecologicaland the environmental characterization of site groups. Cyanobacteria,Chlorophyta and filter-feeding zooplankton taxa associated withopen water are characteristic for floodplain lakes with a longannual flood duration, low Si/N and Si/P ratios, and a poorlydeveloped aquatic vegetation. Bacillariophyceae and scrapingzooplankton taxa associated with aquatic macrophytes are characteristicfor floodplain lakes with a short annual flood duration, highSi/N and Si/P ratios, and a well-developed aquatic vegetation.It is concluded that the restoration of connections betweenrarely flooded lakes and the highly eutrophic main channelsof the Lower Rhine and Meuse will result in hypertrophic conditionsand a reduced plankton diversity in these lakes.     

Environmental monitoring in Baden-Württemberg with special reference to biocoenotic trend-monitoring of macrozoobenthos in rivers and methodical requirements for evaluation of long-term biocoenotic changes

Biomonitoring methods from a comprehensive study of man-made impacts on urban and on the near-natural environment are presented. Part of the environmental monitoring in Baden-Württemberg is a biocoenotic trend-monitoring project on macrozoobenthos in running waters which has resulted in a database enabling long-term trend assessment of biocoenosis in diverse rivers and streams in the future. About 561 species of macrozoobenthos have been recorded (21 species for the first time in Baden-Württemberg). Data are analysed for different purposes: methodological requirements for aquatic trendbiomonitoring, status of endangerment according to the Red Data Book, and first assessment of faunistic long-term changes in the River Rhine.Calculation of cumulative species numbers over number of samples offers sampling success and therefore represents a good way to show how sure or complete results of a given faunistic approach are at a given time. One sample provides less than 25% of the fauna recorded within a three years period of quarterly inspections. To collect the main fraction (90%) of species, it takes 3 years of quarterly collections if all species recorded only once during the whole period are neglected. Several rare species were recorded within the project. 34% of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies are endangered.The River Rhine and its changes in faunal composition within the last century is the example to illustrate the principle of biocoenotic trend-monitoring. The more recent samples of the macrobenthic fauna of the River Rhine indicate an improved quality and diversity because of improved water quality. Several species, indicative of good water quality have returned, and invasion of neozoans is still high, too. However, with respect to extinct species of macrozoobenthos, especially stoneflies, mayflies and caddisflies, mentioned by former authors, there is still a marked absence of indigenous species in the River Rhine.     

The filtration rate of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha used for water quality assessment in Dutch rivers

The effects of contaminated river water on the filtration rate of zebra mussels from a clean reference site were studied. After a 48-h exposure period to filtered water from the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Amstel (The Netherlands), the filtration rate was measured. It was demonstrated that water from contaminated locations inhibited the filtration rate. Inhibition was higher during low water levels in the rivers Rhine and Meuse than during high water levels, suggesting that contaminants are diluted during high water levels. It is concluded that the shortterm filtration assay with D. polymorpha can be used for assessing water quality.     

Biodiversity in the Lower Rhine and Meuse river-floodplains: Its significance for ecological river management

The diversity of aquatic biota in two large river systems of The Netherlands,viz. the Lower Rhine and Meuse, is discussed in order to: (1) reveal historical changes in biodiversity; (2) examine the role of river-floodplain connectivity; (3) set guide lines for ecological river management. The taxonomical diversity, or species richness, is used to describe the former and recent state of aquatic biota in these river systems. The ecological diversity, obtained by incorporating the concept of ecological groups into the concept of biodiversity, appears very useful in delineating guide-lines for ecological river management. The present species richness in the main channels still appears to be relatively low, despite major water quality improvements. Although present biodiversity is much improved compared with a few decades ago, it is evident that the present species are mainly eurytopic, including many exotics. The inhibition of a further biodiversity recovery results from river regulation and normalization, which have caused the deterioration and functional isolation of main channel and floodplain biotopes. The importance of connectivity for the diversity of aquatic biota is found to be different for various taxa. Moreover, a transversal zonation by the biota in the floodplain lakes is found, emphazising the importance of differences in the degree of connectivity for a diverse aquatic flora and fauna. It is concluded that floodplain lakes contribute significantly to the total biodiversity of the entire riverine ecosystem. The redevelopment of active secondary channels is required to restore the most typical riverine habitats and biota.     

Impact of hydrology on the chemistry and phytoplankton development in floodplain lakes along the Lower Rhine and Meuse

The impact of hydrology (floods, seepage) on the chemistry of water and sediment in floodplain lakes was studied by a multivariate analysis (PCA) of physico-chemical parameters in 100 lakes within the floodplains in the lower reaches of the rivers Rhine and Meuse. In addition, seasonal fluctuations in water chemistry and chlorophyll-a development in the main channel of the Lower Rhine and five floodplain lakes along a flooding gradient were monitored. The species composition of the summer phytoplankton in these lakes was studied as well.At present very high levels of chloride, sodium, sulphate, phosphate and nitrate are found in the main channels of the rivers Rhine and Meuse, resulting from industrial, agricultural and domestic sewage. Together with the actual concentrations of major ions and nutrients in the main channel, the annual flood duration determines the physico-chemistry of the floodplain lakes. The river water influences the water chemistry of these lakes not only via inundations, but also via seepage. A comparison of recent and historical chemical data shows an increase over the years in the levels of chloride both in the main channel of the Lower Rhine and in seepage lakes along this river. Levels of alkalinity in floodplain lakes showed an inverse relationship with annual flood duration, because sulphur retention and alkalinization occurred in seepage waters and rarely-flooded lakes. The input of large quantities of nutrients (N, P) from the main channel has resulted, especially in frequently flooded lakes, in an increase in algal biomass and a shift in phytoplankton composition from a diatom dominated community towards a community dominated by chlorophytes and cyanobacteria.     

Long-term Developments in Ecological Rehabilitation of the Main Distributaries in the Rhine Delta: Fish and Macroinvertebrates

Significant anthropogenic pressure in the Dutch part of the River Rhine is present from the 12th century. River engineering and water pollution were the main stress factors for flora and fauna. From the middle of the 20th century measures were taken to reduce water pollution. Recently, from 1987 onwards, these activities were put into a wider context of ecological river rehabilitation. Effects of improvements on fish and macroinvertebrates in the main distributaries in the Rhine delta are reviewed. The conclusions are that (a) most of the alterations in the Rhine delta are irreversible due to hard socio-economic boundary conditions (e.g. safety, navigation); (b) chances for the development of riverine biotopes have therefore to be found in the forelands and not in the main channels of the Rhine delta; (c) further reduction of pollutants, especially thermal pollution, is needed to help original species to colonise the Rhine delta again; (d) non-indigenous species clearly leave a mark on recolonisation possibilities of original species.     

Restoration strategies for river floodplains along large lowland rivers in Europe

1. Most temperate rivers are heavily regulated and characterised by incised channels, aggradated floodplains and modified hydroperiods. As a consequence, former extensive aquatic/terrestrial transition zones lack most of their basic ecological functions.
2. Along large rivers in Europe and North America, various floodplain restoration or rehabilitation projects have been planned or realised in recent years. However, restoration ecology is still in its infancy and the literature pertinent to river restoration is rather fragmented. (Semi-) aquatic components of floodplains, including secondary channels, disconnected and temporary waters as well as marshes, have received little attention, despite their significant contribution to biological diversity.
3. Many rehabilitation projects were planned or realised without prior knowledge of their potential for success or failure, although, these projects greatly contributed to our present understanding of river–floodplain systems.
4. River rehabilitation benefits from a consideration of river ecosystem concepts in quantitative terms, comparison with reference conditions, historical or others, and the establishment of interdisciplinary partnerships.
5. We present examples from two large European rivers, the Danube and the Rhine, in which the role of aquatic connectivity has been extensively studied. The Danube delta with its diversity of floodplain lakes across an immense transversal gradient (up to 10 km) serves as a reference system for restoration projects along lowland sections of large rivers such as the Rhine in the Netherlands.     

Diversity,occurrence and feeding traits of caddisfly larvae as indicators for ecological integrity of river-floodplain habitats along a connectivity gradient

In order to assess ecological values of Lower Rhine and Meuse floodplain habitats we studied the spatial and seasonal variation in diversity, species assemblages and feeding traits of caddisfly larvae in water bodies over the lateral connectivity gradient: eupotamon: main and secondary channels; parapotamon: channels connected permanently with the main channel only at their downstream ends; plesiopotamon: disconnected channels close to the main channel; paleopotamon: abandoned meanders at a greater distance from the main channel.Spatial variety was studied by analyzing the summer species composition in 70 Lower Rhine and Meuse water bodies which were categorized in connectivity habitats, whereas seasonal variety was studied in Lower Rhine water bodies along a connectivity gradient by monthly sampling over a whole year. Physico-chemical data and environmental parameters were recorded for each water body during sampling. Diversity and species assemblages of caddisfly larvae varied in relation to connectivity, macrophyte diversity and abundance and stream velocity. A comparison with historical records and species lists from less disturbed rivers showed that diversity in the main channel was very low.Caddisfly larvae species assemblages varied over the connectivity gradient. Lotic habitats (eupotamon) were separated from the lentic ones, and the well vegetated paleopotamon from the sparsely vegetated parapotamon and pleisopotamon habitats, indicating the overall importance of vegetation and current velocity for the species assemblages. Hydropsychidae have been found in the eupotamon exclusively, whereas Limnephilidae, Hydroptilidae and Polycentropodidae have been found predominantly in the paleopotamon water bodies. Leptoceridae were found in all floodplain water body categories. A similar pattern of distribution of families along the lateral connectivity gradient was found in more natural rivers.Caddisfly larvae species feeding traits showed a clear differentiation over the lateral connectivity gradient with filter-feeders and scrapers most important in the eupotamon and parapotamon, and shredders, piercers and predators most dominant in the paleopotamon habitats, indicating the importance of nutritional resources in relation to hydrological connectivity for the structure and functioning of caddisfly larvae species assemblages. The analysis of the species feeding traits allows generalizations towards the entire aquatic community and general prognoses for other floodplain ecosystems.     

Fish zonations and guilds as the basis for assessment of ecological integrity of large rivers

Longitudinal zonation concepts describe the downstream changes in chemico-physical and biological properties of rivers. Including information on ecological fish guilds can enhance the usefulness of fish zonation concepts, in a way that they can be used as tools for assessment and management of the ecological integrity of large rivers. We present an ecological characterization of fish zones and fish communities in near-natural and in regulated large rivers in Europe (the River Doubs in France and the Rivers Rhine and Meuse in the Netherlands), using guild classifications of several life-history traits of fish and national Red Lists of threatened species. The Doubs data set was also analyzed using indices of the sensitivity of fish species to environmental degradation and indices for eurytopy. In these rivers, the number of ecological guilds per zone increases downstream, and there are clear shifts in the structure of the guilds. Flow preference and reproduction ecology of river fish are closely linked. The proportion of rheophilic species in the fish community decreases downstream, and the proportions of limnophilic and eurytopic species increase. Lithophilic and psammophilic spawners are dominant in the upper zones, whereas the lower zones are dominated by phytophilic and phytolithophilic spawners. The proportion of zoobenthivorous and periphytivorous species decreases downstream, and the proportion of zooplanktivorous and phytivorous species increases. However, because the European fish fauna mainly consists of feeding generalists, the discriminative abilities of simplistic feeding guild classifications are not very high. Guilds of sensitive, stenoecious species that share life history strategies that are highly adapted to specific riverine conditions (rheophils and limnophils) have declined far more than generalist species that can survive in a wide range of habitats that are not characteristic of natural river ecosystems. Because of the subsequent over-abundance of the eurytopic species the original longitudinal fish zonations are hardly recognizable anymore in heavily impacted large rivers such as the River Rhine. Hence these rivers do not meet the criteria for ecological integrity. Within a specific fish region, a suitable way of analyzing and monitoring the impact of human disturbance on the structure of the fish community is by comparing the guild structure of the present state of a fish zone with that of the reference situation.     

The Mayfly,Ephoron Virgo (Olivier), back in the Dutch parts of the rivers Rhine and Meuse

Due to severe water pollution, the mayflyEphoron virgo (Olivier) disappeared from the Dutch parts of the rivers Rhine and Meuse in the first half of this century. In August 1991, however, larvae were found in the littoral zone of the Rhine near the Dutch-German border. Later, other stages were found along the Rhine branches and a small section of the Meuse. The occurrence in The Netherlands is the result of further expansion from the upstream regions of the Rhine.     

Are alien fish a reliable indicator of river health?

1. The ability of many introduced fish species to thrive in degraded aquatic habitats and their potential to impact on aquatic ecosystem structure and function suggest that introduced fish may represent both a symptom and a cause of decline in river health and the integrity of native aquatic communities. 2. The varying sensitivities of many commonly introduced fish species to degraded stream conditions, the mechanism and reason for their introduction and the differential susceptibility of local stream habitats to invasion because of the environmental and biological characteristics of the receiving water body, are all confounding factors that may obscure the interpretation of patterns of introduced fish species distribution and abundance and therefore their reliability as indicators of river health. 3. In the present study, we address the question of whether alien fish (i.e. those species introduced from other countries) are a reliable indicator of the health of streams and rivers in south‐eastern Queensland, Australia. We examine the relationships of alien fish species distributions and indices of abundance and biomass with the natural environmental features, the biotic characteristics of the local native fish assemblages and indicators of anthropogenic disturbance at a large number of sites subject to varying sources and intensities of human impact. 4. Alien fish species were found to be widespread and often abundant in south‐eastern Queensland rivers and streams, and the five species collected were considered to be relatively tolerant to river degradation, making them good candidate indicators of river health. Variation in alien species indices was unrelated to the size of the study sites, the sampling effort expended or natural environmental gradients. The biological resistance of the native fish fauna was not concluded to be an important factor mediating invasion success by alien species. Variation in alien fish indices was, however, strongly related to indicators of disturbance intensity describing local in‐stream habitat and riparian degradation, water quality and surrounding land use, particularly the amount of urban development in the catchment. 5. Potential confounding factors that may influence the likelihood of introduction and successful establishment of an alien species and the implications of these factors for river bioassessment are discussed. We conclude that the potentially strong impact that many alien fish species can have on the biological integrity of natural aquatic ecosystems, together with their potential to be used as an initial basis to find out other forms of human disturbance impacts, suggest that some alien species (particularly species from the family Poeciliidae) can represent a reliable ‘first cut’ indicator of river health.     

Plankton dynamics in a dead arm of the River Waal: a comparison with the main channel

It has been postulated that areas of reduced flow along rivers,either within the river channel or in the form of backwaters,exert a considerable influence on plankton dynamics in rivers.To test this hypothesis, a survey of plankton distribution ina dead arm along the River Waal, a branch of the River Rhine,was made. The euphotic fraction of the water column varied alongthe transect. Phytoplankton species composition changed fromdiatom-dominated populations in the river to dominance of greenalgae near the rear end of the dead arm. Green algae were dominatedby Pandorina morum. The diatoms were dominated by typicallyriverine species, like Cyclotella menegh-iniana, Skeletonemapotamos and Skeletonema subsalsum. The total zooplankton biovolumeat the rear end was >100 times higher than in the river.In the river, rotifers and crustaceans co-dominated, whereasto the rear end the crustaceans became dominant. Diaphanosomabrachyurum was the most abundant zooplankter. The dynamic behaviourof both phytoplankton and zooplankton suggests the presenceof an intense grazing network in the dead arm. There were alsosome indications of a rapid transfer of biomass to higher consumerlevels, such as fish. The large difference in species compositionbetween the dead arm and the river itself does not suggest amajor influence by backwaters along the River Rhine. This maybe due to its channelized nature. The situation can be differentin rivers with a more natural morphology.     

Changes in the amphipod fauna (crustacea) of the Rhine,Meuse and Scheldt estuary due to the ’delta plan’ coastal engineering works

The amphipod fauna of the delta of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt was re-surveyed 30 years after the detailed inventory ofden hartog (1963; 1964). During these 30 years enormous changes have taken place in the morphology and hydrology of this estuarine system. Many habitats were destructed because of the damming of several sea arms. Tidal influence disappeared from a large part of the area or was reduced in other parts. Nearly all indigenous amphipods of the area have suffered severely under these changes. The only species to profit were the recently introducedGammarus tigrinus andCorophium curvispinum. The main causes for the sharp decline of the amphipod fauna are changes in salinity, tidal movements and dike construction.     

Using XAD resins to study the effects of reduced organic micropollutant concentrations in River Rhine and Meuse water on phytoplankton growth

Laboratory incubation experiments were used to study the effect of reduced concentrations of organic micropollutants in water from the rivers Rhine and Meuse on the specific growth rate of the river phytoplankton community. Before incubation, part of the water sampled was treated with XAD-4 and XAD-8 resins to absorb dissolved organic compounds. Four dilutions were made by mixing untreated water with XAD-treated water in the ratios 100:0 (control), 70:30, 40:60 and 0:100. The phytoplankton specific growth rate increased significantly with the increased fraction treated with XAD in all but one incubation experiment. In these experiments, the specific growth rate was on average 9% higher in the fraction in which 100% was treated with XAD than in the controls. In the Rhine and Meuse river water, phytoplankton growth seemed to be inhibited by organic compounds. This inhibition was ascribed to the presence of dissolved organic micropollutants. Removing organic micropollutants using XAD resins to study the toxic effects of these compounds on field phytoplankton communities can be concluded to be a promising tool for risk assessment of micropollutants but needs to be supported by additional methodological research.     

The river Rhine: a global highway for dispersal of aquatic invasive species

The river Rhine is heavily influenced by human activities and suffers from a series of environmental constraints which hamper a complete recovery of biodiversity. These constraints comprise intensive navigation and habitat modification by hydraulic engineering. Improving water quality while these constraints remain in place has led to increased colonization by aquatic invasive species. This tendency has been accelerated by the construction of canals connecting river basins. Over the last two centuries, the total surface area of river catchments connected to the river Rhine via inland waterways has been increased by a factor 21.6. Six principal invasion corridors for aquatic species to the river Rhine are discerned. The extensive network of inland waterways has allowed macroinvertebrate species from different bio-geographical regions to mix, changing communities, affecting the food webs and forming new constraints on the recovery of the native biodiversity. From the eighteenth century onward, in the freshwater sections of the river Rhine, a total of 45 non-indigenous macroinvertebrate species have been recorded. The average number of invasions per decade shows a sharp increase from <1 to 13 species. Currently, the contribution of non-indigenous species to the total species richness of macroinvertebrates in the river Rhine is 11.3%. The Delta Rhine and Upper Rhine exhibit higher numbers of non-indigenous species than other river sections, because the sea ports in the Delta Rhine and the Main-Danube canal function as invasion gateways. Important donor areas are the Ponto-Caspian area and North America (44.4 and 26.7% of the non-indigenous macroinvertebrate species, respectively). Transport via shipping and dispersal via man made waterways are the most important dispersal vectors. Intentional and unintentional introductions are highest for the period 1950–1992. The cumulative number of non-indigenous species in time is significantly correlated with the increase in total surface area of other river catchments connected to the river Rhine by means of networks of canals. The species richness of non-indigenous macroinvertebrates is strongly dominated by crustaceans and molluscs. Invasive species often tolerate higher salt content, temperature, organic pollution and current flow than native species. Spatiotemporal analyses of distribution patterns reveal that average and maximum dispersal rates of six invasive species vary between 44–112 and 137–461 km year⁻¹, respectively. Species arriving in upstream sections first show a shorter time lag between colonisation of the Delta and Upper Rhine than species initially arriving in downstream areas. Temporal analyses of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the littoral zones indicate that native species are displaced by non-indigenous species. However, established non-indigenous species are also displaced by more recent mass invaders.     

Distribution and ecology of anthozoa in the estuarine region of the rivers Rhine,Meuse and Scheldt

Data on the ecology and distribution in the estuarine region of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt are given for ten species of Anthozoa. These data have been correlated with several environmental variables, but especially salinity. Communication nr. 142 of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research.     

Fish impingement at power stations situated along the rivers Rhine and Meuse in The Netherlands

Summary Substantial numbers of predominantly O⁺ fish were impinged on the cooling water screens of Harculo, Gelderland, Merwedehaven and Amer power stations. Low numbers were impinged at the two stations located on the river Meuse (Maas and Claus). Two possible reasons for this difference are suggested,viz. a low fish density in the river Meuse and the deep position of the cooling water intakes. In comparison with Bergum power station situated on a lake the impingement rate at the river stations was more than ten times as low.Most fish were impinged during the summer months when large numbers of juvenile fish are present in the rivers. Dominating species impinged were roach, pikeperch, bream and perch. The abundance of pikeperch in the screensamples, points to a recent increase in the population of pikeperch in the rivers. The growth pattern of O⁺ pikeperch and O⁺ roach during summer seemed very similar for power stations located at different rivers. Thirty fish species and four crustacean species were collected, among whichOrconectus limosus was quite abundant at Maas and Claus power stations.     

River Dan,headwater of the Jordan,an aquatic oasis of the Middle East

River Dan is the largest of the headwater rivers of the Jordan. The karstic exsurgence of the Dan has a seasonally stable output, a long stretch of strongly turbulent flow, stable temperature around 15.5°C and high oxygen saturation. A total of 156 taxa, mainly at the species level, were identified from the river. These species are almost exclusively of Palearctic origin. About half of the species are limited to the northernmost part of Israel. The faunal complex described, does not present any longitudinal zonation for the 5 kilometers of turbulent flow; neither does it present seasonal changes in species composition. River Dan is considered to be a post-Pleistocenic river which has an important function of refugium for a wide area of aquatic water-bodies in the area, including the presently drained Lake Hula. It is suggested that in the Illies scheme of stream classification, River Dan might represent a type of stream belonging to a ‘pseudorhithral’ along with other stenothermic warm water torrents of the tropical-subtropical climatic belt.