We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Triggers for the Impoverishment of the Macroinvertebrate Communities in the Human-Impacted Rivers of Two Central European Ecoregions
Summary
This study investigated triggers for macroinvertebrate community impoverishment in human-impacted rivers across two Central European ecoregions, finding that hydromorphological degradation and invasive species introduction were stronger drivers of biodiversity loss than water chemistry alone.
Abstract Human activity triggers negative alternations in river habitats, including changes to the physical and chemical parameters of the water, its hydromorphological features and the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. These modifications are expected to be intensified by climate change. Eight rivers in one of the most urbanised and industrialised regions in Europe, i.e. the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, were surveyed in order to explain the impact of anthropopressure on the distribution of macroinvertebrates. Conductivity, altitude, hydromorphological transformations, hardness, the organic matter content and certain fractions of benthic sediments significantly affect ( p < 0.01) the occurrence of macroinvertebrates in Central European rivers. Our results proved that the hydromorphological transformation of watercourses, which is expressed by the relevant indices, is one of the most predictive factors that contribute to the distribution of macroinvertebrates. Anthropogenic inland waters that have been salinised by the discharge of hard coal mine waters create new habitats for brackish and marine species that replace native freshwater species. An increase in salinity causes an impoverishment of macroinvertebrate biodiversity therefore all possible actions should be taken to reduce the anthropogenic salinity of inland waters. Secondary saline rivers may prove to be prescient for climate-induced changes to river macroinvertebrates.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The Role of Landscape Configuration, Season, and Distance from Contaminant Sources on the Degradation of Stream Water Quality in Urban Catchments
A study of a Portuguese river basin found that landscape configuration and proximity to pollution point sources both affect stream macroinvertebrate communities. Macroinvertebrates are sensitive to microplastic pollution, and their decline in contaminated streams can indicate broader ecosystem degradation.
Microplastic accumulation in benthic macroinvertebrates is widespread, regardless of the river ecological status
A broad survey of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates across multiple rivers found that microplastic accumulation was widespread regardless of local urban development levels, suggesting that factors beyond proximity to urban areas—such as river hydrology and upstream sources—drive MP exposure in freshwater invertebrates.
Long-term trends in stream benthic macroinvertebrate communities are driven by chemicals
This paper is not about microplastics. It investigates long-term trends in stream macroinvertebrate communities in Germany from 2007 to 2021, finding that in-stream chemical pollution data explained about 50% of the variation in biodiversity changes over time. The study focuses on freshwater ecology and the effects of water chemistry, land use, and temperature on aquatic invertebrate diversity, with no specific focus on microplastic contamination.
Response of Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Communities to Various Anthropogenic Stressors in Lolab Streams- A Lotic System of the Indian Himalayan Region
Researchers evaluated how multiple anthropogenic stressors including pollution and altered water chemistry affect freshwater macroinvertebrate communities in Himalayan streams, finding that community composition served as an effective bioindicator of human-induced environmental degradation in this temperate lotic system.
Water Quality Analysis and Its Impact on Biodiversity in Freshwater Ecosystems
Researchers measured physicochemical water quality parameters and biological communities at five freshwater sites with varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance, using correlation analysis, PCA, and cluster analysis to link water quality to aquatic biodiversity. They found strong positive correlations between dissolved oxygen and species richness, and significant negative associations between BOD, nitrate, heavy metals, and biodiversity, concluding that degraded water quality directly compromises freshwater ecosystem function.