Assessment of temporary streams: the robustness of metric and multimetric indices under different hydrological conditions

Morais, Manuela; Pinto, Paulo E. D.; Guilherme, Pedro; Rosado, Joana; Antunes, I.M.H.R.

doi:10.1023/b:hydr.0000025268.66163.32

Cited by 61 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…Methods to assess the phytobenthos have tended to focus on diatoms which often form a large part of the algal diversity in freshwaters (King et al, 2000). Although, macroinvertebrates and fishes have been frequently used in the evaluation of the ecological status in rivers (Oberdorff & Hughes, 1992;Morais et al, 2004;Hering et al, 2006a), the diatoms are very sensitive organisms to sudden and minor changes occurring in water chemistry (Leira & Sabater, 2005). Benthic diatoms are traditionally considered to be regulated mainly by local rather than large scale factors (Pan et al, 1999) although largescale spatial factors, such as climate, geology and vegetation also influence the structure of the diatom community (Leland, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multimetric diatom index to assess the ecological status of coastal Galician rivers (NW Spain)

2010

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There are many rivers in northwest Spain as a consequence of the mountainous landscape and the granitic geology subjected to Atlantic influences. Water and epilithic diatoms samples were collected at 72 sites in Galicia flowing into the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea in summer 2002-2003 and spring 2004. These sites included minimally disturbed sites, defined as reference sites, and impacted sites which were influenced by different human pressures. We used the diatom assemblages to calculate diatom indices using the Omnidia software, but we also developed new metrics based on the similarity of species composition in reference sites. The response of the metrics was tested in relation to physicochemical variables. We developed a diatom multimetric index (MDIAT) as a combination of metric values. The sensitivity of the MDIAT to organic and nutrient stressors supports the use of this index to classify the ecological status of Galician rivers. The MDIAT showed higher correlations with some variables and nutrients than the individual metrics. According to the MDIAT, 69% of the sites sampled in Galician coastal rivers achieve good ecological status. The MDIAT has been developed specifically for Galician granitic rivers (NW Spain), and has been intercalibrated at the European level in the Central Baltic Rivers GIG. Our study validates the application of this multimetric index to evaluate the water quality in coastal Galician rivers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multimetric diatom index to assess the ecological status of coastal Galician rivers (NW Spain)

2010

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“…Seasonal patterns in water quality seemed to be linked with seasonal changes in the hydrological conditions. Thus, conductivity and concentration of Streptococcus, coliforms and dissolved organic matter increased during the low flow period (summer and autumn), probably as a consequence of the reduced dilution capacity of the stream Morais et al, 2004). However, turbidity and concentration of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate increased during the high flow period (autumn and winter).…”

Section: Environmental Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…This pattern may be produced by higher current velocity in spring, which enhances the filterfeeding process of Simuliidae. On the other hand, several spate-sensitive taxa such as P. antipodarum, B. tentaculata and Chironomini, which are tolerant to water quality deterioration (Extence et al, 1999;Merigoux & Doledec, 2004, Ortiz et al, 2005, increased in summer and autumn, what could be related to hydrological stability, water quality conditions and food resource availability (Morais et al, 2004;Chaves et al, 2005). On the other hand, seasonal variability of other important taxa, such as E. ignita, C. luctuosa, Echinogammarus, Hydropsychidae or Elmidae, cannot be explained by hydrological or water physicochemical temporal variability.…”

Section: Seasonal Changes In Community Structure and Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroinvertebrate community dynamics in a temperate European Atlantic river. Do they conform to general ecological theory?

2010

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Spatial and temporal dynamics of macroinvertebrate communities have usually been linked to several environmental and anthropic factors. The aim of this study is to elucidate how important are these factors in structuring macroinvertebrate communities from temperate regions. Regarding the macroinvertebrate number of taxa, the Habitat Template Model, the Dynamic Equilibrium Hypothesis and the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis will be tested in order to know how important the diversity of instream elements and the hydrological disturbance frequency are in defining the macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness. Thus, the structure and composition of macroinvertebrate communities were analysed in nine sites of the Pas River basin, a temperate Atlantic basin in northern Spain, during winter, spring, summer and autumn 2005, together with water physicochemical and environmental characteristics. Macroinvertebrate abundance increased downstream and during summer, probably favoured by lower hydraulic stress and water organic enrichment. As predicts the Habitat Template Model, the macroinvertebrate number of taxa was related to habitat heterogeneity. However, no clear relationship amongst macroinvertebrate richness and water quality was found. The macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness did not correspond exactly with the Dynamic Equilibrium Hypothesis and the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis because it was relatively high in the absence of hydrological disturbances (summer). Thus, disturbance events may play a secondary role in determining the seasonal dynamic of the number of taxa. However, hydrological disturbances can be considered the most important factors explaining the seasonal pattern of macroinvertebrate abundance. On the other hand, spatial patterns of macroinvertebrate community structure and composition were mainly determined by resource availability, hydraulic conditions, habitat heterogeneity and human alterations, whilst hydrological predictability and resource availability might play a major role in determining seasonal dynamics.

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“…Furthermore, seasonal monitoring is of particular importance in the southern semi-arid areas of Portugal, where streams are temporary, with discharges ranging from zero to high volumes during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Consequently, tributaries are subjected to a great variability in the hydrologic regime and (Morais 1995;Morais et al 2004).…”

Section: Mitigation Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of different land uses on groundwater quality in southern Portugal

et al. 2016

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In Alentejo region, southern Portugal, differences in groundwater samples from six groundwater bodies covered with different land uses were analysed based on the monitoring plan of the Alqueva multi-purpose project, created in the sequence of the construction of the Alqueva Dam on the Guadiana River, in South Portugal. For most of the groundwater bodies there is a statistical significant difference between magnesium, sulphate, chloride, and phosphate. All of these ions are strongly correlated with land use management. Groundwater, where land is covered by olive groves, has high levels of electric conductivity, calcium, potassium, sulphate, and phosphate. Dry land crops are correlated with calcium, magnesium, chloride and consequently, electric conductivity, phosphates and sulphate. Vineyards are strongly correlated with high sulphate and phosphate levels. This study clearly shows that different land uses within a certain groundwater body influence the water quality in a different way. Therefore, an appropriate soil management should be adjusted to each situation, taking into account the aquifer matrix and the overlying soil.

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Assessment of temporary streams: the robustness of metric and multimetric indices under different hydrological conditions

Cited by 61 publications

References 0 publications

A multimetric diatom index to assess the ecological status of coastal Galician rivers (NW Spain)

A multimetric diatom index to assess the ecological status of coastal Galician rivers (NW Spain)

Macroinvertebrate community dynamics in a temperate European Atlantic river. Do they conform to general ecological theory?

Influence of different land uses on groundwater quality in southern Portugal

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