Development and evaluation of a diatom-based index of biotic integrity (D-IBI) for rivers impacted by run-of-river dams

Wu, Naicheng; Cai, Qinghua; Fohrer, Nicola

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.10.013

Cited by 68 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Table 4 was used to improve the clarity and specificity of the discrimination power. The metrics with an IQ value equal and higher than 2 satisfied the testing [55].…”

Section: Index Testing and Validationmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Once significant differences were identified, the reference condition was scientifically defined, and the difference could then be used to measure the current status. Box-and-whisker test plots, recommended by Huang et al [7] and Wu et al [55], were performed on each metric, and reference values were compared with impaired values for discrimination power analysis. The discrimination power of each metric was judged according to the degree of Inter-Quartile (IQ) overlap in the box plots.…”

Section: Index Testing and Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing Aquatic Ecological Health for Lake Poyang, China: Part I Index Development

Huang

Gao

et al. 2018

Water

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Abstract:The development of an ecosystem health index to assess health status in freshwater lakes is urgently needed in China, especially in polluted lakes. This study developed a specific Ecosystem Health Index (LP-EHI) for Lake Poyang in China. LP-EHI quantified lake health from the perspectives of physical, chemical, biological integrity and social service. Physical integrity indices included hydrological conditions (water level and runoff), basic morphometric characteristics (lake area and shoreline), and tributary connectivity. Chemical integrity indices used water quality, nutrition, and toxicity to quantify chemical impairment. Biological integrity indicators covered six major components of the aquatic food chain, namely, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, wetland plants, fish, and wintering birds. Social service indices included drinking water, pathogenic potential, flood storage capacity, sand mining, and dish-shaped sub-lake areas under management to measure whether the lake fulfilled the needs of human society. Reference and impaired conditions for each metric were defined by "historical" conditions, "least disturbed" conditions, national standards and expert opinions. The value of LP-EHI ranging from 0 to 1 was divided into five health conditions: excellent (≥0.8), good (0.6-0.8), fair (0.4-0.6), poor (0.2-0.4) and bad (<0.2). The metrics' reliability was further validated using a box-and-whisker plot test. The developed index (LP-EHI) is so far the most comprehensive index to evaluate ecosystem health for Lake Poyang, and is well reflected in the unique characteristics of Lake Poyang. It can enhance our understanding of lake health conditions and thus guide lake management to achieve better health conditions.

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“…Table 4 was used to improve the clarity and specificity of the discrimination power. The metrics with an IQ value equal and higher than 2 satisfied the testing [55].…”

Section: Index Testing and Validationmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Index Testing and Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Aquatic Ecological Health for Lake Poyang, China: Part I Index Development

Huang

Gao

et al. 2018

Water

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“…For example, Valero (2012) recorded short-term increases in pH as well as declines in dissolved oxygen and conductivity in the bypassed reach of a RoR hydropower project in Spain. However, slightly lower average pH and variable conductivity were noted in bypassed reaches in China Wu et al 2010aWu et al , 2012. Empirical evidence of the effects of flow reduction on water temperature in bypassed reaches is also mixed.…”

Section: Pathway 1: Reduction Of Flow In the Bypassed Reachmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The factors influencing stream temperatures are a complex mix of external drivers and internal stream dynamics (Poole and Berman 2001), and reducing flow in a river reach has the potential to lead to warmer and more variable stream temperature regimes. Studies conducted in bypassed reaches of rivers with RoR hydropower dams reported slight increases in water temperature in Spain (Valero 2012 Zhou et al 2008Zhou et al , 2009Wu et al 2010aWu et al , 2012 but no significant differences between bypassed and upstream reaches in Portugal (Jesus et al 2004). Low flows during dry and hot seasons, however, triggered markedly warmer temperatures in bypassed reaches (ϳ1-3°C) compared to upstream reaches in Costa Rica (Anderson et al 2006) and the Czech Republic (Kubečka et al 1997) and compared to water temperature immediately downstream in China (ϳ5-6°C) (Wu et al 2010b).…”

Section: Pathway 1: Reduction Of Flow In the Bypassed Reachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low flows during dry and hot seasons, however, triggered markedly warmer temperatures in bypassed reaches (ϳ1-3°C) compared to upstream reaches in Costa Rica (Anderson et al 2006) and the Czech Republic (Kubečka et al 1997) and compared to water temperature immediately downstream in China (ϳ5-6°C) (Wu et al 2010b). Finally, primary producers like diatoms were adversely affected in bypassed reaches in China (Wu et al 2010b(Wu et al , 2012, while one study pointed out that significant differences in algal community composition between upstream and bypassed sites appeared only after 2 years of operation ). In addition, macroinvertebrates and zooplankton were also affected, with, for example, decreases in species richness and abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates of up to 38% and 54%, respectively, in Sweden (Englund and Malmqvist 1996), decreases in biomass, density, and richness of macroinvertebrates in Portugal (Jesus et al 2004) and China , and decreases in density of zooplankton during low-flow months in China (Zhou et al 2008).…”

Section: Pathway 1: Reduction Of Flow In the Bypassed Reachmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

Gibeau

Connors

Palen

2017

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Abstract:The spatial footprint of individual run-of-river (RoR) hydropower facilities is smaller than reservoir-storage hydroelectric projects and their impacts to aquatic ecosystems are often assumed to be negligible. However, these effects are poorly understood, especially for salmonids whose freshwater habitat often overlaps with RoR hydropower potential. Flow regulation for RoR hydropower is unique in how it influences the seasonality and magnitude of flow diversion and because low-head dams can be overtopped at high flows. Based on a review of the primary literature, we identified three pathways of effects by which RoR hydropower may influence salmonids: reduction of flow, presence of low-head dams impounding rivers, and anthropogenic flow fluctuations. We synthesized empirical evidence of effects of RoR hydropower on river ecosystems from 31 papers, of which only 10 explicitly considered salmonids. We identified key research gaps including impacts of extended low-flow periods, anthropogenic flow fluctuations, and cumulative effects of multiple RoR projects. Filling these gaps is necessary to help manage and conserve salmonid populations in the face of the growing global demand for small-scale hydropower.Résumé : L'empreinte spatiale individuelle des centrales hydroélectriques au fil de l'eau est moindre que celle des centrales hydroélectriques avec réservoirs de retenue et, en conséquence, leurs impacts sur les écosystèmes aquatiques sont souvent jugés négligeables. Par contre, leurs effets écologiques sont peu connus, particulièrement pour les salmonidés dont l'habitat en eau douce coïncide souvent avec le potentiel hydroélectrique des centrales au fil de l'eau. La régulation des eaux par les centrales au fil de l'eau se distingue par son influence sur la saisonnalité et l'ampleur de la déviation des eaux, et parce que les barrages de basse-chute peuvent être submergés lors des crues. À la lumière d'un examen des sources documentaires primaires, nous avons cerné trois voies principales par lesquelles la production d'électricité des centrales au fil de l'eau peut influencer les salmonidés, soit la réduction des débits, la présence de barrages de basse-chute sur les rivières et des fluctuations d'origine humaine des débits. Nous avons produit une synthèse des résultats empiriques de 31 études portant sur les effets de la production d'hydroélectricité des centrales au fil de l'eau sur les écosystèmes lentiques, dont seulement dix s'intéressaient explicitement aux salmonidés. Nous avons cerné d'importantes lacunes dans les connaissances actuelles, dont l'impact de périodes prolongées de faible débit, des fluctuations d'origine humaine des débits et des effets cumulatifs de plusieurs centrales au fil de l'eau. Il est nécessaire de combler ces lacunes pour soutenir la gestion et la conservation durables des populations de salmonidés dans un contexte de demande mondiale croissante pour la production d'hydroélectricité à petite échelle.

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Spatial Pattern of Benthic Diatoms and Water Quality Assessment Using Diatom Indices in a Subtropical River, China

Xiang

Xia

et al. 2013

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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River systems constitute areas of high human population densities owing to their favourable conditions for agriculture, water supply and transportation network. Despite human dependence on river systems, anthro-pogenic activities severely degrade water quality. The main aim of this study was to assess the river health of Ngamo River using diatom and macroinvertebrate community structure based on multivariate analyses and community metrics. Ammonia, pH, salinity, total phosphorus and temperature were found to be significantly different among the study seasons. The diatom and macroinvertebrate taxa richness increased downstream suggesting an improvement in water as we moved away from the pollution point sources. Canonical correspondence analyses identified nutrients (total nitrogen and reactive phosphorus) as important variables structuring diatom and macroinverte-brate community. The community metrics and diversity indices for both bioindicators highlighted that the water quality of the river system was very poor. These findings indicate that both methods can be used for water quality assessments, e.g. sewage and agricultural pollution, and they show high potential for use during water quality monitoring programmes in other regions.

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Development and evaluation of a diatom-based index of biotic integrity (D-IBI) for rivers impacted by run-of-river dams

Cited by 68 publications

References 57 publications

Assessing Aquatic Ecological Health for Lake Poyang, China: Part I Index Development

Assessing Aquatic Ecological Health for Lake Poyang, China: Part I Index Development

Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

Spatial Pattern of Benthic Diatoms and Water Quality Assessment Using Diatom Indices in a Subtropical River, China

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