Evaluating the potential of treated effluent as novel habitats for aquatic invertebrates in arid regions

Eppehimer, Drew E.; Hamdhani, Hamdhani; Hollien, Kelsey D.; Bogan, Michael T.

doi:10.1007/s10750-020-04343-6

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Although we did not observe positive rheotaxis in aquatic invertebrates in the Santa Cruz River, we did observe large-scale mortalities of mayflies during every observed drying period. In another effluent-dependent reach of the lower Santa Cruz River, similar diurnal stream drying events were shown to negatively impact aquatic invertebrate densities (Eppehimer et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Since 2013, ANWRF has been discharging high-quality, tertiarytreated effluent into the river (Dong et al, 2015;Johnson et al, 2015). Runoff from precipitation also contributes to flow during some parts of the year, but only for hours to days at a time (Eppehimer et al, 2020). Our study focused on a 2.1 km section of the river known to experience flow intermittence with drying and rewetting on daily timescales, located $6 km downstream of the effluent outfall at ANWRF (Figure 1).…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, two reaches have perennial flow due to effluent from water reclamation facilities (also known as wastewater treatment plants). Although most of the lengths of these effluent-supported river reaches are perennial, the downstream-most portions often experience daily flow intermittence due to diurnal fluctuations in effluent discharge (Eppehimer et al, 2020), making it possible for fish and other aquatic biota to become stranded when the water recedes. Fish species in the Santa Cruz River include western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), black bullhead (Ameiurus melas), and common carp (Cyprinus carpio), all non-native, as well as the native and endangered Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis occidentalis) (Sonoran Institute, 2020).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Daily flow intermittence in an effluent‐dependent river: Impacts of flow duration and recession rate on fish stranding

Eppehimer

Enger

Ebenal

et al. 2021

River Research & Apps

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Treated wastewater, also known as effluent, is discharged into streambeds where it can augment or create aquatic habitat in arid regions. However, discharge fluctuations can result in daily stream drying and rewetting. In this study, we documented flow intermittence and resulting fish stranding and mortality over a 12-week period on an effluent-dependent reach of the lower Santa Cruz River in Tucson, Arizona, USA. We hypothesized that fish stranding would be positively related to the duration of flow prior to drying (increased recolonization potential) and flow recession rates (increased stranding likelihood). Using trail cameras, we monitored drying duration and extent along a 2.1-km reach of river known to experience flow intermittence and counted stranded fish once a week. Drying extent varied widely (range: 0-1.88 km) and averaged 0.79 km ± 0.14 SE. We observed a total of 323 fish strandings across the 12 weeks (range: 0-74 individuals per day; mean: 26.9 ± 8.3 SE). Ninety-nine percent of observed fish were Poeciliidae (63% of which were fry), including nonnative western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). The recession rate was a positive predictor for the daily stranding count of poeciliids (p = .008). Flow duration was not significant (p = .100) but was included in the top model (R 2 = 0.782). As urban development continues, the discharge of effluent into rivers and streams will become more common throughout the world. Continued research is needed to understand the benefits and challenges presented by these effluent-driven flow regimes, including their impacts on aquatic taxa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Daily flow intermittence in an effluent‐dependent river: Impacts of flow duration and recession rate on fish stranding

Eppehimer

Enger

Ebenal

et al. 2021

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“…1). The reference site was selected because it supports the highest diversity of aquatic invertebrates (including larval odonates) known from various biomonitoring sites along the established reaches (Sonoran Institute, 2017;Eppehimer et al, 2020). At each of the three survey sites, we established 400 m long transects to survey for adult odonates.…”

Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

If you build it, they will come: rapid colonization by dragonflies in a new effluent-dependent river reach

Bogan

Eppehimer

Hamdhani

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Background Aquatic ecosystems are greatly altered by urban development, including the complete loss of natural habitat due to water diversions or channel burial. However, novel freshwater habitats also are created in cities, such as effluent-dependent streams that rely on treated wastewater for flow. It is unclear how diverse these novel ecosystems are, or how quickly aquatic species are able to colonize them. In this study, we (1) quantify odonate (Insecta, Odonata) colonization of a novel effluent-dependent river reach, (2) examine how drying events affect odonates in these novel habitats, and (3) explore whether effluent-dependent streams can support diverse odonate assemblages. Methods We conducted monthly odonate surveys at three sites along the Santa Cruz River (Tucson, AZ, USA) between June 2019 and May 2020. One site was in a long-established effluent-dependent reach (flowing since the 1970s) that served as a reference site and two sites were in a newly-established reach that began flowing on June 24, 2019 (it was previously dry). We compared odonate species richness, assemblage composition, and colonization patterns across these reaches, and examined how these factors responded to flow cessation events in the new reach. Results Seven odonate species were observed at the study sites in the new reach within hours of flow initiation, and species rapidly continued to arrive thereafter. Within 3 months, species richness and assemblage composition of adult odonates were indistinguishable in the new and reference reaches. However, drying events resulted in short-term and chronic reductions in species richness at one of the sites. Across all three sites, we found over 50 odonate species, which represent nearly 40% of species known from the state of Arizona. Discussion Odonates were surprisingly diverse in the effluent-dependent Santa Cruz River and rapidly colonized a newly established reach. Richness levels remained high at study sites that did not experience drying events. These results suggest that consistent discharge of high-quality effluent into dry streambeds can be an important tool for promoting urban biodiversity. However, it remains to be seen how quickly and effectively less vagile taxa (e.g., mayflies, caddisflies) can colonize novel reaches. Effluent-dependent urban streams will always be highly managed systems, but collaboration between ecologists and urban planners could help to maximize aquatic biodiversity while still achieving goals of public safety and urban development.

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“…Thus, effluent has been used to restore habitats for species of concern, and urban river food webs and many conservation plans have been created for urban rivers that rely on effluent for habitat creation (Linke et al 2010). Despite research on the effects of urbanization on the physical properties of rivers and the potential for WWTPs to positively and negatively impact biodiversity, no clear picture has emerged about how effluent influences freshwater communities (Hassett et al 2018;Bogan et al 2020;Eppehimer et al 2020;Eppehimer et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of urban spatial and temporal heterogeneity on benthic macroinvertebrate and diatom communities

Saffarinia¹,

Anderson²,

Palenscar³

2022

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Water quality, distribution, and flow are often highly altered in rivers in urban watersheds, subjecting aquatic communities in the environment to novel spatial and temporal heterogeneity. An understanding of how novel spatial and temporal heterogeneity impacts aquatic communities is of paramount concern since these taxa are foundational to the urban food web. In this study, we documented the effects of flow perturbations on benthic macroinvertebrate and diatom communities relative to wastewater treatment plant outflows in a transect of an urbanized river in Southern California, USA. In particular, we analyzed trends in the richness and density of diatom and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in relation to novel flow heterogeneity introduced by wastewater treatment plants and urban storm runoff events. We found that diatom density decreased after a disturbance but quickly returned to its pre-disturbance levels, while the benthic macroinvertebrate community showed minimal shifts in composition and density after the disturbance, yet the sites had low richness of predominantly tolerant taxa. The locations of wastewater treatment plant outflows were found to exert a constant negative effect on density and richness in both communities. These results have implications for the conservation of endangered fish species in the urban Santa Ana River that depend on a thriving basal food web for survival.

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Evaluating the potential of treated effluent as novel habitats for aquatic invertebrates in arid regions

Cited by 13 publications

References 57 publications

Daily flow intermittence in an effluent‐dependent river: Impacts of flow duration and recession rate on fish stranding

Daily flow intermittence in an effluent‐dependent river: Impacts of flow duration and recession rate on fish stranding

If you build it, they will come: rapid colonization by dragonflies in a new effluent-dependent river reach

Effects of urban spatial and temporal heterogeneity on benthic macroinvertebrate and diatom communities

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