Evidence needed to manage freshwater ecosystems in a changing climate: Turning adaptation principles into practice

Wilby, Robert L.; Orr, Harriet G.; Watts, Glenn; Battarbee, Rick; Berry, Pam; Chadd, Richard; Dugdale, Stephen J.; Dunbar, Michael J.; Elliott, J. Alex; Extence, Chris A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.05.014

Cited by 151 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…Herein the existing principles for conservation and emerging adaptation principles (see Table 1) for conservation are reviewed (for comprehensive reviews of adaptation conservation principles see Heller and Zavaleta, 2009;Muir et al, 2012;Wilby et al, 2010).…”

Section: Principles In Conservation Policy and Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Managers of parks and protected areas or freshwater bodies are seen to face choices in adapting reactively or proactively, in building in resistance or resilience to changing conditions, and in balancing adaptation with other priorities (Palmer et al, 2009;Wilby et al, 2010 (Hallegatte, 2009). …”

Section: Adaptation Principles For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of climate change impacts, legal requirements may need to move from prioritising resistance to the resilience of ecosystems (Wilby et al, 2010), although it should be added that these different strategies are not mutually exclusive (Heller and Zavaleta, 2009). …”

Section: Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alpine aquatic ecosystem conservation policy in a changing climate

Khamis

Hannah

Clarvis

et al. 2014

Environmental Science & Policy

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Freshwater ecosystems are often of high conservation value, yet many have been degraded significantly by direct anthropogenic impacts and are further threatened by global environmental change. Traditionally, conservation science and policy has promoted principles based on preservation and restoration paradigms, which are linked to assumptions of stationarity and uniformitarianism. Adaptation requires new approaches based on flexibility, iterativity, non-linearity, and redundancy. Many high alpine river networks represent near natural, pristine river systems and important biodiversity 'hotspots' of European freshwater fauna. However, there remains a lack of guidance on alpine river conservation strategies under a changing climate at EU, regional and local levels. A critical evaluation of current conservation and adaptation principles and governance frameworks was undertaken with relation to predicted climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Case studies are presented from two alpine zones in mainland Europe (the Pyrénées and the Swiss Alps). The complexity of climate change impacts on hydrological regimes, habitat and biota from both case study regions suggests that current legislative and policy mechanisms, which frame conservation approaches, need to be realigned. In particular, a shift in focus from species-centric approaches to more holistic ecosystem functioning conservation is proposed.A methodological approach is set out that may help conservationists and resource managers to both prioritise their efforts, and better predict future habitat and biotic responses to set ecological baseline conditions. Due to the complexity and limited potential for preventative intervention in these systems, conservation strategies should focus on: (i) the maintenance and enhancement of connectivity within and between alpine river basins and (ii) the control and reduction of additional anthropogenic stressors.

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Section: Principles In Conservation Policy and Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Adaptation Principles For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alpine aquatic ecosystem conservation policy in a changing climate

Khamis

Hannah

Clarvis

et al. 2014

Environmental Science & Policy

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“…There is evidence that Tw is rising in response to climate and environmental drivers, such as land-use change, land-drainage and modification of riparian vegetation (Broadmeadow et al 2011;Langan et al, 2001;Malcolm et al, 2008;Webb, 1996). Consequently, there have been calls to manage rivers in ways that mitigate temperature increases to 'buy time' for ecosystems to adapt (Hansen et al, 2003;Wilby et al, 2010) whilst achieving other co-benefits (see for example: Nõges et al, 2010).To date, nocturnal water temperatures (nTw) have received relatively little if any explicit attention (see for example the review of Webb et al [2008]). This is because spot Tw measurements for compliance monitoring are normally made during daylight working hours (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nocturnal river water temperatures: Spatial and temporal variations

Wilby

Johnson

Toone

2014

Science of The Total Environment

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Nocturnal water temperature (Tw) affects the behaviour of aquatic biota and metabolism of whole rivers. However, night-time water temperature (nTw) is poorly understood because spot samples are typically taken during daylight hours, or Tw series are aggregated in ways that mask sub-daily properties. This paper examines 15-minute measurements of Tw and air temperature (Ta) collected at 36 sites in the Rivers Dove and Manifold, English Peak District.Data were stratified by day and night then analysed using hysteresis, auto-correlation and logistic regression techniques. Daily hysteresis loops show lagged responses between nTw and previous daylight air temperatures (dTa), plus the influence of groundwater and discharge variations. Logistic regression models were modified using a seasonal factor and explained between 80 to 94% of the variance in daily maximum nTw; minimum nTw were predicted with less skill, particularly for headwater sites in summer. Downstream variations in model parameters also reflect the influence of groundwater and/or riparian shade, and prevailing weather conditions. A case is presented where an intense summer storm resulted in the propagation of a thermal wave that produced maximum Tw at some sites during hours of darkness. Hence, our findings show that Tw management by riparian shade has to be seen in a catchment wide context, with anticipated benefits normalised for weather variability, extreme rainfall events, local influence of groundwater, and channel structures.Keywords: Water temperature; logistic regression; hysteresis curve; thermal wave; riparian shade; river management. 3 INTRODUCTIONAmbient water temperature (Tw) regulates the photosynthesis of aquatic plants and the metabolism of cold-blooded piokilotherms, including fish, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates (Berry & Björkman 1980; Farrell 2009). Extreme Tw can stress or ultimately prove lethal to biota (e.g. Dallas & Rivers-Moore 2012;Martins et al. 2011) although some fauna can deploy avoidance strategies and/or acclimate to high temperatures (Breau et al. 2011;Cox & Rutherford, 2000; Geist et al. 2011). Nonetheless, sub-lethal Tw can still impact on spawning and breeding, hatching, growth, behaviour, distribution and phenology, thereby altering population structure and dynamics (Durance and Ormerod, 2007; Thackeray et al. 2010;Ward & Stanford 1982). There is evidence that Tw is rising in response to climate and environmental drivers, such as land-use change, land-drainage and modification of riparian vegetation (Broadmeadow et al. 2011;Langan et al., 2001;Malcolm et al., 2008;Webb, 1996). Consequently, there have been calls to manage rivers in ways that mitigate temperature increases to 'buy time' for ecosystems to adapt (Hansen et al., 2003;Wilby et al., 2010) whilst achieving other co-benefits (see for example: Nõges et al., 2010).To date, nocturnal water temperatures (nTw) have received relatively little if any explicit attention (see for example the review of Webb et al. [2008]). This is because spot Tw measurem...

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“…Not only are the driving forces of climate highly uncertain, but fundamental scientific knowledge gaps limit the reliability of model projections (Hallegatte, 2009) with uncertainties in how climatic and non-climatic pressures will interact on different aspects of hydrology and ecology (Wilby et al, 2010). Traditional decision making tools, water management and infrastructure have however tended not to be developed to take account of the broader levels of uncertainty produced by climate change projections (Hallegatte, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

Assessing climate change impacts on the quantity of water in Alpine regions: Foreword to the adaptation and policy implications of the EU/FP7 “ACQWA” project

Beniston

Stoffel

Clarvis

et al. 2014

Environmental Science & Policy

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Assessing climate change impacts on the quantity of water in Alpine regions: Foreword to the adaptation and policy implications of the EU/FP7 ''ACQWA'' project IntroductionThis special issue is based on the policy and governance analysis of the ACQWA project (Assessing Climate Impacts on the Quantity and quality of Water; www.acqwa.ch), a 7th Framework Project funded by the European Union (EU). The special issue comprises 9 contributions that draw upon the work of this major, 5-year project that has investigated the potential impacts of a changing climate on the quantity, seasonality, and quality of water originating in various mountain regions where snow and ice is a significant part of the environment.In this geographical context, climate change takes on particular significance since snow and ice melt represent a large stream-flow component and a vital local resource for freshwater supply, hydropower generation, irrigation, tourism activities, and other industrial uses. Glaciers and snow pack act as vital natural storage systems, storing water as snow and ice through the wetter winter periods and releasing these provisions in the form of surface runoff during the drier summer months. Changes in precipitation and temperature will therefore impact both the quantity and timing of water available across these different sectors. Changes in the frequency or intensity of hazards (e.g., floods, glacier lake outburst floods, rockfalls and landslides) are also likely to have e n v i r o n m e n t a l s c i e n c e & p o l i c y x x x ( 2 0 1 4 ) x x x -x x x a r t i c l e i n f o

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Evidence needed to manage freshwater ecosystems in a changing climate: Turning adaptation principles into practice

Cited by 151 publications

References 112 publications

Alpine aquatic ecosystem conservation policy in a changing climate

Alpine aquatic ecosystem conservation policy in a changing climate

Nocturnal river water temperatures: Spatial and temporal variations

Assessing climate change impacts on the quantity of water in Alpine regions: Foreword to the adaptation and policy implications of the EU/FP7 “ACQWA” project

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