Natural lake level fluctuation and associated concordance with water quality and aquatic communities within small lakes of the laurentian great lakes region

White, Michael S.; Xenopoulos, Marguerite A.; Hogsden, Kristy L.; Metcalfe, Robert A.; Dillon, Peter J.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9192-6_4

Cited by 23 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The amounts of nutrients in water also play a significant role in influencing the chemistry of aquatic ecosystems. As water flows over rocks and soils, it carries some nutrients in solution while others are adsorbed into sediments on their way (White et al, 2008). The most important nutrients are those that are often in short supply and those that limit primary species diversity of phytoplankton and macroinvertebrates, like phosphorus, nitrogen or both (Kalff, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of water quality on species diversity and richness of macroinvertebrates in small water bodies in Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

Ngodhe¹,

Raburu²,

Achieng³

2014

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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This study was carried out in small water bodies (SWBs) within Uasin-Gishu and Siaya Counties of Kenya to investigate the effects of water quality on species diversity and richness of macroinvertebrates in these areas. The water quality of the SWBs was assessed in two dams in Uasin-Gishu County (Kesses and Kerita) and the other two in Siaya County (Mauna and Yenga) within Lake Victoria Basin. Water samples for total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) were collected at each sampling station and analyzed using standard methods and procedures. Physico-chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and temperature were taken in situ using electronic meters while biological oxygen demand (BOD) was analyzed using Winkler method after 5-days incubation period. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected using a scoop net (500 µm mesh size) then transferred into a white tray for washing and sorting prior to identification. Preliminary tests of water quality parameters were evaluated by GLM analysis of variance of which very significant differences were observed for both spatial (p = 0.004) and temporal (p= 0.001) variability with the measured water quality parameters. The results showed that there is both negative and positive change of macroinvertebrate composition and abundance between SWBs over time due to spatio-temporal variation of water quality parameters. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) further confirms this. PCA described over 90% of variation at the stations. For both seasons, TN, TP, temperature, pH, DO and BOD were found to have a significant influence of the species diversity, dominance and richness of macroinvertebrates. Principle component analysis of TN, TP, DO, pH and BOD for the SWBs described 96% of their variation when they were compared at temporal and spatial scales. This trend leads to the variation in species diversity; dominance and richness of macroinvertebrates in these SWBs. Water quality and littoral invertebrate mean relative abundance were significantly different among the studied small water bodies during the study period. Overall, water quality seemed to have had effect on species diversity, dominance and richness of the invertebrate benthic community therefore can be used as a bio-monitor to aquatic health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of water quality on species diversity and richness of macroinvertebrates in small water bodies in Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

Ngodhe¹,

Raburu²,

Achieng³

2014

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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“…On the other hand, an increase in the intensity of water level fluctuations can become a major stressor for the littoral zone and could explain by itself differences in community composition, including macroinvertebrates. This effect has been demonstrated in both artificially regulated systems (Furey et al, 2006;Aroviita and Hämäläinen, 2008) and natural lakes affected by drought (Wantzen et al, 2008;White et al, 2008). Modification of the natural regime of water-level fluctuations has traditionally been considered the main stressor and, indeed, most studies have focused on the effects of desiccation of the littoral zone and disregarded water quality changes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of a littoral macroinvertebrate assemblage to a persistent hydrological drought in a permanent mountain shallow lake from northwestern Spain

Villastrigo

García-Criado

2017

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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Current projections predict an intensification of hydrological drought as a consequence of climate change, but we know very little about the potential effects on aquatic communities. La Baña (SW León Province, Spain) is a mountain lake suffering from increased water seepage due to geological reasons. This has caused since 2005 a situation of hydrological drought, with pronounced reduction of lake area in late summer. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of this drought on the littoral macroinvertebrate assemblage. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in 2005 (before the drought events became apparent), 2006 and 2014, as well as in a nearby temporary pond (only in 2014). The most evident change shown by the assemblage at La Baña was a drop in richness values. Rarefaction curves showed that richness in the lake in 2014 was, for an equivalent sampling effort, only slightly higher than that in the temporary pond, and much lower than that in the lake in 2005 or 2006. However, the assemblage composition did not shift toward a fauna typical of temporary waterbodies. The results might indicate that the resistance of the assemblage was high enough to prevent changes in the first moments (differences between 2005 and 2006 were small), but not after nine years of sustained summer drought.

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“…Water‐level fluctuations (WLFs) have the potential to seriously impact benthic macroinvertebrate species composition through changes in water quality, substrate, and macrophyte abundance and distribution (Brauns, Garcia, & Pusch, ; Furey, Nordin, & Mazumder, ; White, Xenopoulos, Hogsden, Metcalfe, & Dillon, ). In particular, the magnitude, frequency, and duration of WLFs can impact littoral zones by altering habitat availability and type, shifting shoreline exposure to erosion, and imparting hydrodynamic stress on littoral organisms (Hofmann, Lorke, & Peeters, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the magnitude, frequency, and duration of WLFs can impact littoral zones by altering habitat availability and type, shifting shoreline exposure to erosion, and imparting hydrodynamic stress on littoral organisms (Hofmann, Lorke, & Peeters, ). Previous work has primarily focused on impacts of low‐magnitude (<2 m) fluctuations of water level (Baumgärtner, Mörtl, & Rothhaupt, ; White et al, ). Additionally, WLF studies have shown invertebrate density and biomass to increase in response to long‐term WLFs, but this may be accompanied by a shift in assemblage composition towards smaller, WLF‐tolerant species (Furey et al, ; Richardson, Hanson, & Locke, ) with the potential for semivoltine species to be lost entirely (Aroviita & Hämäläinen, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Littoral benthic macroinvertebrate response to water‐level fluctuations in three reservoirs of the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Whitmore

Murphy

Johnson

et al. 2017

River Research & Apps

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High-head dams throughout the Willamette River Basin, Oregon create deep reservoirs that undergo inter-seasonal and intra-seasonal water-level fluctuations (WLFs). The magnitude of WLFs is dependent on competing objectives of flood control, recreation, and water releases to maintain downstream habitat and facilitate migration of Endangered Species Act-listed salmonids. These reservoirs are drawn down to minimum conservation pool in winter, refilled to full pool by late spring and undergo variable WLFs, typically between 4 and 15 m, throughout summer. Here, we investigate the impact of seasonal WLFs on the density, biomass, and species composition of littoral benthic macroinvertebrates at Fall Creek, Hills Creek, and Lookout Point reservoirs. We sampled the submerged littoral zone during spring and summer using an adapted quadrat sampling method and assessed differences in species assemblages using a nonparametric multivariate statistical technique. Descriptors of variation in substrate, WLF, temperature, and depth were incorporated to identify environmental variables associated with variation in assemblage composition. We hypothesized that density and biomass would decrease and assemblage composition would shift between seasons in response to WLFs. We found statistically significant differences in assemblage composition between seasons and among reservoirs, but density and biomass did not respond similarly. Observed variation in assemblages was associated with surface water temperature, water depth, substrate, and WLF. None of these variables alone explained observed variation. We provide evidence that seasonal WLFs influence macroinvertebrate assemblage composition and alter habitat characteristics. Our procedure effectively quantifies changes in species assemblages in impounded systems with low densities and dynamic littoral zones and can inform water management decisions with relatively modest costs.

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Natural lake level fluctuation and associated concordance with water quality and aquatic communities within small lakes of the laurentian great lakes region

Cited by 23 publications

References 38 publications

The impact of water quality on species diversity and richness of macroinvertebrates in small water bodies in Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

The impact of water quality on species diversity and richness of macroinvertebrates in small water bodies in Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

Response of a littoral macroinvertebrate assemblage to a persistent hydrological drought in a permanent mountain shallow lake from northwestern Spain

Littoral benthic macroinvertebrate response to water‐level fluctuations in three reservoirs of the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

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