Predicting Macroinvertebrate Responses to Water Abstraction in Alpine Streams

Consoli, Gabriele; Lepori, Fabio; Robinson, Christopher T.; Bruder, Andreas

doi:10.3390/w13152121

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…tot), three Diptera (Diamesinae, Liponeura spp., and Simuliidae), two Plecoptera of Protonemura genus, and two Trichoptera of Rhyacophila genus. These results support the study by Consoli et al (2021) who showed higher abundances of Baetis alpinus , Protonemura spp., Rhyacophila spp., and Simuliidae at high shear stress, and Snook and Milner (2002) who showed that temporarily attached macroinvertebrates (such as Simuliidae) persisted in high shear stress conditions. Consequently, stream flow reduction due to both water abstraction and glacier retreat (Milner et al, 2009) will, by reducing velocities and water depths in microhabitats (Dewson et al, 2007), undoubtedly impact these rheophilic taxa (Cauvy‐Fraunié et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…On the contrary, flow reduction in alpine streams could favour six limnophilic taxa that preferred lower shear stress, such as Limnephilinae and Ecdyonurus spp. tot (Consoli et al, 2021; Dolédec et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This velocity V40 theoretically corresponds to the average water column velocity when the velocity profile is logarithmic. Similarly to many previous studies (Consoli et al, 2021; Dolédec et al, 2007; Lorenz & Wolter, 2019; Mérigoux et al, 2009), we measured near‐bed shear stress (HFST, dimensionless) using ‘Fliesswasserstammtisch‐hemispheres’ (HFST hemispheres), developed by Statzner and Müller (1989). These numbered hemispheres (HFST = 0 to 24) of similar shape but different densities are sequentially put on a plate on the riverbed, and the heaviest hemisphere moved by the flow is used to estimate shear stress (from 0.77 to 712 N m −2 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…equivalent to a habitat suitability index or preference curve (Nestler et al, 2019). As previous studies on microhabitat modelling (e.g., Consoli et al, 2021;Dolédec et al, 2007), we rescaled this index between 0 and 1, by dividing it by its maximum value over a fixed range of the hydraulic variable x (e.g., [0-20] for HFST;…”

Section: Model Outputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, there are more and more water intakes for irrigation, drinking water, artificial snow production in touristic areas (Calianno et al, 2018; Vanham et al, 2009), and a growing number of small hydropower plants in mountainous regions in the current political context of greenhouse gas reduction (Lange et al, 2018; Zarfl et al, 2015). All these changes modify the hydrological regime of alpine streams (Barnett et al, 2005; Viviroli et al, 2011), and consequently their hydraulic conditions (Cauvy‐Fraunié et al, 2014; Consoli et al, 2021), sediment regimes, morphologies (Baker et al, 2011; Bunn & Arthington, 2002), and physico‐chemical conditions (Meier et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling macroinvertebrate hydraulic preferences in alpine streams

Becquet

Lamouroux

Forcellini

et al. 2023

Hydrological Processes

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Alpine streams face rapid hydrological changes due to the effects of global warming, glacier melting, and increased water uses such as hydropower production. Defining environmental flows (e‐flow) is crucial to mitigate the ecological impacts of flow alterations. Among e‐flow assessment methods, hydraulic habitat models predict changes in habitat suitability for aquatic species under different flow scenarios. They couple hydraulic models of stream reaches with biological models relating the abundance of taxa to microhabitat hydraulics. However, there is currently no suitable biological models for alpine, often fishless streams. In this study, we develop biological models for dominant macroinvertebrate taxa in alpine streams and compare their responses to hydraulics with those published in lowland streams. Using data collected in 150 microhabitats along a gradient of shear stress within five alpine streams, we performed generalized linear mixed models relating macroinvertebrate abundance to microhabitat hydraulics (shear stress, flow velocity, Froude number and water depth). We developed biological models for 41 taxa, and observed significant microhabitat selection for shear stress (18 taxa), velocity (20), Froude number (21), and depth (11). Most of them presented consistent responses across studied alpine streams, with shear stress and velocity as the main drivers. For common taxa, shapes of macroinvertebrate responses to hydraulics were comparable with those observed in lowland streams. Nevertheless, taxa preferred slightly lower shear stress in alpine streams compared to lowland streams, probably due to high‐fine sediment and oxygen concentrations, especially for taxa feeding on autochthonous organic matter. Many (23%) abundant taxa are rheophilic in alpine streams, thereby threatened by flow reduction, including the glacial stream specialists Diamesinae and Rhithrogena delphinensis, which will be also affected by glacier retreat. Combined with hydraulic models, our biological models will facilitate more robust e‐flow assessments, thereby reducing the impacts of flow alterations on alpine aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model Outputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Modelling macroinvertebrate hydraulic preferences in alpine streams

Becquet

Lamouroux

Forcellini

et al. 2023

Hydrological Processes

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Environmental flow assessment for benthic macroinvertebrate communities using pseudo‐2D hydraulic habitat modelling at a green small hydropower plant

Hu,

Feng,

et al. 2023

Ecohydrology

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The determination of minimum flow requirements for green small hydropower plants (GSHP) in China primarily relies on hydrological methods such as the Tennant method with no seasonal variation. However, the direct application of hydrological methods without local ecological data for calibration lacks ecological validity, potentially resulting in unsuitable minimum flow recommendations for local aquatic biota. Hydraulic‐habitat modelling (HHM) is assumed to provide more ecologically relevant and reliable environmental flow recommendations (EFRs), but benthic macroinvertebrates (BMs), crucial in the aquatic food web, have rarely been the focus in HHM studies. Moreover, the strong subjectivity in HHM processes hinders the comparison of EFRs across different biota and geographical regions. This study aims to investigate the ecological validity of using the Tennant method to set minimum flow requirements for local BM communities and the impacts of various methods used in HHM on derived EFRs. To achieve this, a pseudo‐2D HHM approach is employed, integrating the 1D hydraulic models HEC‐RAS and CASiMiR with the habitat model HABFUZZ. The EFRs downstream of Jiufeng reservoir, one of China's first GSHPs, are derived for wet (April–June) and dry seasons (July–September). Our findings highlight that setting minimum flow alone is inadequate for preserving BM community integrity downstream of GSHPs. It is crucial to incorporate more diverse environmental flow criteria, including minimum flows and peak flows, into GSHP assessment standards, with recommended flow levels varying across different seasons. Additionally, the development of a standardized HHM methodology is essential to mitigate the inherent subjectivity in HHM and facilitate the comparison of EFRs generated from different studies. This study's innovative modelling framework and findings will enhance the optimization of minimum flow assessment criteria for GSHP in China, deepen understanding of seasonal e‐flow requirements of BM communities, and refine the methodology used in BM HHM for e‐flow recommendation.

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