Predicting the constraint effect of environmental characteristics on macroinvertebrate density and diversity using quantile regression mixed model

Fornaroli, Riccardo; Cabrini, R; Sartori, L; Marazzi, Francesca; Vracevic, D.; Mezzanotte, Valeria; Annala, Mari; Canobbio, S

doi:10.1007/s10750-014-1974-6

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…A slow flow velocity allows the deposition of fine sediments [78,79], which consequently inhibits water exchange and oxygen transport [80] and supports nutrients and contaminants transfer [81] within the water, a condition that can be harmful to aquatic animals. A high flow velocity provides more suitable habitat and offers continuous food and oxygen supply for aquatic animals, thus improving the biotic integrity [37,82,83]. However, altering the flow velocity of the rivers is difficult, especially in low-land areas, where flow increase can only be induced by a lower water use (e.g., irrigation) or the removal of obstructions at the upstream, such as hydropower dams.…”

Section: Biotic Integrity and Potential Restoration Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalized Linear Models to Identify Key Hydromorphological and Chemical Variables Determining the Occurrence of Macroinvertebrates in the Guayas River Basin (Ecuador)

Damanik-Ambarita

Everaert

Forio

et al. 2016

Water

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Abstract:The biotic integrity of the Guayas River basin in Ecuador is at environmental risk due to extensive anthropogenic activities. We investigated the potential impacts of hydromorphological and chemical variables on biotic integrity using macroinvertebrate-based bioassessments. The bioassessment methods utilized included the Biological Monitoring Working Party adapted for Colombia (BMWP-Col) and the average score per taxon (ASPT), via an extensive sampling campaign that was completed throughout the river basin at 120 sampling sites. The BMWP-Col classification ranged from very bad to good, and from probable severe pollution to clean water based on the ASPT scores. Generalized linear models (GLMs) and sensitivity analysis were used to relate the bioassessment index to hydromorphological and chemical variables. It was found that elevation, nitrate-N, sediment angularity, logs, presence of macrophytes, flow velocity, turbidity, bank shape, land use and chlorophyll were the key environmental variables affecting the BMWP-Col. From the analyses, it was observed that the rivers at the upstream higher elevations of the river basin were in better condition compared to lowland systems and that a higher flow velocity was linked to a better BMWP-Col score. The nitrate concentrations were very low in the entire river basin and did not relate to a negative impact on the macroinvertebrate communities. Although the results of the models provided insights into the ecosystem, cross fold model development and validation also showed that there was a level of uncertainty in the outcomes. However, the results of the models and sensitivity analysis can support water management actions to determine and focus on alterable variables, such as the land use at different elevations, monitoring of nitrate and chlorophyll concentrations, macrophyte presence, sediment transport and bank stability.

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Section: Biotic Integrity and Potential Restoration Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalized Linear Models to Identify Key Hydromorphological and Chemical Variables Determining the Occurrence of Macroinvertebrates in the Guayas River Basin (Ecuador)

Damanik-Ambarita

Everaert

Forio

et al. 2016

Water

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“…These results are driven by the suitability models for the macroinvertebrates that predict higher densities in high velocity habitats, such as riffles and run, for almost all the studied families (Fornaroli et al, 2015).…”

Section: Optimal Flowsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…We modeled the potential abundances of six macroinvertebrate families (Leuctridae, Heptageniidae, Baetidae, Limnephilidae, Chironomidae, Limoniidae) using the density models developed in Fornaroli et al (2015). We evaluated the potential density (ind/m 2 ) in each cell of each site for each discharge and, multiplying this value for the cell area and summing the obtained results, we were able to provide a potential number of individuals in each site for each discharge.…”

Section: Habitat Availability Evaluationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This statistical tool was introduced in ecology by Cade et al (1999) and can be used to test the role of environmental factors as constraints. Moreover, its application allows the predictions not only of the more probable values of the studied biological metric but also of the maximum or minimum values that could be expected in environmental conditions comparable to the ones used for the model fitting (Cade and Noon, 2003;Doll, 2011;Fornaroli et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Macroinvertebrates are rarely used in habitat-based methods because of the high heterogeneity of the density response along environmental gradients. However, density-environment relationships for macroinvertebrates were produced on the basis of the limiting factor approach (Fornaroli et al, 2015) and can be used, along with the one produced in this work for fish, to better understand the possible changes induced in the biological communities by water management strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimal flow for brown trout: Habitat – prey optimization

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Science of The Total Environment

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The influence of multiple controls on structural and functional characteristics of macroinvertebrate community in a regulated Alpine river

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In the past 30 years, several studies have proved that the river flow regime is fundamental in structuring biotic communities. The condition of the ecosystem results not only from the occurrence of extreme events, such as floods and droughts but also from habitat availability and from its temporal variation. Describing the relationships between macroinvertebrate community characteristics and environmental gradients of flow, temperature, nutrient supplies, and habitat conditions is fundamental to understand ecological dynamics. This is the basis for predicting changes within the communities and in ecosystem functions and ultimately to properly manage and conserve the riverine ecosystems. Seven sites, along a 20‐km river sector, were surveyed for macroinvertebrates and water chemistry seasonally, from 2012 to 2016. Habitat conditions were assessed along a 500‐m stretch in each site. The river discharge was continuously monitored by two water level recorders and used to reconstruct various hydrological indices specific for each sampling location. During the sampling period, numerous high flow events and some prolonged periods of low flow were observed. Quantile regression was used to describe the effects of potential limiting factors on macroinvertebrate community, which were primarily driven by antecedent flow conditions and season whereas habitat conditions and water chemistry played only a minor role. Quantitative models have been developed to predict structural and functional characteristics of macroinvertebrate community as a function of antecedent flow conditions, habitat, and physicochemical water characteristics. Those models allow to identify the main drivers and predict the effect of different water management strategies to riverine ecosystem.

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Predicting the constraint effect of environmental characteristics on macroinvertebrate density and diversity using quantile regression mixed model

Cited by 32 publications

References 60 publications

Generalized Linear Models to Identify Key Hydromorphological and Chemical Variables Determining the Occurrence of Macroinvertebrates in the Guayas River Basin (Ecuador)

Generalized Linear Models to Identify Key Hydromorphological and Chemical Variables Determining the Occurrence of Macroinvertebrates in the Guayas River Basin (Ecuador)

Optimal flow for brown trout: Habitat – prey optimization

The influence of multiple controls on structural and functional characteristics of macroinvertebrate community in a regulated Alpine river

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