Spatial scale determines how the morphological diversity relates with river biological diversity. Evidence from a mountain river in the central Chilean Andes

Abstract

Rivers shape the landscape and determine spatial connectivity for a variety of riverine and terrestrial organisms. Rivers impacted by human disturbances are often in need of restoration in order to increase their functionality and ecological diversity, and ultimately to improve the ecosystems services that they offer. Because it is usually assumed that physical diversity of river systems promotes biological diversity or riverine species, river restoration practices often tend to enhance simplified rivers by increasing structural morphological complexity of river reaches. However, the relationship between the variability of physical features and the biological communities in riverine environments is not necessarily straightforward to assume due to the high degree of complexity and feedback in the relationship. This work presents a case study with the application of a recent geomorphological method developed in Europe for the assessment and characterization of geomorphic conditions in combination with biological surveys, along a mountain river basin in Central Chile (Clarillo River).Although representing a single snapshot in the pulsating nature of a river system, our results suggest that availability of habitats provides the conditions to support different levels of biodiversity in a hierarchical way in terms of spatial scale. In particular, we found that abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates are more related with 2 composition of geomorphic units, whereas the presence of fish is more related with the geomorphic nature of the reaches, and the presence of anurans is more related with the geomorphic nature of river segments.

Quantitative analysis of ecological suitability and stability of meandering rivers

“…Complex geomorphological features change water flow and sediment conditions, creating diverse microhabitats. As the natural river morphology changes, the river water environment changes in response, with changes in the diversity and abundance of river organisms and a certain responsive relationship [20,[24][25][26].…”

Spatial Pattern Analysis of Vegetation on Surakarta Urban Fringe Area

“…Meeting the needs of the population is the main thing in the development of a city where the balance of the urban environment is the key to the sustainability of life [1]. Biodiversity plays an important role in providing ecological functions in urban areas, where soil, water, air and plants interact and are linked in protecting the environment [2].…”