Use of thermal preference metrics to examine state biomonitoring data for climate change effects

Stamp, Jennifer D.; Hamilton, Andrew; Zheng, Lei; Bierwagen, Britta G.

doi:10.1899/10-003.1

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…3A-C). This result suggests that, apart from extreme climate-related events such as drought and fire, the bioindicators tested here were not sufficiently sensitive to detect significant, but subtle, changes in climate during the 15-y study (but see Lawrence et al 2010, Stamp et al 2010 for more information on sensitive indicators). However, we think that clear shifts in these bioindicators are likely if the predicted changes to the frequency of extreme weather events (DECC 2008) and snow cover in the Australian Alps occur (96% reduction in the area covered by snow for .60 d by 2050).…”

Section: Reference Conditionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate

Nichols

Robinson

Norris

2010

Journal of the North American Benthological Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Climate change is gradual and long-term, consistently collected data are required to detect resulting biological responses and to separate such responses from local effects of human activities that monitoring programs usually are designed to assess. The reference-condition approach is commonly used in freshwater assessments that use predictive modeling, but a consistent reference condition is required to maintain the relevance and integrity of results over the long term. We investigated whether external influences, such as climate change, inhibited clear interpretation of bioassessment results in a study design using reference vs test sites. Macroinvertebrates were collected from 16 sites (11 sites affected by ski resorts and 5 reference sites) on 5 streams in 4 seasons each year from 1994 to 2008 within Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. We analyzed trends over 15 y to address questions regarding climate-change and macroinvertebrate bioindicators of stream condition (observed/expected [O/E] taxa; Stream Invertebrate Grade Number Average Level [SIGNAL] 2 scores; Simpson's Diversity; Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera [EPT] richness ratio; and Oligochaeta abundance). Climate became slightly warmer and less humid (p , 0.0001), but no significant relationships between climate variables and bioindicators were evident. All bioindicators consistently distinguished between test and reference sites in all seasons. All bioindicators except for O/E taxa scores differed among streams (regardless of site type). O/E taxa are inherently adjusted for specific stream characteristics, and, thus, were robust to differences in stream type while remaining sensitive to reference and test site variation. Generally, reference and test sites did not respond differently to any gradual climate changes. Furthermore, the reference sites sampled through time remained in a condition equivalent to the previously defined reference condition and provided a valid comparison for current test sites of unknown condition. The bioindicators used here were insensitive to the small but significant changes in climate detected over the 15-y study. However, extreme climate-related events (such as severe drought and extensive bushfire) were detected by the chosen bioindicators at both reference and test sites. Ecological outcomes of climate change can be accounted for only by an appropriate study design that includes standardized sampling of fixed sites (both test and reference) over long periods.

show abstract

Section: Reference Conditionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate

Nichols

Robinson

Norris

2010

Journal of the North American Benthological Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Traits-based analyses can be used diagnostically to distinguish changes caused by climate from changes caused by other stressors. Stamp et al (2010) found that thermal-preference traits could be used to establish expectations for future responses to climate change. Their results suggest that thermal-preference metrics might be used in biomonitoring to distinguish responses to climate change from responses to other stressors.…”

Section: Evaluating the Link Between Climate Change And Biological Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using discharge dynamics characteristics to predict the effects of climate change on macroinvertebrates in lowland streams

Verdonschot¹,

Hoorn²

2010

Journal of the North American Benthological Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…To explore whether predicted trait–climate relationships are realized, we reviewed 11 commonly cited papers on such relationships for stream macroinvertebrates (Table ) to compare their findings to a priori , ecologically based predictions. An example of an a priori prediction (i.e., a hypothesized relationship between a trait and an environmental variable based on the perceived functional characteristic of the trait) is that cold‐adapted stenothermic macroinvertebrates will be vulnerable to increasing stream temperatures near the lower margins of their elevational ranges where temperatures already approach their upper thermal tolerances (Hering et al, ; Stamp, Hamilton, Zheng, & Bierwagen, ). Eleven ecological or life‐history traits were examined across the 11 studies, and 34 of 61 relationships between trait states and climate variables (56%) fulfilled predictions.…”

Section: How Reliable Are Single Trait‐based Predictions?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An example of an a priori prediction (i.e., a hypothesized relationship between a TA B L E 1 Overview of responses of traits (+ = response, 0 = no response, NA = not assessed) to climate extremes and long-term climatic stressors in freshwater ecosystems in previous studies. Note that the criteria used to evaluate the responses of traits to climate variables varied across studies and could not be harmonized without access to the raw data trait and an environmental variable based on the perceived functional characteristic of the trait) is that cold-adapted stenothermic macroinvertebrates will be vulnerable to increasing stream temperatures near the lower margins of their elevational ranges where temperatures already approach their upper thermal tolerances (Hering et al, 2009;Stamp, Hamilton, Zheng, & Bierwagen, 2010).…”

Section: Relationships Between Trait Predictions and Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

Limitations of trait‐based approaches for stressor assessment: The case of freshwater invertebrates and climate drivers

Hamilton

Schäfer

Pyne

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The appeal of trait‐based approaches for assessing environmental vulnerabilities arises from the potential insight they provide into the mechanisms underlying the changes in populations and community structure. Traits can provide ecologically based explanations for observed responses to environmental changes, along with predictive power gained by developing relationships between traits and environmental variables. Despite these potential benefits, questions remain regarding the utility and limitations of these approaches, which we explore focusing on the following questions: (a) How reliable are predictions of biotic responses to changing conditions based on single trait–environment relationships? (b) What factors constrain detection of single trait–environment relationships, and how can they be addressed? (c) Can we use information on meta‐community processes to reveal conditions when assumptions underlying trait‐based studies are not met? We address these questions by reviewing published literature on aquatic invertebrate communities from stream ecosystems. Our findings help to define factors that influence the successful application of trait‐based approaches in addressing the complex, multifaceted effects of changing climate conditions on hydrologic and thermal regimes in stream ecosystems. Key conclusions are that observed relationships between traits and environmental stressors are often inconsistent with predefined hypotheses derived from current trait‐based thinking, particularly related to single trait–environment relationships. Factors that can influence findings of trait‐based assessments include intercorrelations of among traits and among environmental variables, spatial scale, strength of biotic interactions, intensity of habitat disturbance, degree of abiotic stress, and methods of trait characterization. Several recommendations are made for practice and further study to address these concerns, including using phylogenetic relatedness to address intercorrelation. With proper consideration of these issues, trait‐based assessment of organismal vulnerability to environmental changes can become a useful tool to conserve threatened populations into the future.

show abstract

Use of thermal preference metrics to examine state biomonitoring data for climate change effects

Cited by 17 publications

References 40 publications

Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate

Using the reference condition maintains the integrity of a bioassessment program in a changing climate

Using discharge dynamics characteristics to predict the effects of climate change on macroinvertebrates in lowland streams

Limitations of trait‐based approaches for stressor assessment: The case of freshwater invertebrates and climate drivers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About