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Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2022) | Viewed by 23623

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Geta Risnoveanu

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Guest Editor

Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainability, Universitatea din Bucuresti, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: freshwater ecology; applied ecology; functional ecology; ecology of populations; biodiversity; riparian areas; water quality monitoring; biomonitoring; ecological indicators; ecosystem services; urban ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Protecting rivers’ integrity represents a fundamental condition underpinning the supply of essential ecosystem services vital to sustaining well-being and future economic and social development. To date, a variety of different options have been pursued to provide important information on river biodiversity and functioning and indicate the human impact on river habitats. Continuous evaluation, summarization, and refinement of the scientific (i.e., causal understanding of mechanistic pathways and influencing factors, multiple stressors, functional integrity, stakeholder involvement) and practical approaches (e.g., study design, spatial and temporal replication, sampling protocols, and assessment methods), procedural challenges (e.g., data collection errors, coordination, modelling, prediction) and the communication of results (e.g., indicators, variables, attributes, or metrics) help overcome today’s challenges and maximize monitoring benefits for the informed management of rivers in a changing world. In particular, the river-specific assessment of the ecological state is undertaken by assessing not only the composition, diversity, abundance, and traits of aquatic components (e.g., algae, macrophytes, invertebrates, fish) but also the interactions with riparian zones and floodplains. This enables the integrated assessment of processes occurring at different spatial and temporal scales, and accounts for the social and ecological context and high complexity level.

Prof. Dr. Geta Risnoveanu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

algae
fish
invertebrates
macrophytes
water quality
stressors
indicators
riparian zones
floodplains
rivers
streams

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Construction, Hydromorphological Cumulative Impact Assessment: An Approach at the Waterbody Level Integrating Different Spatial Scales

by Marinela Moldoveanu, Stelian-Valentin Stănescu and Andreea-Cristina Gălie

Water 2023, 15(3), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030382 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2122

Abstract

The environmental impact assessment is a process required in many countries. It highlights future activities with a significant impact on the environment. Water, as an environmental factor, needs adequate methods for quantifying cumulative impact of hydrotechnical works. In most cases, for new developments, baseline data is collected before the beginning of the construction, but for waterworks already in place, a different approach is needed. In line with the EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC), the overall purpose of the research is to develop an approach for the hydromorphological cumulative impact assessment integrating different spatial scales for existing water intakes with transversal barriers on mountain rivers in Romania. Being a research study developed for a specific issue—post-construction impact assessment, some innovative actions were required. Lack of information in the pre-construction phase was an important constraint. Customizing formulas of certain indicators established within the Romanian method for hydromorphological status assessment of rivers proved to be a practical solution to show both local and waterbody hydromorphological impact. Upscaling the impact from the local scale to the river sector and the waterbody allows awareness of the spatial extent of the impact and understanding of the importance of the thresholds of significant impact for a broader audience. In order to better highlight the approach, this paper shows practical examples. The whole chain of the drivers–pressures–state–impacts–responses (DPSIR) framework is applied in the case of two river water bodies with hydropower generation facilities in place. In addition, some recommendations for actions are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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17 pages, 3737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land-Use Pattern as a Key Factor Determining the Water Quality, Fish Guilds, and Ecological Health in Lotic Ecosystems of the Asian Monsoon Region

by Blandina Genes Kakore, Md Mamun, Sang-Jae Lee and Kwang-Guk An

Water 2022, 14(17), 2765; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14172765 - 5 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2644

Abstract

Land-use patterns influence water quality in lotic ecosystems worldwide; consequently, deteriorating water quality affects fish communities and composition and the ecological health of water bodies. This study aimed to evaluate how land use, stream order, and elevation regulate water quality and ecological health in 64 streams based on the following four land cover types: namely, forest, agriculture, urban upstream, and urban downstream regions. Spatial analysis revealed that urban downstream areas had higher nutrient concentrations [total phosphorus (TP) as follows: 117 µg/L; total nitrogen (TN): 5.57 mg/L] and organic pollutants [chemical oxygen demand (COD): 7.71] than other regions. Empirical analysis indicated that TP (R² = 0.46) had a high relation with chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) compared to TN (R² = 0.23) and TN:TP (R² = 0.20). Elevation, stream order, and monsoon season significantly impact nutrients, organic matter, suspended particles, ionic content, and algal chlorophyll concentrations. The index of biotic integrity (IBI) was significantly positively correlated with elevation (R² = 0.387), indicating that forest streams (high elevation) had better water quality and ecological health than lower-elevation streams. The proportion of insectivore species shows a significant negative relationship with biological oxygen demand (BOD) (R² = 0.123) and TP (R² = 0.155). The multi-metric index of biotic integrity (IBI) model suggested that the ecological health of forest streams was in fair condition. In contrast, agricultural streams were in poor condition, and urban upstream and downstream were in very poor conditions. The outcomes of this study indicated that land-use patterns and elevation largely regulate the water quality and ecological health of the streams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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25 pages, 52123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fish Species Composition, Distribution and Community Structure in Relation to Environmental Variation in a Semi-Arid Mountainous River Basin, Iran

by Mojgan Zare-Shahraki, Eisa Ebrahimi-Dorche, Andreas Bruder, Joseph Flotemersch, Karen Blocksom and Doru Bănăduc

Water 2022, 14(14), 2226; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14142226 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8302

Abstract

We analyzed spatial variation in fish species richness and community composition in the Karun River basin, Iran. Knowledge about fish diversity in the basin is incomplete and varies widely along spatial and temporal scales: The Karun is the longest river in Iran (950 km) with the largest drainage area (about 67,000 km²). Fish samples were collected from 54 sites from July through August 2019 using a backpack electro-fisher. Physico-chemical and habitat parameter data collected at each site included pH, conductivity (μS/cm), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), water temperature (°C), turbidity (NTU), stream width (m), stream depth (m), water velocity (m/s) and elevation (m). In total, 37 species were collected (5241 individuals weighing 110.67 kg). The species collected represented 12 families and 27 genera. A total of 13 endemic species (35.14%), 16 native species (43.24%), and eight non-native species (21.62%) were recorded. Diversity indices were calculated and used to measure the spatial variation in community composition. Relationships between native and endemic species assemblage structure and environmental descriptors were assessed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The first two axes of the canonical correspondence analysis explained 62.57% of the variation in the data. Of the nine environmental descriptors analyzed, eight significantly affected species distribution; however, electrical conductivity and elevation were most influential. Our study provides up-to-date status information on the distribution of freshwater fishes in the Karun River basin. This information is essential for developing conservation and management strategies to support the long-term sustainability of fish populations in the Karun River basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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20 pages, 3306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Insights into Phytoplankton Dynamics and Water Quality Monitoring with the BIOFISH at the Elbe River, Germany

by Andre Wilhelms, Nicolas Börsig, Jingwei Yang, Andreas Holbach and Stefan Norra

Water 2022, 14(13), 2078; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132078 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2454

Abstract

Understanding the key factors influencing the water quality of large river systems forms an important basis for the assessment and protection of cross-regional ecosystems and the implementation of adapted water management concepts. However, identifying these factors requires in-depth comprehension of the unique environmental systems, which can only be achieved by detailed water quality monitoring. Within the scope of the joint science and sports event “Elbschwimmstaffel” (swimming relay on the river Elbe) in June/July 2017 organized by the German Ministry of Education and Research, water quality data were acquired along a 550 km long stretch of the Elbe River in Germany. During the survey, eight physiochemical water quality parameters were recorded in high spatial and temporal resolution with the BIOFISH multisensor system. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to identify and delineate processes influencing the water quality. The BIOFISH dataset revealed that phytoplankton activity has a major impact on the water quality of the Elbe River in the summer months. The results suggest that phytoplankton biomass constitutes a substantial proportion of the suspended particles and that photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton is closely related to significant temporal changes in pH and oxygen saturation. An evaluation of the BIOFISH data based on the combination of statistical analysis with weather and discharge data shows that the hydrological and meteorological history of the sampled water body was the main driver of phytoplankton dynamics. This study demonstrates the capacity of longitudinal river surveys with the BIOFISH or similar systems for water quality assessment, the identification of pollution sources and their utilization for online in situ monitoring of rivers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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26 pages, 4005 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Prioritizing Stream Protection, Restoration and Management Actions Using Landscape Modeling and Spatial Analysis

by Eric D. Stein, Jeffrey S. Brown, Alexis Canney, Megan Mirkhanian, Heili Lowman, Kevin O’Connor and Ross Clark

Water 2022, 14(9), 1375; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091375 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2743

Abstract

Watersheds are often degraded by human activities, reducing their ability to provide ecosystem functions and services. While governmental agencies have put forward plans for improving watershed health, resources are limited, and choices must be made as to which watersheds to prioritize and what actions to take. Prioritization tools with sufficient specificity, resolution, and automation are needed to guide decisions on restoration and management actions across large scales. To address this need, we developed a set of tools to support the protection of streams and associated riparian habitats across the state of California. We developed and tested watershed condition estimation models based on bioassessment data, used the EPA’s StreamCat dataset to identify stressors, incorporated environmental justice factors and developed reach-specific models to prioritize actions. We applied the prioritization tools statewide and were able to identify 18% of stream reaches that are in good condition but that are most vulnerable to existing stressors and an additional 19% of stream reaches that are degraded and are highest priority for restoration and management. The remaining 63% of stream reaches were prioritized for protection and periodic monitoring or minor remedial actions. The results of this project can help regional stakeholders and agencies prioritize hundreds of millions of dollars being spent to protect, acquire, and restore stream and riparian habitats. The methods are directly transferable by using any regional condition and stress data that can be readily obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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13 pages, 1939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In-Stream Variability of Litter Breakdown and Consequences on Environmental Monitoring

by Gbenga Emmanuel Omoniyi, Benjamin Bergerot, Laura Pellan, Maëva Delmotte, Alain Crave, Joris Heyman and Christophe Piscart

Water 2021, 13(16), 2246; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13162246 - 17 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2551

Abstract

Energy derived from leaf litter decomposition fuels food webs in forested streams. However, the natural spatial variability of the decomposition rate of leaf litter and the relative contributions of its drivers are poorly known at the local scale. This study aims to determine the natural in-stream variability of leaf litter decomposition rates in successive riffles and to quantify the factors involved in this key ecosystem process at the local scale. Experiments were conducted on six successive riffles in nine streams in north-western France to monitor the decomposition rate in fine (microbial decomposition, kf) and coarse (total decomposition, kc) mesh bags. We recorded 30 ± 2% (mean ± S.E.) variation in kc among riffles and 43 ± 4% among streams. kf variability was 15 ± 1% among riffles and 20 ± 3% among streams. However, in-stream variability was higher than between-stream variability in four of the nine streams. Streambed roughness was negatively related to decomposition and was the most important factor for both total and microbial decomposition. Our study shows that the natural variability of the decomposition rate resulting from the local morphological conditions of habitats could be very important and should be taken into consideration in studies using leaf litter assays as a bio-indicator of anthropogenic impacts in streams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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Review

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17 pages, 4671 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bridging the Gaps: Exploring Aquatic–Terrestrial Connectivity through the Trait-Based Ecology of Riparian Predatory Arthropods

by Cristian Andrei Murgu and Geta Rîșnoveanu

Water 2023, 15(22), 3983; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15223983 - 16 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1413

Abstract

Riparian predatory arthropods represent one of the main trophic links between lotic and terrestrial ecosystems along riverine landscapes. The use of the trait-based approach promises to enhance our understanding of how these predatory communities interact with their environment through their response to various drivers of change and through their trophic interactions. We reviewed the scientific literature focused on the interaction between drivers of community change (natural and anthropogenic) and the functional traits and functional diversity components that characterize riparian ground beetles and spiders and, ultimately, on their role as cross-ecosystem trophic links. We highlight land use changes and river regulations as the strongest drivers that change the communities we study, often through various interacting mechanisms that favor the replacement of riparian specialists with generalist species, thus altering aquatic–terrestrial connectivity and the resilience of riverine arthropod consumers. Tropical regions and traits related to community responses to extreme climatic events (e.g., submersion tolerance and desiccation resistance) are less studied, while inconsistent patterns are noticed for well-studied traits, especially for spiders (e.g., their feeding preference response to aquatic subsidy availability and their body size response to flooding and bank hydrological connectivity). Future research should focus on the aforementioned drivers and knowledge gaps, along with the functional diversity changes in predatory arthropod communities along environmental and anthropogenic impact gradients, in order to improve riparian conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Evaluation for Ecosystem Management in Rivers and Streams)

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