scholarly journals Synergistic Effects of Rooted Aquatic Vegetation and Drift Wrack on Ecosystem Multifunctionality

Ecosystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Å. N. Austin ◽  
J. P. Hansen ◽  
S. Donadi ◽  
U. Bergström ◽  
B. K. Eriksson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Coastal Ecosystems ◽  
Nitrogen Loading ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Ecosystem Multifunctionality

AbstractEcosystem multifunctionality is an increasingly popular concept used to approximate multifaceted ecosystem functioning, which in turn may help advance ecosystem-based management. However, while experimental studies have shown a positive effect of diversity on multifunctionality, observational studies from natural systems—particularly aquatic—are scarce. Here, we tested the relative importance of species richness and cover of rooted aquatic vegetation, as well as cover of the loose-lying form of the macroalgae bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), for ecosystem multifunctionality in shallow bays along the western Baltic Sea coast. We estimated multifunctionality based on four indicators of functions that support ecosystem services: recruitment of large predatory fish, grazer biomass, inverted ‘nuisance’ algal biomass, and water clarity. Piecewise path analysis showed that multifunctionality was driven by high cover of rooted aquatic vegetation and bladderwrack, particularly when the two co-occurred. This synergistic effect was nearly three times as strong as a negative effect of land-derived nitrogen loading. Species richness of aquatic vegetation indirectly benefitted multifunctionality by increasing vegetation cover. Meanwhile, high bladderwrack cover tended to decrease vegetation species richness, indicating that bladderwrack has both positive and negative effects on multifunctionality. We conclude that managing for dense and diverse vegetation assemblages may mitigate effects of anthropogenic pressures (for example, eutrophication) and support healthy coastal ecosystems that provide a range of benefits. To balance the exploitation of coastal ecosystems and maintain their multiple processes and services, management therefore needs to go beyond estimation of vegetation cover and consider the diversity and functional types of aquatic vegetation.

scholarly journals Prey Refuges in Emergent Vegetation Enhance Diving Beetle (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) Diversity in Urban Ponds in the Presence of Predatory Fish

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenfei Liao ◽  
Stephen Venn ◽  
Jari Niemelä
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Aquatic Invertebrate ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Urban Ponds ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Diving Beetle

Abstract Aquatic plants are important prey refugia for aquatic organisms, and their species richness is positively related with aquatic invertebrate species richness. Yet, little is known about how the quantity of refugia, i.e. aquatic vegetation cover, affect aquatic invertebrate assemblages and their habitat use in different levels of predation risks. Here, we investigated how provision of refugia affects diving beetle (Dytiscidae) species richness and abundance in the presence and absence of fish predators. We found that plant cover affected dytiscid populations differently: (1) At the pond level, dytiscid presence was positively correlated with increasing plant cover, both with and without fish, indicating the importance of emergent plants for aquatic biodiversity. (2) At the microhabitat level, dytiscid species richness and abundance responded positively to increasing plant cover in ponds with fish, but there was no such relationship in fishless ponds, emphasizing that the level of predation risks can alter prey species’ use of prey refugia. Our findings provide evidence that the availability of both vegetated and non-vegetated microhabitats can benefit a diversity of aquatic invertebrates. We suggest maintaining variation in provision of emergent plant cover to retain high habitat heterogeneity in urban ponds to enhance freshwater biodiversity.

scholarly journals The Influence of Flow Regime on Ecological Quality, Bird Diversity, and Shellfish Fisheries in a Lowland Mediterranean River and Its Coastal Area

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Belmar ◽  
Carles Ibáñez ◽  
Ana Forner ◽  
Nuno Caiola
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Environmental Flows ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
Ecological Quality ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Mantis Shrimp

Designing environmental flows in lowland river sections and estuaries is a challenge for researchers and managers, given their complexity and their importance, both for nature conservation and economy. The Ebro River and its delta belong to a Mediterranean area with marked anthropogenic pressures. This study presents an assessment of the relationships between mean flows (discharges) computed at different time scales and (i) ecological quality based on fish populations in the lower Ebro, (ii) bird populations, and (iii) two shellfish fishery species of socioeconomic importance (prawn, or Penaeus kerathurus, and mantis shrimp, or Squilla mantis). Daily discharge data from 2000 to 2015 were used for analyses. Mean annual discharge was able to explain the variation in fish-based ecological quality, and model performance increased when aquatic vegetation was incorporated. Our results indicate that a good ecological status cannot be reached only through changes on discharge, and that habitat characteristics, such as the coverage of macrophytes, must be taken into account. In addition, among the different bird groups identified in our study area, predators were related to river discharge. This was likely due to its influence on available resources. Finally, prawn and mantis shrimp productivity were influenced up to a certain degree by discharge and physicochemical variables, as inputs from rivers constitute major sources of nutrients in oligotrophic environments such as the Mediterranean Sea. Such outcomes allowed revisiting the environmental flow regimes designed for the study area, which provides information for water management in this or in other similar Mediterranean zones.

scholarly journals The freshwater diaptomid copepod fauna (Crustacea: Copepoda: Diaptomidae) of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra with notes on distribution, species richness and ecology

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihir R. Kulkarni ◽  
Kalpana Pai
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Calanoid Copepods ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Temporary Habitats ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
Diaptomid Copepods ◽  
The Western Ghats

<p>The diversity of many invertebrate taxa from Western Ghats of Maharashtra remains unknown due to lack of systematic studies. We studied freshwater calanoid copepods from this region, and found eleven species of diaptomid copepods in 180 samples collected from 80 sites in the study area. Most of these are new records for this region. The observed fauna includes Oriental, Gondwanan, Palaearctic and Indian endemic taxa. Locality data for all the observed species, along with notes on some ecological aspects of the sampled sites are provided. Non-parametric estimates of species richness for the region suggested an overall adequacy of sampling effort, and probable missing out of some species from habitats with longer hydroperiod. Hydroperiod, depth, electrical conductivity, altitude, mean annual temperature and latitude largely influenced the distribution of species in the study area. Co-occurrences of species were overall rare but more common in temporary habitats. Assemblages of diaptomid copepods restricted to certain sites were identified. The importance of temporary habitats is discussed in the light of their species richness, faunal composition and the increasing anthropogenic pressures they face.</p>

scholarly journals Context-dependency in biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships is driven by nitrogen availability and plant functional composition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie A. Pichon ◽  
Seraina L. Cappelli ◽  
Santiago Soliveres ◽  
Tosca Mannall ◽  
Thu Zar Nwe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Context Dependency ◽  
Composition Gradient ◽  
Nitrogen Enrichment ◽  
Functional Composition

SummaryThe ability of an ecosystem to deliver multiple functions at high levels (multifunctionality) typically increases with biodiversity but there is substantial variation in the strength and direction of biodiversity effects, suggesting context-dependency. However, the drivers of this context dependency have not been identified and understood in comparative meta-analyses or experimental studies. To determine how different factors modulate the effect of diversity on multifunctionality, we conducted a large grassland experiment with 216 communities, crossing a manipulation of plant species richness (1-20 species) with manipulations of resource availability (nitrogen enrichment), plant functional composition (gradient in mean specific leaf area [SLA] to manipulate abundances of fast vs. slow species), plant functional diversity (variance in SLA) and enemy abundance (fungal pathogen removal). We measured ten functions, above and belowground, related to productivity, nutrient cycling and energy transfer between trophic levels, and calculated multifunctionality. Plant species richness and functional diversity both increased multifunctionality, but their effects were context dependent. Species richness increased multifunctionality, but only when communities were assembled with fast growing (high SLA) species. This was because slow species were more redundant in their functional effects, whereas fast species tended to promote different functions. Functional diversity also increased multifunctionality but this effect was dampened by nitrogen enrichment, however, unfertilised, functionally diverse communities still delivered more functions than low diversity, fertilised communities. Our study suggests that a shift towards exploitative communities will not only alter ecosystem functioning but also the strength of biodiversity-functioning relationships, which highlights the potentially complex effects of global change on multifunctionality.

THE STATUS OF RECYCLING OF ORGANIC WASTE ON THE POULTRY FARM «MIKHNEVSKAYA»

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-204
Author(s):  
Yu. M. Subbotina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Sewage Water ◽  
Poultry Farm ◽  
Fish Ponds ◽  
Seed Material ◽  
Higher Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
The Status ◽  
Poultry Wastewater

The article deals with the problem of recycling in poultry farm Mikhnevskaya. The work program provided for the continuation of studies on the development of the system of pond preparation of sewage water in biological ponds of purification. As one of the options, the systems of BOCS ponds (biological oxidation contact stabilization ponds) and ponds with higher aquatic vegetation, as a system of posttreatment of wastewater, as well as the use of fish ponds were proposed. The development of devices that provide deeutrophication of decontaminated wastewater in the BOCS ponds was started. As measures that contributed to the improvement of water purification to be discharged into the environment, an attempt was made to introduce at the final stages of purification of the algobacterial complex, higher aquatic vegetation, and fish seed material. A survey of the poultry farm was conducted; the conditions of wastewater formation of the Mikhnevskaya poultry farm of Stupinsky district of the Moscow region were studied. Model experiments were carried out at the Mikhnevskaya poultry farm in laboratory and semi-production conditions, directly in the laboratory of the Institute at the facility. In the course of experimental studies it was found that in the ponds under the influence of algological complex of microalgae was the process of purification and disinfection of poultry wastewater. The total death of pathogenic bacteria of the E. coli group occurred on 6-11 days after the introduction of microalgae into the water of the algal pond, which does not contradict the existing developments. At the same time, there was still an increase in fish seed material, which was sufficiently provided with food and by the autumn reached a mass of 410 grams.

scholarly journals Inventory of mollusks from the estuary of the Paraíba River in northeastern Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Felipe Barbosa Lima ◽  
◽  
Rudá Amorim Lucena ◽  
Galdênia Menezes Santos ◽  
José Weverton Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Coastal Ecosystems ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Marine Mollusks ◽  
The Family

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems of northeastern Brazil have important biodiversity with regard to marine mollusks, which are insufficiently studied. Here we provide an inventory of mollusks from two sites in the estuary of the Paraíba River. Mollusks were collected in 2014 and 2016 on the coast and sandbanks located on the properties of Treze de Maio and Costinha de Santo Antônio. The malacofaunal survey identified 12 families, 20 genera and 21 species of bivalves, 17 families, 19 genera and 20 species of gastropods and one species of cephalopod. Bivalves of the family Veneridae Rafinesque, 1815 were the most representative, with a total of five species. Gastropods of the family Littorinidae Children, 1834 had the greatest species richness. The most abundant species were: Neritina virginea (Linnaeus, 1758), Brachidontes exustus (Linnaeus, 1758), Crassostrea brasiliana (Lamarck, 1819), Cerithium atratum (Born, 1778), Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791), Parvanachis obesa (C. B. Adams, 1845), Phrontis polygonata (Lamarck, 1822), Littoraria angulifera (Lamarck, 1822), L. flava (King, 1832), Tagelus plebeius (Lightfoot, 1786), Echinolittorina lineolata (d'Orbigny, 1840) and Iphigenia brasiliensis (Lamarck, 1818). The results show that the study area has considerable species richness of Mollusca, requiring environmental monitoring in the region mainly due to the economic importance of some species to the local population.

scholarly journals Associations between fish assemblage and riparian vegetation in the Corumbataí River Basin (SP)

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cetra ◽  
M. Petrere JR.
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
The State ◽  
Multivariate Techniques

This work intends to examine if there are associations between fish species and the state of conservation of the riparian forest in the Corumbataí River Basin. Four main rivers were chosen for this study with three sites on each. Collections were carried out from March to June and from September to December 2001. Multivariate techniques were applied to determine the correlation between species richness and the order of the rivers, preservation level of the riparian forest, shade level, presence or absence of Eucalyptus, sugar cane and pastures, and surrounding declivity stability of the sites. Species richness was highest at locations with greater vegetation cover and preserved riparian forest.

scholarly journals Environmental conditions alter successional trajectories on an ephemeral resource: a field experiment with beetles in dead wood

Oecologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 205-219
Author(s):  
Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad ◽  
Tone Birkemoe ◽  
Rolf Anker Ims ◽  
Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Developmental Rate ◽  
Fungal Community Composition ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance ◽  
Ephemeral Resources

Abstract Successional processes can be observed for many organisms and resources, but most studies of succession have focused on plants. A general framework has been proposed, advocating that successional patterns in species turnover are predominantly driven by competition, dispersal or abiotic limitation, and that the patterning of species accumulation over time gives clues to which process is most influential in a given system. We applied this framework to succession in communities of wood-living beetles, utilizing ephemeral resources in the form of 60 experimentally created dead aspen high stumps. High stumps were created at sun-exposed sites (high ambient temperature; favourable abiotic conditions) and shaded sites (low ambient temperature; abiotically limiting conditions). The sites were intermixed, ensuring similar dispersal opportunities. Beetle species richness and abundance were monitored with flight interception traps over four consecutive years. Consistent with predictions from the tested framework, several beetle functional groups accumulated species more slowly at the unfavourable shaded sites than at the favourable exposed sites. Species richness at the exposed sites increased rapidly to a plateau, consistent with a limiting effect of competition on community development. Similar results were obtained for beetle abundance and community structure. Part of the variance in beetle community structure was jointly explained by habitat and fungal community composition, suggesting that differences in the composition and developmental rate of fungal communities in the two habitats contributed to the observed patterns. Targeted experimental studies are now required to decisively establish what processes underlie the contrasting successional trajectories in the two environments.

Forest fragmentation modulates effects of tree species richness and composition on ecosystem multifunctionality

Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. e02653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel R. Hertzog ◽  
Roschong Boonyarittichaikij ◽  
Daan Dekeukeleire ◽  
Stefanie R. E. de Groote ◽  
Irene M. van Schrojenstein Lantman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Tree Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Multifunctionality

scholarly journals A Global Synthesis Reveals Gaps in Coastal Habitat Restoration Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
William Cioffi ◽  
Rebecca Cope ◽  
Pedro Daleo ◽  
Eleanor Heywood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Habitat Restoration ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Coastal Ecosystems ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Coastal Habitat ◽  
Coastal Restoration ◽  
Vote Count ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Factors

Coastal ecosystems have drastically declined in coverage and condition across the globe. To combat these losses, marine conservation has recently employed habitat restoration as a strategy to enhance depleted coastal ecosystems. For restoration to be a successful enterprise, however, it is necessary to identify and address potential knowledge gaps and review whether the field has tracked scientific advances regarding best practices. This enables managers, researchers, and practitioners alike to more readily establish restoration priorities and goals. We synthesized the peer-reviewed, published literature on habitat restoration research in salt marshes, oyster reefs, and seagrasses to address three questions related to restoration efforts: (i) How frequent is cross-sector authorship in coastal restoration research? (ii) What is the geographic distribution of coastal restoration research? and (iii) Are abiotic and biotic factors equally emphasized in the literature, and how does this vary with time? Our vote-count survey indicated that one-third of the journal-published studies listed authors from at least two sectors, and 6% listed authors from all three sectors. Across all habitat types, there was a dearth of studies from Africa, Asia, and South America. Finally, despite many experimental studies demonstrating that species interactions can greatly affect the recovery and persistence of coastal foundation species, only one-fourth of the studies we examined discussed their effects on restoration. Combined, our results reveal gaps and discrepancies in restoration research that should be addressed in order to further propel coastal restoration science.

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