scholarly journals Development of a fish-based index for the assessment of the ecological status of Lake Balaton in the absence of present day reference condition

2020 ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
András Specziár ◽  
Tibor Erős
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Lake Balaton ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Electric Fishing

A fish-based index is proposed to indicate the ecological status of Lake Balaton, Hungary in accordance with the standard of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). The Balaton fish index (BFI) synthetises information of 13 lake-specific fish metrics including gillnetting and electric fishing data of species richness of native assemblages, relative abundance, biomass and age structure of native key species, representation of non-native species and general health status. The main anthropogenic pressures considered were the degradation of littoral habitats, invasion of non-native fish species, eutrophication and fishing/angling including stocking. Ecological quality ratio (EQR) is assessed by relating actual fish assemblage metrics to the supposed undisturbed reference status of Lake Balaton reconstructed by expert judgement based on recent and historic information on the fish fauna and its changes. Values of BFI were consistent and indicated good ecological status of Lake Balaton in the period of 2005–2018. This study provides an example on how an EQR assessment methodology might be established in unique habitats with no possibilities for statistical evaluation of pressure-respond relationships and exact determination of the reference status.

scholarly journals Advancing improvement in riverine water quality caused a non-native fish species invasion and native fish fauna recovery

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Głowacki ◽  
Andrzej Kruk ◽  
Tadeusz Penczak
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Species Invasion ◽  
Prussian Carp

AbstractThe knowledge of biotic and abiotic drivers that put non-native invasive fishes at a disadvantage to native ones is necessary for suppressing invasions, but the knowledge is scarce, particularly when abiotic changes are fast. In this study, we increased this knowledge by an analysis of the biomass of most harmful Prussian carp Carassius gibelio in a river reviving from biological degradation. The species' invasion followed by the invasion's reversal occurred over only two decades and were documented by frequent monitoring of fish biomass and water quality. An initial moderate improvement in water quality was an environmental filter that enabled Prussian carp’s invasion but prevented the expansion of other species. A later substantial improvement stimulated native species’ colonization of the river, and made one rheophil, ide Leuciscus idus, a significant Prussian carp’s replacer. The redundancy analysis (RDA) of the dependence of changes in the biomass of fish species on water quality factors indicated that Prussian carp and ide responded in a significantly opposite way to changes in water quality in the river over the study period. However, the dependence of Prussian carp biomass on ide biomass, as indicated by regression analysis and analysis of species traits, suggests that the ecomorphological similarity of both species might have produced interference competition that contributed to Prussian carp’s decline.

Fish fauna in low-order streams of the Piquiri River, Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariele P. Camargo ◽  
Sandra C. Forneck ◽  
Fabrício M. Dutra ◽  
Leonardo B. Ribas ◽  
Almir M. Cunico
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Neotropical Streams ◽  
The World ◽  
Upper Paraná River ◽  
Upper Paraná River Basin ◽  
Electric Fishing ◽  
Low Order

Abstract The South America ichthyofauna encompasses the highest diversity of the world, however is highly threatened by anthropogenic actions. The fish fauna of nine low-order streams, tributaries of the Piquiri River and impacted by aquaculture, agriculture and urbanization were sampled in the present study. Samplings were done quarterly from December 2017 to September 2018 at three sites in each stream, using a portable electric fishing device in 50-meter segments. A total of 14,507 individuals were collected, belonging to six orders, 20 families, 46 genera, and 70 species. The highest richness and abundance were found for the orders Characiformes and Siluriformes. In this study, nine species that had not been recorded were found, totaling 163 for the basin. In addition, 14 non-native species were captured. The presented list of species contributes to the existing database of ichthyofauna distribution in Neotropical streams, denoting that it is underestimated in the region, mainly in low-order tributaries. The present study reinforces the importance of inventories and monitoring in environments with high biodiversity and sensitive to anthropogenic actions.

scholarly journals Inventory of the fish fauna from Ivaí River basin, Paraná State, Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto Frota ◽  
Gabriel de Carvalho Deprá ◽  
Letícia Machado Petenucci ◽  
Weferson Júnio da Graça
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Flood Control ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Hydroelectric Plant ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Species Introduction ◽  
High Species Richness

Abstract We compiled data on fish fauna of the Ivaí River basin from recent specialised literature, standardised sampling and records of species deposited in fish collections. There were 118 fish species of eight orders and 29 families. Of these, 100 species are autochthonous (84.8%), 13, allochthonous (11.0%) and five, exotic (4.2%). The main causes for the occurrence of non-native species are escapes from aquaculture, introduction for fishing purposes and the construction of the Itaipu hydroelectric plant. The predominance of small and medium-sized Characiformes and Siluriformes, including 13 species new to science, accounts for approximately 11.0% of all species and 13.0% of all native species. About 10.2% of all species and 12.0% of all native species are endemic to the upper stretch of the Ivaí River, isolated by numerous waterfalls in tributary rivers and streams. The Ivaí River basin is subjected to various anthropogenic interferences such as pollution, eutrophication, siltation, construction of dams, flood control, fisheries, species introduction and release of fingerlings. These activities raise concerns about biodiversity of Brazilian inland waters especially regarding the fish fauna; the basin of the Ivaí River already has species classified in categories of extinction risk: Brycon nattereri and Apareiodon vladii (Vulnerable) and Characidium heirmostigmata and Steindachneridion scriptum (Endangered). The high species richness of native fish, endemism of some, high environmental heterogeneity, high risk of extinction and lack of knowledge of several other species along with the eminent human activities raise the need to enrich the scientific knowledge for future conservation efforts for the studied basin.

scholarly journals The Life “SeResto” project: A new strategic approach to meet HD and WFD objectives by SEagrass RESTOration

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Buosi ◽  
Chiara Facca ◽  
Emanuele Ponis ◽  
Andrea Bonometto ◽  
Rossella Boscolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Great Part ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
High Water ◽  
Venice Lagoon ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Aquatic Angiosperms

Pristine conditions in transitional water ecosystems are characterized by the dominance of aquatic angiosperms. Aquatic plants consolidate bottoms, prevent erosion, support benthic and fish communities as nursery and food areas, and favour the bird presence. Hence, they may contribute to the achievement of a good ecological status as required by the WFD (2000/60/EC). Their reduction or disappearance is a symptom of environmental deterioration. Over the past few decades, the aquatic angiosperms have shown a significant decrease on a worldwide scale and in some areas of Venice Lagoon (Adriatic Sea), particularly in the central and Northern basins, as a consequence of anthropogenic activities. At present, most of the anthropogenic pressures which caused their decline or disappearance in Venice Lagoon have significantly decreased creating the ecological conditions for a new colonization. In this context, the project SeResto (LIFE12 NAT/IT/000331), funded by the European Commission, aims at restoring the angiosperm meadows in the Northern basin of Venice Lagoon where the natural seed spreading is hampered by the presence of island, tidal marsh barriers and long residence times. The project has two main strengths: i) the widespread transplantations of small angiosperm sods and manual dispersion of rhizomes and seeds and based on a low costs and low impact on donor sites approach, ii) the participation of fishermen and hunters daily living the lagoon for recreational purposes. Thirty-five sites have been selected and in each one 9 sod-bearing plants (diameter: 30 cm), supplied by fish farms where angiosperm meadows are almost natural, have been transplanted. In addition, the plant spreading is enhanced by the dissemination of hundreds of rhizomes, 1500 at minimum in each area during the project period (52 months). In 8 sites, out of the 35, biological and chemico-physical conditions are being monitored monthly during the first and last year and quarterly in the intermediate period. Ecological indices, based on the study of macrophytes, macrobenthic fauna and fish fauna (Biological Quality Elements), as required by the WFD 2000/60/EC, will allow to assess changes in the Ecological Status of the study sites. Preliminary results are encouraging in great part of the selected areas although some difficulties have been recorded in areas with high water turbidity and the presence of thionitrophilous macroalgae, especially Ulvaceae, favoured by the unexpected weather conditions of summer 2014. Information on the restoration effectiveness and the relationship between the angiosperm presence/growth and the environmental conditions can be employed for interventions in other lagoon areas and can be exported in other similar transitional environments.

scholarly journals The Life “SeResto” project: A new strategic approach to meet HD and WFD objectives by SEagrass RESTOration

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Buosi ◽  
Chiara Facca ◽  
Emanuele Ponis ◽  
Andrea Bonometto ◽  
Rossella Boscolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Great Part ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
High Water ◽  
Venice Lagoon ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Aquatic Angiosperms

Pristine conditions in transitional water ecosystems are characterized by the dominance of aquatic angiosperms. Aquatic plants consolidate bottoms, prevent erosion, support benthic and fish communities as nursery and food areas, and favour the bird presence. Hence, they may contribute to the achievement of a good ecological status as required by the WFD (2000/60/EC). Their reduction or disappearance is a symptom of environmental deterioration. Over the past few decades, the aquatic angiosperms have shown a significant decrease on a worldwide scale and in some areas of Venice Lagoon (Adriatic Sea), particularly in the central and Northern basins, as a consequence of anthropogenic activities. At present, most of the anthropogenic pressures which caused their decline or disappearance in Venice Lagoon have significantly decreased creating the ecological conditions for a new colonization. In this context, the project SeResto (LIFE12 NAT/IT/000331), funded by the European Commission, aims at restoring the angiosperm meadows in the Northern basin of Venice Lagoon where the natural seed spreading is hampered by the presence of island, tidal marsh barriers and long residence times. The project has two main strengths: i) the widespread transplantations of small angiosperm sods and manual dispersion of rhizomes and seeds and based on a low costs and low impact on donor sites approach, ii) the participation of fishermen and hunters daily living the lagoon for recreational purposes. Thirty-five sites have been selected and in each one 9 sod-bearing plants (diameter: 30 cm), supplied by fish farms where angiosperm meadows are almost natural, have been transplanted. In addition, the plant spreading is enhanced by the dissemination of hundreds of rhizomes, 1500 at minimum in each area during the project period (52 months). In 8 sites, out of the 35, biological and chemico-physical conditions are being monitored monthly during the first and last year and quarterly in the intermediate period. Ecological indices, based on the study of macrophytes, macrobenthic fauna and fish fauna (Biological Quality Elements), as required by the WFD 2000/60/EC, will allow to assess changes in the Ecological Status of the study sites. Preliminary results are encouraging in great part of the selected areas although some difficulties have been recorded in areas with high water turbidity and the presence of thionitrophilous macroalgae, especially Ulvaceae, favoured by the unexpected weather conditions of summer 2014. Information on the restoration effectiveness and the relationship between the angiosperm presence/growth and the environmental conditions can be employed for interventions in other lagoon areas and can be exported in other similar transitional environments.

scholarly journals WFD Ecological Quality Indicators Are Poorly Correlated with Water Levels in River Catchments in Tuscany (Italy)

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Chiara Arrighi ◽  
Isabella Bonamini ◽  
Cristina Simoncini ◽  
Stefano Bartalesi ◽  
Fabio Castelli
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Poor Correlation ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Ecological Sampling ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Environmental Agencies ◽  
Ecological Flows

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires European countries to achieve a good ecological status of surface water bodies and demands that River District Authorities define ecological flows consistently. Nevertheless, the relationship between ecological and hydrological indicators is not fully understood and not straightforward to apply because ecological and hydrological indicators are monitored by different institutions, with different timings and purposes. This work examines the correlation between a set of ecological indicators monitored by environmental agencies (STAR-ICMi, LIMeco, IBMR, and TDI) and water levels with assigned durations monitored by the hydrologic service in Tuscany (central Italy). Reference water levels are derived from stage-duration curves obtained by the statistical analysis of daily levels in the same year of ecological sampling. The two datasets are paired through a geospatial association for the same river reach and the correlation is measured through Pearson’s r. The results show poor correlation (r between −0.33 and −0.42) between ecological indicators and hydrologic variables, confirming the findings observed in other Italian catchments with different hydrologic regimes, climate, and anthropogenic pressures. Nevertheless, the negative correlations show a decreasing water quality with water depths, i.e., in the lower part of the catchments more affected by anthropogenic pressures. These findings suggests that the determination of ecological flows with a purely hydrological approach is not sufficient for achieving WFD objectives in the study area.

scholarly journals On the occurrence of three non-native cichlid species including the first record of a feral population of Pelmatolapia ( Tilapia ) mariae (Boulenger, 1899) in Europe

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 170160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane A. Y. Lukas ◽  
Jonas Jourdan ◽  
Gregor Kalinkat ◽  
Sebastian Emde ◽  
Friedrich Wilhelm Miesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
River System ◽  
First Record ◽  
Fish Parasites ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Small Stream ◽  
Cichlid Species ◽  
Convict Cichlids

Thermally influenced freshwater systems provide suitable conditions for non-native species of tropical and subtropical origin to survive and form proliferating populations beyond their native ranges. In Germany, non-native convict cichlids ( Amatitlania nigrofasciata ) and tilapia ( Oreochromis sp.) have established populations in the Gillbach, a small stream that receives warm water discharge from a local power plant. Here, we report on the discovery of spotted tilapia ( Pelmatolapia mariae ) in the Gillbach, the first record of a reproducing population of this species in Europe. It has been hypothesized that Oreochromis sp. in the Gillbach are descendants of aquaculture escapees and our mtDNA analysis found both O. mossambicus and O. niloticus maternal lineages, which are commonly used for hybrids in aquaculture. Convict cichlids and spotted tilapia were most probably introduced into the Gillbach by aquarium hobbyists. Despite their high invasiveness worldwide, we argue that all three cichlid species are unlikely to spread and persist permanently beyond the thermally influenced range of the Gillbach river system. However, convict cichlids from the Gillbach are known to host both native and non-native fish parasites and thus, non-native cichlids may constitute threats to the native fish fauna. We therefore strongly recommend continuous monitoring of the Gillbach and similar systems.

scholarly journals Differences in sensitivity of native and exotic fish species to changes in river temperature

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 852-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S.E.W. Leuven ◽  
A.J. Hendriks ◽  
M.A.J. Huijbregts ◽  
H.J.R. Lenders ◽  
J. Matthews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exotic Species ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Exotic Fish ◽  
River Temperature ◽  
Exotic Fish Species

Abstract This paper describes the effects that temperature changes in the Rhine river distributaries have on native and exotic fish diversity. Site-specific potentially affected fractions (PAFs) of the regional fish species pool were derived using species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for water temperature. The number of fish species in the river distributaries has changed remarkably over the last century. The number of native rheophilous species declined up until 1980 due to anthropogenic disturbances such as commercial fishing, river regulation, migration barriers, habitat deterioration and water pollution. In spite of progress in river rehabilitation, the native rheophilous fish fauna has only partially recovered thus far. The total number of species has strongly increased due to the appearance of more exotic species. After the opening of the Rhine-Main-Danube waterway in 1992, many fish species originating from the Ponto-Caspian area colonized the Rhine basin. The yearly minimum and maximum river temperatures at Lobith have increased by circa 4 0C over the period 1908-2010. Exotic species show lower PAFs than native species at both ends of the temperature range. The interspecific variation in the temperature tolerance of exotic fish species was found to be large. Using temporal trends in river temperature allowed past predictions of PAFs to demonstrate that the increase in maximum river temperature negatively affected a higher percentage of native fish species than exotic species. Our results support the hypothesis that alterations of the river Rhine’s temperature regime caused by thermal pollution and global warming limit the full recovery of native fish fauna and facilitate the establishment of exotic species which thereby increases competition between native and exotic species. Thermal refuges are important for the survival of native fish species under extreme summer or winter temperature conditions.

Phytoplankton-based recovery requirement for urban lakes in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive’s ecological targets

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Napiórkowska-Krzebietke ◽  
Julita Dunalska
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Level ◽  
Trophic State ◽  
Phytoplankton Bloom ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Phytoplankton Assemblages ◽  
Urban Lakes ◽  
Ecological Targets ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Trophic Level Index

AbstractThis study focused on the determination of the phytoplankton-based recovery requirement, including bloom intensity thresholds in human-affected lakes, helpful in the restoration. The phytoplankton and physicochemical analyses were carried out on seven urban lakes in Kartuzy and Skępe. The Phytoplankton Metric for Polish Lakes was used to assess the ecological status and the Trophic Level Index was used to determine the trophic state. Only one lake had a good ecological status (meeting the WFD requirements for at least good status), whereas other lakes had poor or bad ecological status. All of them were eutrophic or hyper-eutrophic and the summer phytoplankton assemblages were dominated mainly by bloomforming cyanobacteria. The lowest phytoplankton bloom threshold of 2.6 mm

scholarly journals Assessment of the ecological condition of the Western Bug river basin according to the macrophyte index for rivers (MIR)

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Small Rivers ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Macrophyte Index ◽  
Bioindication Methods

Introduction. To restore and preserve the optimal ecological status of the Western Bug river basin, it is necessary to adhere to the strategic principles of environmental management, and since the river is transboundary and tributary basins are located in Ukraine and Poland, it is important to determine the ecological status of small rivers. In the territory of the Volyn region, the rivers-tributaries Luha and Studyanka are most affected by anthropogenic impact. An ecological assessment of water quality based on the condition of macrophytes is given, as macrophytes llow to determine the degree of surface water degradation, first of all, in terms of their trophic status. The purpose of article. The purpose of article aims to assess the ecological status of the rivers of the Western Bug river basin using bioindication methods and determination of the Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR). Methods. Research methods are expeditionary, methods of mathematical statistics end bioindication methods and determination of the Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR). Results. To determine the ecological status of the rivers of the Western Bug basin and to conduct research, three test sites with a length of at least 100 m were laid on two tributaries of the first order - the rivers Luha and Studyanka. To determine the MIR (Macrophyte Index for Rivers) in the test riverbed areas, 42 indicator species of macrophytes were selected, of which 1 species belongs to the division Polipodiophyta and Equisetophyta, 40 species to the division Magnoliophyta, of which 15 belong to the class Magnoliopsida, and 25 belong to the class Liliopsida. According to the classification of the MIR indicator, to determine the ecological status, the rivers Luha and Studyanka belong to lowland watercourses, with the type of macrophytes - M-VIII (organic rivers). As a result of the calculated Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR), it was established (Table 4) that the water quality in the Luha river in test site 1 (Zavydiv village) has a good ecological status, MIR is 39,0; and test site 2 (Volodymyr-Volynskyi city) has a satisfactory or moderate ecological status, MIR is 31,56; in the river Studyanka, the test site 3 (Ustyluh town) has a satisfactory or moderate ecological condition, MIR is 28,31. Conclusions. According to the ecological status of rivers determined by the Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR), it is established that the waters of the Luha and Studyanka rivers have a satisfactory or moderate ecological condition. This suggests that the research conducted on test sites and calculations of the Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR) are identical and fully reflect the ecological status of the rivers Luha and Studyanka determined by hydrochemical parameters, which allows the use of this research algorithm for other rivers in the Western Bug river basin and is promising during research on other rivers of Ukraine.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document