scholarly journals Response of benthic macroinvertebrates to dam removal in the restoration of the Boardman River, Michigan, USA

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0245030
Author(s):  
David C. Mahan ◽  
Joel T. Betts ◽  
Eric Nord ◽  
Fred Van Dyke ◽  
Jessica M. Outcalt
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Stream Restoration ◽  
Dam Removal ◽  
Functional Feeding Groups ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Before And After ◽  
New Zealand Mud Snail

Dam removal is an increasingly important method of stream restoration, but most removal efforts are under-studied in their effects. In order to better understand the effects of such removals on the stream ecosystem, we examined changes in stream macroinvertebrate communities from 2011–2016. Comparisons were focused above, below, and before and after the October 2012 removal of the Brown Bridge Dam on the Boardman River in Michigan (USA), as well as to new channel sites created in its former reservoir (2013–2015). Using linear mixed-effect models on the percent abundance of ecologically sensitive taxa (% Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT)), total density of all macroinvertebrates, overall taxa richness, and Functional Feeding Groups, along with multivariate analyses on the community matrix, we examined differences in community composition among sites and years. EPT declined downstream of the dam immediately after dam removal, but recovered in the second year, becoming dominant within 2–4 years. Downstream sites before removal had different community composition than upstream sites and downstream sites after removal (p<0.001), while upstream and downstream sites after removal converged towards similarity. New channel (restored) %EPT, density, and taxa richness were not different from upstream sites in any year following removal, but new channel sites were the most distinct in community composition, possessing multiple indicator taxa characteristic of unique new conditions. The invasive New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) was absent from all sites prior to dam removal, but appeared at low densities in upstream sites in 2013, had spread to all sites by 2015, and showed large increases at all sites by 2016. Managers employing dam removal for stream restoration should include post-removal monitoring for multiple years following removal and conduct risk analysis regarding potential effects on colonization of invasive invertebrate species.

scholarly journals Response of benthic macroinvertebrates to dam removal in the restoration of the Boardman River, Michigan, USA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Mahan ◽  
Joel T. Betts ◽  
Eric Nord ◽  
Fred Van Dyke ◽  
Jessica M. Outcalt
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Stream Restoration ◽  
Dam Removal ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Taxa Richness ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Stream Macroinvertebrate ◽  
New Zealand Mud Snail

AbstractDam removal is an increasingly important method of stream restoration, but most removal efforts are under-studied in their effects. In order to better understand the effects of such removals on the stream ecosystem, we examined changes in stream macroinvertebrate communities from 2011-2016 above, below, and before and after the October 2012 removal of the Brown Bridge Dam on the Boardman River in Michigan (USA), and to new channel sites created in its former reservoir (2013-2015). Using linear mixed-effect models on the percent abundance of ecologically sensitive taxa (% Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT)), total density of all macroinvertebrates, and overall taxa richness, along with multivariate analyses on the community matrix, we examined differences in community composition among sites and years. EPT declined downstream of the dam immediately after dam removal, but recovered in the second year, becoming dominant within 2-4 years. Downstream sites before removal had different community composition than upstream sites and downstream sites after removal (p<0.001), while upstream and downstream sites after removal converged towards similarity. New channel (restored) %EPT, density, and taxa richness were not different from upstream sites in any year following removal, but new channel sites were the most distinct in community composition, possessing multiple indicator taxa characteristic of unique new conditions. The invasive New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) was absent from all sites prior to dam removal, but appeared at low densities in upstream sites in 2013, had spread to all sites by 2015, and showed large increases at all sites by 2016. Managers employing dam removal for stream restoration should include post-removal monitoring for multiple years following removal and conduct risk analysis regarding potential effects on colonization of invasive invertebrate species.

scholarly journals Integrated Hydraulic Modelling, Water Quality Modelling and Habitat Assessment for Sustainable Water Management: A Case Study of the Anyang-Cheon Stream, Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4330
Author(s):  
Byungwoong Choi ◽  
Seung Se Choi
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Quality Index ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Stream Restoration ◽  
Restoration Project ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Habitat Simulation ◽  
Canadian Council

Recent ecological stream restoration projects have focused on expanding the water-friendly space of streams, promoting the health of aquatic ecosystems, and restoring various habitats, which raise the need for relevant research. Applying integrated environmental analysis, this study quantifies the change in hydraulic characteristics before and after the restoration projects through physical habitat simulation and links the results of physical impacts to estimate benefits of increase in water quality and aquatic ecosystem health due to the implementation of the project. For this, the study area is a 3.3 km long reach of the Anyang-cheon Stream, Korea. Field monitoring revealed that five fish species are dominant and sub-dominant, and account for 76% of the total fish community. To assess the change of before and after ecological stream restoration project, the River2D and Coastal Modelling System (CMS)-Flow 2D models were used for hydraulic and water quality simulations, respectively. For the habitat simulation, the HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) model was used. In addition, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) was used to calculate changes in water quality index and to examine changes in habitat areas with an integrated quantitative index, the methodology of Zingraff-Hamed et al. was adopted. It was found that the ecological stream restoration project significantly increased for the eco-friendly area. In addition, the changes in water quality and habitat suitability grades before the ecological river restoration project were improved to two stages and one stage, respectively. This study applied the integrated analytical framework as a policy/project assessment tool and the results of this study will be useful for the integrated water management policy.

scholarly journals Variations in Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities and Biological Quality in the Aguarico and Coca River Basins in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1692
Author(s):  
Santiago Cabrera ◽  
Marie Anne Eurie Forio ◽  
Koen Lock ◽  
Marte Vandenbroucke ◽  
Tania Oña ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Functional Ecology ◽  
Functional Feeding Groups ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Sampling Campaign ◽  
Ecuadorian Amazon ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems

Adequate environmental management in tropical aquatic ecosystems is imperative. Given the lack of knowledge about functional diversity and bioassessment programs, management is missing the needed evidence on pollution and its effect on biodiversity and functional ecology. Therefore, we investigated the composition and distribution of the macroinvertebrate community along two rivers. Specifically, 15 locations were sampled in the Coca and Aguarico Rivers (Ecuadorian Amazon) and the macroinvertebrates were used to indicate water quality (WQ), expressed as the Biological Monitoring Working Party Colombia (BMWP-Col) classes. Results indicate that elevation, pH, temperature, width, and water depth played an important role in the taxa and functional feeding groups (FFG) composition. The results show that diversity of taxa and FFG were generally scarce but were more abundant in good quality sites. Collector-gathers (CG) were, in general, dominant and were particularly abundant at low WQ and downstream sites. Scrapers (SC) were the second most abundant group, dominating mostly at good WQ and upstream sites. Predators (PR) were homogeneously distributed among the sites, without clear dominance, and their abundance was slightly higher in sites with medium-low WQ and downstream sites. Lastly, both shredders (SH) and collector-filterers (CF) were almost absent and were more abundant in good quality sites. The findings of this research can be used as baseline information in the studied region since a dam was constructed two years after the sampling campaign, which has been operating since. Furthermore, the results can be used to fill the knowledge gaps related to the bioassessments of other similar systems, particularly for a tropical rainforest.

Patch history, invertebrate patch dynamics and heterogeneous community composition: perspectives from a manipulative stream experiment

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Olsen ◽  
C. D. Matthaei ◽  
C. R. Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Patch Dynamics ◽  
Invertebrate Drift ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Disturbance History ◽  
Patch Type ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Stream Communities ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Stable Control

Recent research after bed-moving flow events has shown that local disturbance history can contribute to patchiness in stream communities. Patterns of recolonisation were studied following experimental disturbances in which patches of sediment were manipulated by removing 10 cm of surface sediment (scour) or by depositing 10 cm of clean sediment (fill) on top of existing sediments. Six invertebrate samples were collected from each patch type (including stable control patches) on five occasions up to six weeks after the manipulation. Immediately after the disturbance, distinctive macroinvertebrate communities occurred in scour, fill and stable patches. Community composition in scour patches remained distinct from fill and stable patches for the entire study period. Immediately after the manipulation, scour patches contained higher densities of hypogean taxa than did fill patches, but this difference did not persist for long, indicating that the relict community had little influence on the subsequent pattern of recovery. In contrast, fill patch communities were indistinguishable from stable patches by Day 14, most likely owing to recolonisation by buried invertebrates and invertebrate drift. Differences in patterns of recolonisation following different types of disturbance can result in patchy invertebrate communities that persist for several weeks after the disturbance.

Decreasing Richness And Biomass During A Flood Pulse Observed In A Southeastern US Coastal Floodplain Following A Multi-Year, Supra-Seasonal Drought

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica L. Johnson ◽  
Erin F. Abernethy ◽  
J. Checo Colón-Gaud
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Flood Pulse ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Biological Productivity ◽  
Aquatic Communities ◽  
Functional Feeding Group ◽  
Seasonal Flooding ◽  
Southeastern Us ◽  
Feeding Group

Abstract Floodplains of the southeastern United States exhibit high biological productivity, maintained by periodic floodplain inundation as a result of seasonal flooding. To examine the relationship between biological productivity and seasonal flooding following periods of drought, we quantified aquatic macroinvertebrate communities monthly in an inundated floodplain during the annual flood pulse (December-April) in two years, one following a multi-year drought and one following a larger than average flooding event. We predicted that floodplain communities would differ in richness, biomass, and community composition between years and that differences would be driven by discharge at the main stem and organic matter availability. We collected macroinvertebrates from the floodplain of the Altamaha River, an unimpounded 6th order river in the Coastal Plain region of the southeastern US that experiences floodplain connectivity. With invertebrates identified to genus, we elucidated richness, abundance, biomass, community composition, and functional feeding group. Richness was generally higher in the drought year but decreased throughout the flood pulse, while during the flood year richness was lower and increased. Biomass decreased throughout the flood pulse following the drought year and increased during the flood year. There was a high degree of overlap in invertebrate community composition based on abundance data during both years of the study with collector gatherers being the most highly abundant functional feeding group. As climate change impacts (i.e., severe droughts) become more common, it is critical to investigate how aquatic communities are responding to increasingly unpredictable flow conditions in unimpounded and seemingly unaltered rivers.

The effect of thermal effluent, before and after macrophyte harvesting, on standing crop and species composition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Lake Wabamun, Alberta

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 3196-3205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph B. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrates ◽  
Standing Crop ◽  
Tubifex Tubifex ◽  
Benthic Macroinvertebrate ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Plant Detritus ◽  
Chironomid Species ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Heated Area

The heated area of Lake Wabamun prior to macrophyte harvesting had higher submerged macrophyte production, greater amounts of plant detritus in the sediment, and a higher standing crop of benthic macroinvertebrates than the unheated area. Species composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was also much different in the heated area with the warmest areas supporting a community dominated by tubificid oligochaetes (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex), and the moderately heated areas supporting a community dominated by large Chironomus species (Chironomus plumosus and Chironomus atroviridis). Benthos of the unheated parts of the lake consisted mainly of smaller chironomid species such as Chironomus maturus, C. (cf.) staegeri, Polypedilum nubeculosum, Cladotanytarsus spp., and Tanytarsus spp. The heated area was subjected to mechanical macrophyte harvesting which removed the majority of the submerged macrophytes. This reduced the amount of plant detritus within the sediment and also the standing crop of benthic macroinvertebrates in the heated area. Species composition of the oligochaete-dominated community was not affected by harvesting. Species composition of the Chironomus-dominated area was greatly affected by harvesting and became more similar to that of the unheated area; densities of the large Chironomus species were reduced to low levels, while the densities of smaller chironomid species increased.

Methyl mercury in aquatic insects from an experimental reservoir

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 2036-2047 ◽  
Author(s):  
B D Hall ◽  
D M Rosenberg ◽  
A P Wiens
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Insects ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Fish Tissue ◽  
Functional Feeding Groups ◽  
Experimental Lakes Area ◽  
Major Pathway ◽  
Natural Lakes ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Before And After

Our objective was to study the effects of experimental flooding of a small wetland lake on the methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in aquatic insects and to compare MeHg concentrations in insects with those in water and fish from the same system. Insects were collected from the shorelines of the experimental reservoir before and after flooding, an undisturbed wetland lake, and an oligotrophic lake, all in the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario. Samples were identified to the lowest possible taxon and categorized into functional feeding groups (FFGs; predators or collector/shredders). The insects were analyzed for MeHg and total Hg using clean techniques. Contamination was not a problem because levels of MeHg in insects were much higher than background concentrations. Odonata, Corixidae, Gerridae, Gyrinidae, and Phryganeidae/Polycentropodidae exhibited increases in MeHg concentrations in response to flooding. When data were grouped into FFGs, increases were observed in predators. There were insufficient numbers of collector/shredders collected to make a definitive conclusion on MeHg increases. Predators exhibited an approximately threefold increase in MeHg concentrations after flooding compared with a 20-fold increase in water concentrations and a four- to five-fold increase in fish concentrations. Trends in MeHg concentrations in aquatic insects from reservoirs and natural lakes in Finland and northern Québec were similar to ours. Evidence of an increase in MeHg concentrations in the lower food web helps explain increases in MeHg concentrations in fish from reservoirs because food is the major pathway of MeHg uptake in fish tissue.

Macroinvertebrate Communities and Environment in a Southern African Mountain Stream

1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 2168-2181 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. King ◽  
J. A. Day ◽  
P. R. Hurly ◽  
M-P. Henshall-Howard ◽  
B. R. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
Mountain Stream ◽  
Functional Feeding Groups ◽  
Stepwise Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Stream Community ◽  
Community Changes

In a study of a second-order southern African stream, complementary classification and multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques revealed longitudinal changes in macroinvertebrate community structure, but no temporal changes. Stepwise discriminant analysis and multiple linear regression were used to identify environmental variables correlated with the community changes but produced conflicting results depending on the information used, possibly because of strong correlations between some of the variables. The MDS plot of biotic samples illustrated that potassium levels correlated most strongly with community distribution. Because of the large number of variables now shown worldwide to correlate with faunal distributions, we suggest ways to choose the variables to suit the kind of study to be undertaken. Attempts to assign the invertebrates to functional feeding groups (FFGs) were unsatisfactory as the relevant categories are poorly defined and often inadequate for classifying the fauna. We suggest that until these categories are more clearly defined, and more uniformly applied, concepts relating to FFGs cannot be tested satisfactorily. The stream community in Langrivier is more similar to communities found in two other mediterranean ecosystems than to those in other southern African rivers, probably because of the greater predictability of flow in the former.

scholarly journals The legacy of deer overabundance: long-term delays in herbaceous understory recovery

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Pendergast ◽  
Shane M. Hanlon ◽  
Zachary M. Long ◽  
Alejandro A. Royo ◽  
Walter P. Carson
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Legacy Effect ◽  
Browse Species ◽  
Understory Communities ◽  
Open Question ◽  
And Control

Decades of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) overpopulation have dramatically homogenized forests across much of the eastern United States, creating depauperate forest understory communities. The rate at which these communities recover once deer browsing has been reduced remains an open question. We evaluate overbrowsing legacy effects by examining how forest herbaceous layers respond in terms of biodiversity, density, and community composition over 11 years using exclosures and control plots within a mature beech–maple forest. Although little recovery occurred in the first 5 years, total density and preferred browse density rebounded substantially during the final years of the study. Although community composition began to diverge between exclosure and control plots after 5 years, diversity failed to recover even after 11 years of excluding browsers. Our findings show that vulnerable species can increase after excluding browsers but only if those species were initially present. Biodiversity recovery may be extremely slow because preferred browse species have been nearly extirpated from many forests and thus are unable to recruit into refugia. We empirically demonstrate the extent of the ghost of herbivory past or legacy effect of browsing, i.e., the substantial time delay between herbivore abatement and community response after decades of high deer densities.

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