Putting the “Beaver” Back in Beverley Brook: Rapid Shifts in Community Composition Following the Restoration of a Degraded Urban River

Widespread habitat degradation has caused dramatic declines in aquatic biodiversity. Reconfiguring channels and adding physical structures to rivers has become common practice in order to reinstate natural processes and restore biodiversity. However, the effectiveness of such measures is often questioned, especially in urban settings where overriding factors (e.g., water quality) might constrain biotic responses to increased habitat heterogeneity. We monitored invertebrate and fish communities before and up to five years after extensive restoration of Beverley Brook, a small, urban river flowing through a Royal Park in London, UK. Total invertebrate density was 5–148% higher with restoration across the monitoring period, and there was an increase in evenness but not invertebrate richness. Riverflies (Ephmemeroptera and Trichoptera) and crustaceans (Amphipoda, Asellidae) showed marked increases in density with restoration, suggesting improved flow, enhanced water quality, and greater quantity of basal resources. Fish biomass increased by 282% with restoration as did fish richness and the average body mass of three common fish species. Our results provide evidence for the effectiveness of common restoration methods in increasing standing stocks across trophic levels, from basal resources to apex predators. However, we primarily observed changes in the density of existing taxa rather than the development of novel assemblages, suggesting that large-scale factors, such as water quality and the lack of adequate source populations, might be important for understanding changes in biodiversity following river restoration.

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Decadal oscillations of the aquatic chemistry of river waters in Latvia

Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences ◽

10.5194/piahs-374-193-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 374 ◽

pp. 193-199

Author(s):

Dmitry Porshnov ◽

Maris Klavins

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Large Scale ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Point Of View ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Natural Processes ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Global Atmospheric Circulation ◽

Water Quality And Quantity

Abstract. Water quality changes of surface waters can be used to assess human impact intensity, but of importance is to consider also impacts of climate change/variability and naturally occurring changes of environmental quality. In Latvia, during the recent decades a major reduction of anthropogenic pressure has happened due to restructuring of economy and industrial production, resulting in major decrease of loading of many groups of pollutants. However, trends and driving factors for other groups of substances have not been much studied. Long term (1980–2012) results of hydrochemical monitoring, performed in rivers of Latvia, are analysed during this study in connection with long-term sets of hydrological and heliophysical data, using standard statistical approaches. Our results indicate that variation of some hydrochemical values, for example COD and total Fe, show clearly visible decadal oscillated character, while variation of some other values, for example phosphate P and total P, show some individual characteristics of decadal oscillations. These results indicate the presence of a large scale, geochemical and geophysical significant process: multiannual pulse of catchment, driven by variation of solar irradiance through complex interactions between global atmospheric circulation, groundwater and surface waterbodies. The process described in our study is significant from a geochemical point of view and must be taken into account in prediction of water quality and quantity. Impacts of natural processes should be considered in the planning of environmental policy.

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Aquatic arthropods and forestry: effects of large-scale land use on aquatic systems in Nearctic temperate regions

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n07-ls04 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 140 (4) ◽

pp. 495-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

John S. Richardson

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Management Practices ◽

Forest Harvesting ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Sediment Runoff ◽

Generalist Species ◽

Local Topography ◽

Wood Temperature ◽

Basal Resources ◽

Large Scale Land

AbstractAquatic arthropods can be affected by forest management through increased amounts of light, discharge, and sediment runoff, alteration of the supply of basal resources, changes in the supply of large wood, temperature modifications, and food-web effects. This syndrome of alterations varies geographically in magnitude, and the specific details depend on initial biotic and abiotic conditions, local topography, climate, and the particular management practices used. Impacts on standing water appear to be subtle, and most attention has focussed on streams, where changes are often more obvious. The intensity of any changes in processes affecting aquatic arthropods depends, in part, on the proximity of logging to the shoreline and the proportion of watershed harvested, and also on the condition and frequency of forest access roads crossing or near water bodies. Some groups of species are particularly vulnerable, but others, particularly generalist species such as some Baetis Leach (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) and some Chironomidae (Diptera), appear to benefit from harvesting. In general, outcomes of harvesting near streams are temporary increases in production and abundance but reductions in diversity. Impacts on all trophic levels, especially in streams, can occur from forest harvesting. The primary tool for mitigating these impacts is the use of riparian buffers, but there are still major uncertainties about the effectiveness of specific widths and configurations of buffers and their use for additional types of disturbance.

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(A review) Atlas of especially protected natural areas of Saint Petersburg / Ed. in chief V. N. Khramtsov, T. V. Kovaleva, N. Yu. Natsvaladze. St. Petersburg, 2013. 176 p.

Vegetation of Russia ◽

10.31111/vegrus/2014.25.124 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 124-129

Author(s):

Z. V. Karamysheva

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Large Scale ◽

Natural Areas ◽

Natural Protected Areas ◽

Saint Petersburg ◽

Natural Processes ◽

Original Illustrations ◽

Vegetation Maps ◽

Protected Natural Areas

The review contains detailed description of the «Atlas of especially protected natural areas of Saint Petersburg» published in 2013. This publication presents the results of long-term studies of 12 natural protected areas made by a large research team in the years from 2002 to 2013 (see References). The Atlas contains a large number of the historical maps, new satellite images, the original illustrations, detailed texts on the nature of protected areas, summary tables of rare species of vascular plants, fungi and vertebrates recorded in these areas. Special attention is paid to the principles of thematic large-scale mapping. The landscape maps, the vegetation maps as well as the maps of natural processes in landscapes are included. Reviewed Atlas deserves the highest praise.

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Unintended consequences of biofuels production?The effects of large-scale crop conversion on water quality and quantity

Open-File Report ◽

10.3133/ofr20101229 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Heather L. Welch ◽

Christopher T. Green ◽

Richard A. Rebich ◽

Jeannie R.B. Barlow ◽

Matthew B. Hicks

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Large Scale ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Water Quality And Quantity

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Predictability of fouling-potential of raw water for ultrafiltration membranes

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2011.078 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 481-489

Author(s):

S. Krause ◽

A. Obermayer

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Membrane Fouling ◽

Large Scale ◽

High Capacity ◽

Raw Water ◽

Ultrafiltration Membranes ◽

Small Water ◽

Lab Experiments ◽

Flux Decline ◽

Public Drinking Water

The public drinking water supply of southern Germany is characterized by a rather decentralized network. Due to the hydrogeological setting in these parts of Germany many of the small water works with an average capacity of 50 m3/h have to treat raw water extracted from karstic or cliffy aquifers. These raw waters tend to be contaminated with particles and pathogens acquired during snowmelt or after strong rainfalls. In the last decade ultrafiltration has become the technology of choice for the removal of the aforementioned contaminants. Flux decline caused by unanticipated membrane fouling is the main limitation for the application of ultrafiltration membranes. This paper describes how membrane fouling phenomena can be predicted by using a statistical approach based on data from large scale filtration systems in combination with field and lab experiments on raw water quality and membrane performance. The data defines water quality and respective fouling phenomena both in technical scale filtration plants and in lab experiments of eleven different raw waters. The method described here is more economically feasible for small water works when compared to typical pilot experiments that are used for high capacity water works.

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Large-scale wetland-restoration of the Ronde Venen, The Netherlands

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0297 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (8) ◽

pp. 197-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L. L. Bijlmakers ◽

E. O. A. M. de Swart

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Wetland Restoration ◽

Pollution Control ◽

Large Scale ◽

Major Elements ◽

Control Mechanisms ◽

Important Criterion ◽

Spatial Strategy ◽

Hydrological Characteristics ◽

Spatial Composition

For the area of the Ronde Venen a plan for large-scale wetland-restoration and improvement of the water quality was developed. Major elements of the developed spatial strategy are the optimal use of the specific hydrological and ecological characteristics of the area. Based on regional hydrological characteristics within the study area hydrological sub-units were distinguished by connecting discharge and recharge areas. In this way the intake of polluted surface water from outside the area could be minimized, with an optimal use of specific local differences in water quality. Two scenarios were developed and evaluated using hydrological, hydrochemical and ecological models. The scenarios differed in spatial composition and the way the water level was manipulated. In order to optimize water quality, natural and artificial pollution control mechanisms were implemented as well. An important criterion for the evaluation was the extent to which the scenarios succeeded in optimizing conditions for the realization of the ecological goals. The most promising and acceptable scenario has been worked out in further detail.

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Impact of Organic Matter from Stormwater on Water Quality in an Urban River

Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation ◽

10.2175/193864715819555184 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 (9) ◽

pp. 1462-1481

Author(s):

Jacob Richardson ◽

R. Ryan Dupont ◽

Joan E McLean

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Urban River

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Camera Trapping to Assess Status and Composition of Mammal Communities in a Biodiversity Hotspot in Myanmar

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030880 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 880

Author(s):

Giacomo Cremonesi ◽

Francesco Bisi ◽

Lorenzo Gaffi ◽

Thet Zaw ◽

Hla Naing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Disturbance ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Single Species ◽

Wildlife Trade ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Occupancy Models ◽

Apex Predators ◽

Disturbed Area ◽

The Status ◽

Mammal Communities

Tropical forests comprise a critically impacted habitat, and it is known that altered forests host a lower diversity of mammal communities. In this study, we investigated the mammal communities of two areas in Myanmar with similar environmental conditions but with great differences in habitat degradation and human disturbance. The main goal was to understand the status and composition of these communities in an understudied area like Myanmar at a broad scale. Using camera trap data from a three-year-long campaign and hierarchical occupancy models with a Bayesian formulation, we evaluated the biodiversity level (species richness) and different ecosystem functions (diet and body mass), as well as the occupancy values of single species as a proxy for population density. We found a lower mammal diversity in the disturbed area, with a significantly lower number of carnivores and herbivores species. Interestingly, the area did not show alteration in its functional composition. Almost all the specific roles in the community were present except for apex predators, thus suggesting that the effects of human disturbance are mainly effecting the communities highest levels. Furthermore, two species showed significantly lower occupancies in the disturbed area during all the monitoring campaigns: one with a strong pressure for bushmeat consumption and a vulnerable carnivore threatened by illegal wildlife trade.

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