Antropogeniczne przekształcenie rzek na Ponidziu Pińczowskim

One of the three basic components of assessing ecological state is the determination of hydromorphological conditions occurring in river channels and valleys. In this paper an effort has been taken to check usefulness for such evaluations River Habitat Survey (RHS) – British research method, which is used in Poland for classification of ecological quality of surface waters from the view-point of their actual hydromorphological state. The possibilities of using this method in field teaching of geography students were checked. For this purpose, the RHS method was modified and adapted to the needs of field exercises. Research was conducted in Nida Riverside region, near Pińczów (świętokrzyskie voivodeship, Poland). Collected material makes it possible to calculate synthetic indicator HMS (Habitat Modification Score) which allow the hydromorphological state of a river to be presented in numerical form and assessing river modification by human activities. The research released advantages of the RHS in field teaching of students. The method can also be used in field exercises with secondary school students.

Perspektif Hipersemiotika pada Pertunjukan Sori in the Land of Lembuna Karya Flying Balloons Puppet dan Gwen Knox

Sori in the Land of Lembuna Performance by Flying Balloons Puppet and Gwen Knox presenting a discourse of river habitat polution phenomenon packed as explorative and imaginative. Analytical method done with hypersemiotic perspective which qualitative interpretative. The review on signs that were present in the performance is done with hypersemiotic perspective. Hypersemiotic perspective analysis used are content of recycled signs that were present in the performance. Lembuna is a character representing the myth of Lembudana and Lembudini, as a past reality, recontextualized into present reality in the form of a Plastic Monster as a representative of environmental pollution from plastic wastes piling up in the river ecosystem. The present of both merge into new reality in the form of a performance, so between signs and reality, even reality and non reality are hard to be distinguished.

Survival of a threatened salmon is linked to spatial variability in river conditions

Extirpation of the Central Valley spring-run Chinook Salmon ESU (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from the San Joaquin River is emblematic of salmonid declines across the Pacific Northwest. Habitat restoration and fish reintroduction efforts are ongoing, but recent telemetry studies have revealed low outmigration survival of juveniles to the ocean. Previous investigations have focused on modeling survival relative to river discharge and geographic regions, but have largely overlooked the effects of habitat variability. To evaluate the link between environmental conditions and survival of juvenile spring-run Chinook Salmon, we combined high spatial resolution habitat mapping approaches with acoustic telemetry along a 150 km section of the San Joaquin River during the spring of 2019. While overall outmigration survival was low (5%), our habitat-based classification scheme described variation in survival of acoustic-tagged smolts better than other candidate models based on geography or distance. There were two regional mortality sinks evident along the longitudinal profile of the river, revealing poor survival in areas that shared warmer temperatures but that diverged in chlorophyll-α, fDOM, turbidity and dissolved oxygen levels. These findings demonstrate the value of integrating river habitat classification frameworks to improve our understanding of survival dynamics of imperiled fish populations. Importantly, our data generation and modeling methods can be applied to a wide variety of fish species that transit heterogeneous and diverse habitat types.

Urban Rivers Corridors in the Don Catchment, UK: From Ignored, Ignoble and Industrial to Green, Seen and Celebrated

Research on urban rivers often seeks to find commonalities to advance knowledge of the effect of urbanisation on rivers, and rightly so. But it is important, also, to develop a complementary understanding of how urban rivers can be distinct, to facilitate a more nuanced view of concepts such as the ‘urban river syndrome’ and of the challenges facing those who wish to create more sustainable urban river corridors. To this end we use the Don Catchment as a case study to illustrate how historic patterns of urbanisation have been fundamental in shaping the catchment’s rivers. Following the Industrial Revolution, the catchment became an industrial centre, resulting in the ecological death of river ecosystems, and the disconnection of communities from stark urban river corridors. Widescale deindustrialisation in the 1970s and 1980s then resulted in a partial ecological recovery of the rivers, and ignited public interest. This history has imbued the catchment’s urban river corridors with a distinctive industrial character that can vary greatly between and within settlements. It has also left a legacy of particular issues, including a high degree of river habitat fragmentation and physical modification, and of negative perceptions of the rivers, which need improving to realise their potential as assets to local communities.

A new record of the freshwater turtle Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes, 1833) in the Ofkos river, Cyprus: Conservation actions required

A range extension of the native Balkan terrapin Mauremys rivulata is documented along the Ofkos river at the upper part of the Morfou plain, in Cyprus. Several individuals of both sexes and of different age, were caught using turtle net traps in late April 2021; different measurements were recorded, including length, width and weight. The area where the terrapins were discovered consists of deep ponds on the Ofkos riverbed, which maintain permanent and semi-permanent aquatic refugia, even during prolonged periods of drought. This is the 5th river location in Cyprus, where M. rivulata has been documented. It is assumed that this particular population has been isolated from other populations, since there is very little chance of frequent dispersal over land between the nearest existing populations of the Klimos and Pedieos rivers, respectively. Since the majority of this type of river habitat in Cyprus rapidly dries out during the long drought season, this area is of high conservation value for M. rivulata, as well as for other aquatic and wetland species. Therefore, it is of vital importance that this location falls within a proposed newly planned protected area.

Decision Support Tools for River Restoration: The Implementation of the “River Habitat Survey” Methodology on the River Selho (Guimarães Municipality, Northwest Portugal)

The river habitat survey (RHS) system is a method used to assess the physical features and quality of rivers, which was developed to assist in the conservation and recovery of riverside habitats. The RHS takes into account the need to characterize areas of intervention from a hydromorphological point of view, in order to introduce corrective measures aimed at restoring degraded sections and habitats, and increasing local biodiversity. In this paper, we present the results obtained from the application of the RHS methodology to the River Selho, in the municipality of Guimarães (Portugal). The transects that we defined were strongly influenced by anthropic actions that have modified the riverside habitats, the artificialization of the river channel, and the urban occupation of the banks. Taking into account the results, we can point out the main problems that currently affect the hydromorphological quality of the transects analyzed in the River Selho, as well as identify the originating factors: the excessive silting of the watercourse; morphometric changes, with an emphasis on the narrowing and modification of the channel and the banks; as well as the massive destruction of the riparian zone. This study shows that the application of the RHS methodology is a useful tool for the management of degraded riverside areas.

Assessing the progress of river restoration in the UK: has ecological condition improved over two decades of intervention?

Context: Habitat condition indicates the immediate success of efforts to revegetate degraded river basins as well as longer-term progress towards improving water quality. In the context of the Water Framework Directive, habitat condition in the UK also reflects how well international environmental policy translates into improved river management domestically. Objectives: 1. To assess whether habitat condition in the UK has improved or declined over the past two decades, 2. To assess whether regions identified by the first WFD assessment have improved or declined. Methods: Statistical and spatial analysis of more than 25,000 habitat condition records collated in the River Habitat Survey over the 1990s and 2000s. Computation of an Index of Change demonstrating the improvement or decline of habitat quality in Local Authorities. Comparison of Indices of Change with a sub-sample of 1,727 WFD assessments conducted in 258 Local Authorities. Results: Measures indicate that habitat quality has declined. Riparian quality has improved. 27 regions were identified with the worst declining quality. Condition has declined most substantially in regions that were previously in ‘good’ condition. Conclusion: Priorities for future investment should include improving degraded sites, protecting high quality sites, and increasing monitoring of ‘data poor’ regions. We offer a framework for decision making, including distinguishing the underlying cause of quality decline. Habitat quality decline in the UK mirrors the experience of European nations and points to systemic challenges associated with implementing international water policy in a national context.