Longitudinal recovery gradient of macroinvertebrates during different hydrological scenarios in a downstream river reach

Submitted: 12 January 2023
Accepted: 12 May 2023
Published: 7 June 2023
Abstract Views: 1791
PDF: 324
Figure S1. MFA_Complex_Full_Partial_axes: 84
Figure S2. MFA_Complex_Full_IND: 75
Table S1. Taxonomic distribution: 68
Table S2. PCA_Bio_St: 71
Table S3. Environmental variables: 69
Table S4. Daily flow time series: 71
Table S5. PCA_Hydro_St: 77
Table S6. PCA_Chem_St: 72
Table S7. MFA_Complex: 80
HTML: 28
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Macroinvertebrate community composition in regulated rivers is highly dependent on high and low flow events. Significant reduction or augmentation of the flow downstream from a dam can lead to a decrease in the variety of the sensitive macrozoobenthic taxa. Such decreases may lead to a degraded ecological status. In this research, the macrozoobenthic community was investigated in a river section downstream of a multipurpose dam with strategic significance for northeast Bulgaria. Samples were collected for five years from the Golyama Kamchia River, in close proximity to the Ticha dam. Three sampling sites were established in a longitudinal gradient, from 75 to 1770 meters from the dam. Sixteen invertebrate samples were taken between 2017 and 2021. Double sampling (spring and autumn) was conducted in 2019. The goal was to find how macroinvertebrate communities are influenced by the dam-induced modified environmental conditions, from the management of the dam, and which of the parameters is considered to have the strongest effect. Likewise for the study was important to understand longitudinal recovery gradients from the application of the present “minimum acceptable flow – compensation flow” in hydrologically differing years. The main physicochemical parameters were measured alongside the velocity of the water at each sampling site. Additionally, the maintained hydrological regime was explored for a relationship by several hydrological indices with the macroinvertebrate community composition. The analysis of the biological data through 7 biological indices showed that hydrologically sensitive taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera - EPT) were very good indicators for damming impact, detecting disturbances not so well differentiated by other type-specific indices and the resulting ecological status. The order Trichoptera was the most influenced taxa group during the study. In 2020 the base flow released from the dam dropped to its lowest level (0.095 m3 s-1 from 0.552 m3 s-1) for an explored 10-year period of hydrology. This event continued for more than a year and led to a rupture of the previously observed recovery gradient. Downstream of the second sampling site, at about 800 m below the dam wall, a decrease in the number of trichopteran families was observed and at the third site, at 1.8 km from the dam they were significantly reduced.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Agostinho AA, Pelicice FM, Gomes LC, 2008. Dams and the fish fauna of the Neotropical region: impacts and management related to diversity and fisheries. Braz. J. Biol. 68:1119-1132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842008000500019
Ashton MJ, 2012. Ecological responses to flow alteration: A literature review within the context of the Maryland Hydroecological Integrity Assessment. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment Division RAS-MANTA-AIM-13-01. 45 p.
Aspin T, House A, Martina A, White J, 2020. Reservoir trophic state confounds flow-ecology relationships in regulated streams. Sci. Total. Environ. 748:141304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141304
Bunn SE, Arthington AH, 2002. Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Env. Manag. 30:492–507. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-002-2737-0
Carlisle DM, Nelson SM, Eng K, 2012. Macroinvertebrate community condition associated with the severity of streamflow alteration. River Res. Appl. 30:29–39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.2626
Carlisle DM, Wolock DM, Konrad CP, McCabe GJ, Eng K, Grantham TE, Mahler B, 2019. Flow modification in the Nation’s streams and rivers. U.S. Geological Survey Circular. 1461. 75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1461
Casserly CM, Turner JN, O’Sullivan JJ, Bruen M, Bullock C, Atkinson S, Kelly-Quinn M, 2021. Effect of low-head dams on reach-scale suspended sediment dynamics in coarse-bedded streams. J. Environ. Manag. 277:111452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111452
Cheshmedzhiev S, Varadinova E, 2013. [Bottom invertabrates]. In: D. Belkinova, G. Gecheva and J. Uzunov. [Biological analysis and ecological assessment on the surface water types].[Book in Bulgarian]. Paisiy Hilendarski University Publishing House, Plovdiv.
Cheshmedjiev S, Soufi R, Vidinova Y, Tyufekchieva V, Yaneva I, Uzunov Y, Varadinova E, 2011. Multi-habitat sampling method for benthic macroinvertebrate communities in different river types in Bulgaria. Water Res. Manage. 1:55-58.
Cooke SJ, Lynch AJ, Piccolo JJ, Olden JD, Reid AJ, Ormerod SJ, 2021. Stewardship and management of freshwater ecosystems: From Leopold’s land ethic to a freshwater ethic. Aquat. Conserv. 31:1499-1511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3537
Davidova R, Golemansky V, Todorov M, 2008. Diversity and biotopic distribution of Testate Amoebae (Arcellinida and Euglyphida) in Ticha Dam (Northeastern Bulgaria). Acta Zool. Bulg. 2:7-18.
Doichev DD, Santander PJ, Koynova TV, Petkov MS, Natchev ND, 2020. Assessment of the ecological status of “Dalgachka” river in its section within the protected site “Ovcharovo”, (NE Bulgaria). Ecologia Balkanica 12:76-84.
Dolédec S, Simon L, Blemus J, Rigal A, Robin J, Mermillod-Blondin F, 2021. Multiple stressors shape invertebrate assemblages and reduce their trophic niche: A case study in a regulated stream. Sci. Total Environ. 773:145061. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145061
Dusabe MC, Neubauer TA, Muvundja FA, Hyangya BL, Albrecht C, 2022. Family-level bio- indication does not detect the impacts of dams on macroinvertebrate communities in a low-diversity tropical river. Front. Environ. Sci. 10:902246. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.902246
Ellis LE, Jones NE, 2016. A test of the serial discontinuity concept: longitudinal trends of benthic invertebrates in regulated and natural rivers of northern Canada. River Res. Appl. 32:462–472. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.2861
European Commission, 2000. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 20 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. O.J. European Communities L327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32000L0060
European Commission, 2005. Common implementation strategy for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EU), 2005. Guidance Document No. 13. Overall approach to the classification of ecological status and ecological potential. Available from: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/06480e87-27a6-41e6-b165-0581c2b046ad/Guidance%20No%2013%20-%20Classification%20of%20Ecological%20Status%20(WG%20A).pdf
European Commission, 2015. Ecological flows in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Guidance document No. 31. Technical Report - 2015 – 086. Available from: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4063d635-957b-4b6f-bfd4-b51b0acb2570/Guidance%20No%2031%20-%20Ecological%20flows%20%28final%20version%29.pdf
Flinders CA, Hart DD, 2009. Effects of pulsed flows on nuisance periphyton growths in rivers: a mesocosm study. River. Res. Appl. 25:1320–1330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.1244
Government of Bulgaria, 2012. [Ordinance Н-4 from 14 of September 2012 г. for surface water characterization].[in Bulgarian]. Available from: https://www.moew.government.bg/static/media/ups/tiny/filebase/Water/Legislation/Naredbi/vodi/Naredba%20H-4.pdf
Guareschi S, Laini A, Sánchez-Montoya MM, 2017. How do low-abundance taxa affect river biomonitoring? Exploring the response of different macroinvertebrate-based indices. J. Limnol. 76:1516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2016.1516
Grill G, Lehner B, Thieme M, Geenen B, Tickner D, Antonelli F, et al., 2019. Mapping the world's free-flowing rivers. Nature 569:215–221. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1111-9
Hieu NV, Lien BT, Vinh NV, 2016. Using macro-invertebrates as bio-indicator for assessment water quality of bodies in Ngoc Thanh Commune, Phuc Yen District, Vinh Phuc Province. VNU J. Sci. Nat. Sci. Technol. 32:56-62.
Kilroy C, Stephens T, Greenwood M, Wech J, Brown L, Matthews A, Pattersonc M, Patterson M, 2020. Improved predictability of peak periphyton in rivers using site-specific accrual periods and long-term water quality datasets. Sci. Total. Environ. 736:139362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139362
Kolcheva K, Ilcheva I, 2016. Water abstraction management and environment. Ecol. Saf. 10:145-165.
Krajenbrink HJ, Acreman M, Dunbar MJ, Hannah DM, Laizé CLR, Wood PJ, 2019. Macroinvertebrate community responses to river impoundment at multiple spatial scales. Sci. Total Environ 650:2648–2656. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.264
Kucuk S, Alpbaz A, 2008. Water quality and protection: environmental aspects. The impact of organic pollution on the Kirmir Creek and Sakarya River in Turkey. Water Resour. 35:617–624. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807808050102
Malede DA, Agumassiec TA, Kosgei JR, Linhe NTT, Andualem TG, 2022. Analysis of rainfall and streamflow trend and variability over Birr River watershed, Abbay basin, Ethiopia. Environ. Challen. 7:100528. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100528
Marinov I, 1957. [Hydrological reference book of the rivers in People’s Republic of Bulgaria, volume one].[Book in Bulgarian]. Sofia, State Publishing House Science and Art: 328 p.
Meißner T, Schutt M, Sures B, Feld CK, 2018. Riverine regime shifts through reservoir dams reveal options for ecological management. Ecol. Appl. 28:1897–1908. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1786
Mellado-Díaz A, Sánchez-González JR, Guareschi S, Magdaleno F, Velasco MT, 2019. Exploring longitudinal trends and recovery gradients in macroinvertebrate communities and biomonitoring tools along regulated rivers. Sci. Total Environ. 695:133774. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133774
Morse J, Frandsen B, Graf W, Thomas J, 2019. Diversity and ecosystem services of Trichoptera. Insects 10:125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10050125
Moskova G, Soufi R, Uzunov Y, 2008. Application of the ЕРТ-index for ecological status assessment of the riverine water bodies within the basin of Kamchia river. Int. J. Bioautomation. 11:73-79.
Nikolova V, 2010. Determining of the morpholithology types in the Kamchia River Basin (eastern Bulgaria) by means of geographic information system (GIS). Geographica Pannonica 14:76-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/GeoPan1003076N
Pagès J, 2002. [Analyse factorielle multiple appliquée aux variables qualitatives et aux données mixtes].[Article in French]. Rev. Statist. Appl. 50: 5-37.
Pineda-Pineda J, Rosas-Acevedo J, Sigarreta-Almira J, Hernandez-Gomez J, Reyes-Umana M, 2018. Biotic indices to evaluate water quality: BMWP. Int. J. Environ. Ecol. 8:23-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24247/ijeefusoct20184
Poff NL, Olden JD, Merritt DM, Pepin DM, 2007. Homogenization of regional river dynamics by dams and global biodiversity implications. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104:5732–5737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0609812104
Poff NL, Richter BD, Arthington AH, Bunn SE, Naiman RJ, Kendy E, et al., 2010. The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards. Freshwater Biol. 55:147–170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02204.x
Rivas B, Koleva-Lizama I, 2017. Assessment of the flow regime alterations in the Veleka River, Bulgaria. Int. J. Sci. Res. 5:64-69.
River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), 2016. [River basin management plan of the Black Sea Basin Directorate (2016-2021). Decision 1107/29.12.2016 г. of the Council of Ministers].[in Bulgarian]. Available from: https://www.bsbd.org/bg/index_bg_5493788.html
Schneider1 SC, Sample1 JE, Moe1 JS, Petrin Z, Meissner T, Hering D, 2018. Unravelling the effect of flow regime on macroinvertebrates and benthic algae in regulated versus unregulated streams. Ecohydrology 11:e1996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1996
Šidagytė E, Višinskienė G, Arbačiauskas K, 2013. Macroinvertebrate metrics and their integration for assessing the ecological status and biocontamination of Lithuanian lakes. Limnologica 43:308–318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2013.01.003
Simpson EH, 1949. Measurement of diversity. Nature 163:608. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163608a0
Skoulikidis NT, Zogaris S, Karaouzas I, 2022. Rivers of the Balkans. p. 593-653. In: K. Tockner, C. Zarfl and C. T. Robinson (eds.), Rivers of Europe. Amsterdam: Elsevier. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102612-0.00015-8
Trottier G, Turgeon K, Boisclair D, Bulle C, Margni M, 2022. The impacts of hydropower on freshwater macroinvertebrate richness: A global meta-analysis. PLoS One 17:e0273089. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273089
Voelz NJ, Ward JV, 1991. Biotic Responses along the recovery gradient of a regulated stream. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 48:2477-2490. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/f91-289
Wang J, Ding C, Heino J, Jiang X, Tao J, Ding L, Su W, Huang M, He D, 2020. What explains the variation in dam impacts on riverine macroinvertebrates? A global quantitative synthesis. Environ. Res. Lett. 15:124028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abc4fc
Wang J, Ding C, Tao J, Jiang X, Heino J, Ding L, Su W, Chen M, Zhang K, He D, 2021. Damming affects riverine macroinvertebrate metacommunity dynamics: insights from taxonomic and functional beta diversity. Sci. Total Environ. 763:142945. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142945
Wegscheider B, Monk W, Lento J, Haralampides K, Ndong M, Linnansaari T, Curry RA, 2023. Developing environmental flow targets for benthic macroinvertebrates in large rivers using hydraulic habitat associations and taxa thresholds. Ecol. Indic. 146:109821. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109821
White JC, Hannah DM, House A, Beatson SJV, Martin A, Wood PJ, 2017. Macroinvertebrate responses to flow and stream temperature variability across regulated and non‐regulated rivers. Ecohydrology 10:e1773. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1773
Zeiringer B, Seliger C, Greimel F, Schmutz S, 2018. River hydrology, flow alteration, and environmental flow. p. 67-89. In: S. Schmutz, J. Sendzimir and J. Huisman (eds.), Riverine ecosystem management: science for governing towards a sustainable future. Cham: Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73250-3_4

Edited by

Alberto Doretto, Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale "Amedeo Avogadro", Alessandria, Italy

Supporting Agencies

Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science

How to Cite

Doychev, Dimitar D. 2023. “Longitudinal Recovery Gradient of Macroinvertebrates During Different Hydrological Scenarios in a Downstream River Reach”. Journal of Limnology 82 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2023.2125.

Similar Articles

<< < 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

List of Cited By :

Crossref logo