Response of macroinvertebrate communities to hydrological and hydrochemical alterations in Mediterranean streams

JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY

卷:566

Article

Mencio, Anna¹  Boix, Dani² 

[1] Univ Girona, Dept Environm Sci, Grp Geol Ambiental & Aplicada GAiA, Girona 17003, Spain

[2] Univ Girona, Inst Aquat Ecol, GRECO, Girona 17003, Spain

关键词: Hydrological alterations;    Groundwater exploitation;    Point source pollution;    Non-point source pollution;    Macroinvertebrate community;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.09.040

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Mediterranean rivers are affected by natural disturbances and human pressures, which may alter their hydrology, water quality and habitat structure. In this study an analysis of macroinvertebrates community structure has been used to determine how distinct human pressures, such as point and non-point sources of pollution, together with groundwater withdrawal, may affect these ecosystems. A total of 4 sampling campaigns were conducted in the middle reach of the Onyar River (NE Spain), which was affected by agricultural and urban uses. Stream discharge and physicochemical parameters were measured in situ, and water samples and macroinvertebrates assemblages were taken and properly preserved for subsequent analysis and identification. Variation partitioning showed that macroinvertebrate community structure was particularly dependent on hydrochemical characteristics, but also on hydrological variations. In addition, results indicated that groundwater withdrawal altered stream hydrology, and the main reach of the Onyar River became intermittent and even completely dry in downstream positions. This reduction on stream discharge caused changes in habitat characteristics, as well as in the proportion of wastewater. Some wastewater dilution occurred, linked to groundwater with high nitrate concentrations inputs to the stream, and even though the macroinvertebrate community recovered its quality in some sampling campaigns, it presented a different structure than in sampling points not affected by any of these pressures. Therefore, the approach here used to analyze the hydrological effects on macroinvertebrate communities allowed us to determine their influence on hydrochemical and habitat characteristics.

【 授权许可】

Free