Article
Environmental Sciences
Frank Chukwuzuoke Akamagwuna, Phindiwe Ntloko, Augustine Ovie Edegbene, Oghenekaro Nelson Odume
Summary: This study identified rural indicator and sensitive traits of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa by examining their trait distribution pattern in relation to rural pollution. Traits such as large body size, swimming, and shredding were considered tolerant signature traits of semi-urban pollution, while small body size, operculate gills, spherical body shape, and preference for sediments were correlated with sensitive traits of semi-urban disturbance. Overall, the study provided critical insights into how semi-urban activities influence EPT traits in the Tsitsa River.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Frank C. Akamagwuna, Oghenekaro N. Odume, Nicole B. Richoux
Summary: This study examined the effects of agricultural disturbance on the community structure of macroinvertebrate traits in an Afrotropical River system. The results showed that agricultural pollution had varying effects on different traits and ecological preferences of macroinvertebrates. Some traits were found to be tolerant of agricultural pollution, while others were sensitive to it. The identified indicator traits can be used to predict the survival and distribution patterns of organisms under the impact of agriculture-induced stress.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tor E. Eriksen, John E. Brittain, Geir Soli, Dean Jacobsen, Peter Goethals, Nikolai Friberg
Summary: This study provides a first global overview of methods used to assess the environmental quality of rivers and streams using macroinvertebrates. By reviewing literature from developing economies, the study found that macroinvertebrates were successful in detecting degradation of environmental quality in rivers. A global common metric is proposed for river assessment, comprising three common river assessment metrics from literature review, emphasizing the urgent need for attention to riverine environmental quality.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
M. M. Makgoale, A. Addo-Bediako, K. K. Ayisi
Summary: Human activities along the Steelpoort River in South Africa are causing changes in water quality and affecting the distribution of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (FFG). This study found that the distribution of FFG varied significantly among sites and was related to the characteristics of the sites. The study also showed that land use changes in the catchment are affecting the FFG distribution pattern.
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
A. Addo-Bediako
Summary: The study in the Blyde River of the Olifants River found that seasonality and land use changes have significant impacts on the composition of benthic macroinvertebrates, with high habitat heterogeneity and food availability playing a role. The abundance and composition of functional feeding groups vary among seasons, indicating the importance of considering these factors in conservation efforts.
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chloe Victoria Robinson, Teresita M. Porter, Victoria Carley Maitland, Michael T. G. Wright, Mehrdad Hajibabaei
Summary: This study used DNA metabarcoding to identify macroinvertebrates and diatoms from different habitat samples, and obtained a different perspective of ecological conditions through a more comprehensive taxonomic assessment. The results showed that sites with 'good' condition had higher beta diversity, directed connectance, and modularity, indicating higher resilience compared to 'fair' condition sites. DNA metabarcoding data detected 29 site condition indicator species consistent with known bioindicators and expected relative tolerances, and identified 11 keystone taxa through trophic network analysis.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Tor Erik Eriksen, Nikolai Friberg, John E. Brittain, Geir Soli, Andreas Ballot, Eirin Arstein-Eriksen, Tomas Adler Blakseth, Hans Fredrik Veiteberg Braaten
Summary: Freshwater ecosystems in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot are facing immediate threats due to habitat loss and species extinction. Monitoring systems to assess ecological status and biodiversity trends are crucially needed. This study in Myanmar aimed to evaluate the ecological and biodiversity status of a lowland river network through the use of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators, revealing major pressures such as urban land use, pollution inputs, and habitat degradation. The findings showed high perturbation in agricultural and urban areas, with declining ecological water quality and biodiversity along the pressure gradient, indicating unsustainable land-use practices in the region.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan F. Jupke, Sebastian Birk, Mario Alvarez-Cabria, Jukka Aroviita, Jose Barquin, Oscar Belmar, Nuria Bonada, Miguel Canedo-Arguelles, Gabriel Chiriac, Emilia Misikova Elexova, Christian K. Feld, M. Teresa Ferreira, Peter Haase, Kaisa-Leena Huttunen, Maria Lazaridou, Margita Lestakova, Marko Milisa, Timo Muotka, Riku Paavola, Piotr Panek, Petr Paril, Edwin T. H. M. Peeters, Marek Polasek, Leonard Sandin, Denes Schmera, Michal Straka, Philippe Usseglio-Polatera, Ralf B. Schaefer
Summary: Human activities have greatly impacted freshwater ecosystems globally, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Regulatory frameworks, such as the Water Framework Directive, have been developed to address this issue. However, this study found that the current typology systems, including the Broad River Types, do not effectively capture the differences in macroinvertebrate communities across Europe.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatenda Dalu, Pretty Dlamini, Ryan J. Wasserman, Matjutla J. Mokgoebo, Thendo Mutshekwa, Farai Dondofema, Ross N. Cuthbert
Summary: This study found that different water levels have significant impacts on water quality and ecological communities in reservoir systems, while water level, site, and aquatic vegetation have little effect on macroinvertebrate community structures. The composition of macroinvertebrate communities varied significantly over time.
CHEMISTRY AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jeffrey Lebepe, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, Anele Mnguni, Sashin Pillay, Sphosakhe Mdluli
Summary: This study investigated the water quality and macroinvertebrate communities in an urban Palmiet River. The results showed significant variations in water quality across different sampling sites, with areas of good-quality water and polluted water. The river demonstrated some self-purification ability, as the water quality improved downstream. Various sensitive and tolerant groups of macroinvertebrates were found along the river, indicating the influence of water quality and habitat availability. Solid wastes may also provide additional habitats in disturbed urban rivers. These findings highlight the ecological importance of urban rivers and their role in providing important ecosystem services for local communities.
Article
Ecology
Abraham Addo-Bediako
Summary: The study found that the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates' functional feeding groups along the two streams of the Olifants River System is influenced by longitudinal differences, with different group compositions in the upstream and midstream, and a clear change in the downstream along the river. The degradation of the catchment resulting from human activities may be the main reason affecting the abundance and richness of the functional feeding groups.
JOURNAL OF FRESHWATER ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Natalie K. Rideout, Zacchaeus G. Compson, Wendy A. Monk, Meghann R. Bruce, Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Teresita M. Porter, Michael T. G. Wright, Donald J. Baird
Summary: The study examines the relationships among floodplain wetland habitats, invertebrate communities, and ecosystem function. It reveals the importance of environmental filters and traits linked to ecosystem functions in shaping the diversity and stability of floodplain ecosystems.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos Carrasco-Badajoz, Carolina Rayme-Chalco, Jerry Arana-Maestre, Daniel Alvarez-Tolentino, Yuri Ayala-Sulca, Marco Sanchez-Pena
Summary: In the Anthropocene, human activities have had a significant impact on ecosystems, particularly in urban areas where rivers have undergone major changes. This study monitored an Andean river in Ayacucho, Peru and used physicochemical parameters, biotic quality indices, and trophic guild components to determine water quality. The results showed that these trophic metrics were highly correlated with established indices, providing a reliable method for assessing river water quality and functionality.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Alperen Ertas, Selda Ozturk, Merve Yasarturk, Bulent Yorulmaz
Summary: Conserving freshwater resources in West Anatolia requires the use of biomonitoring tools to assess the ecological status of surface water bodies that are under threat from human pollution. This study focused on determining the water quality of Demirci Stream through the use of biotic indices. A total of seven sampling stations were chosen for this seasonal study. The Asterics software was used to calculate biotic and diversity index scores, while Redundancy Analysis (RDA) was utilized to reveal the relationship between macrobenthic orders and physicochemical variables. The results showed that sampling points 1, 2, 3, and 4 had good water quality, while sampling points 5, 6, and 7 were polluted. The SI, BMWP, ASPT, and BBI indices were found to be more suitable for assessing the water quality of Demirci Stream compared to the FBI index.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aliano J. Tette-Pomarico, Cesar E. Tamaris-Turizo, Angela J. Motta Diaz, Pedro Eslava-Eljaiek
Summary: The aim of this research is to determine the effects of hydroperiod on the functional diversity of aquatic and semiaquatic macroinvertebrates in five temporary ponds in Magdalena, Colombia. The study found that the response of the macroinvertebrate communities was associated with the hydroperiod of the ponds.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yongcui Lan, Jinliang Wang, Qianwei Liu, Fang Liu, Lanfang Liu, Jie Li, Mengjia Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the five major plateau lake basins in central Yunnan, China, and constructs an ecological security pattern using the source-resistance surface-corridor-pinch point framework. The study simulates land use/cover change in the region and identifies early warning regions where future urban expansion poses a threat to current ecological source areas and corridors.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pingping Huang, Feng Zhao, Bailing Zhou, Kuidong Xu
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of benthic microeukaryotes in the China Seas and finds that they can stride over the ecological barrier of 32 degrees N. The study also highlights the significant influence of depth, temperature, and latitude on communities in the China Seas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Federico Morelli, Yanina Benedetti, Jesse Stanford, Leszek Jerzak, Piotr Tryjanowski, Paolo Perna, Riccardo Santolini
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are numerical tools used for predicting species' spatial distribution. This study found that ecological characteristics, such as habitat specialization, play a role in improving the accuracy of SDMs.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Wu, Hang Liu, Wei Liu
Summary: Global climate change, urbanization, and economic development have increased the need for sustainable human development, urban ecological governance, and low-carbon energy transformation. This study analyzes the green ecological transition in Chengdu based on panel data from 2010 to 2020, exploring its spatiotemporal evolution and key factors. The results show an overall upward trend in Chengdu's green ecological development and positive spatial autocorrelation in certain districts.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Castaldi Simona, Formicola Nicola, Mastrocicco Micol, Morales Rodriguez Carmen, Morelli Raffaella, Prodorutti Daniele, Vannini Andrea, Zanzotti Roberto
Summary: Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly important for global and national environmental policies and economy. This study compared the sustainability of grape production under integrated and organic management using multiple indicators. The results showed that organic management was more beneficial for most environmental aspects of the agroecosystem compared to integrated management, without affecting grape yield.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gaia Vaglio Laurin, Alexander Cotrina-Sanchez, Luca Belelli-Marchesini, Enrico Tomelleri, Giovanna Battipaglia, Claudia Cocozza, Francesco Niccoli, Jerzy Piotr Kabala, Damiano Gianelle, Loris Vescovo, Luca Da Ros, Riccardo Valentini
Summary: Phenology monitoring is important for understanding forest functioning and climate impacts. This research compares the phenological behavior of European beech forests using Tree-Talker (TT+) and Sentinel 2 satellite data. The study finds differences in the information derived by the two sensor types, particularly in terms of season length, phenology changepoints, and leaf period variability. TT+ with its higher temporal resolution demonstrates precision in capturing the phenological changepoints, especially when satellite image availability is limited.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Huanhuan Pan, Ziqiang Du, Zhitao Wu, Hong Zhang, Keming Ma
Summary: The land use and cover changes resulting from coal mining activities and ecological restoration have had a significant impact on ecosystem services in mining areas. This study investigates the relationship between ecosystem services and land use intensity in coal mining areas, emphasizing the importance of understanding this interdependence for balanced human-land system development. The research examines the evolving relationship across different reclamation stages in Shanxi, China, using a coupling coordination degree model. The findings suggest the need for timely and judicious reclamation of coalfields, considering the land's bearing capacity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jingjuan He, Yijun Shi, Lihua Xu, Zhangwei Lu, Mao Feng
Summary: This study examines the spatial interplay between changes in the blue-green spatial distribution and modifications in land surface temperature grades in Shanghai. The findings reveal that the transformation of the blue-green spatial pattern differs between different sectors of the city, and the impact on the thermal environment varies spatially.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yi Xu, Di Zhang, Junqiang Lin, Qidong Peng, Xiaohui Lei, Tiantian Jin, Jia Wang, Ruifang Yuan
Summary: This study analyzed the response relationship between phytoplankton growth and water environmental parameters in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China using long-term monitoring data and machine learning models. The results revealed the differences between monitoring sites and identified the key parameters that affect phytoplankton growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2024)