Article
Ecology
Efpraxia Mavromati, Dimitra Kemitzoglou, Vasiliki Tsiaoussi
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different substrate types on macroinvertebrate assemblages in Mediterranean lakes. The study was conducted in the littoral zone of 21 lakes in Greece between 2015 and 2018. The researchers compared benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in sandy, macrophyte-covered, and stony substrate areas. They found that macroinvertebrate composition and abundance were only slightly different between areas with macrophytes and areas with stony or sandy substrates. The type of substrate was found to significantly influence the number and abundance of certain macroinvertebrate taxa.
Article
Ecology
Quentin Salmon, Fanny Colas, Samuel Westrelin, Julien Dublon, Jean-Marc Baudoin
Summary: Artificial water-level fluctuations pose significant threats to the biodiversity and functioning of littoral zones in lake ecosystems. The use of artificial floating islands (AFI) as a solution to mitigate the deleterious effects of water-level fluctuations has gained attention from environmental managers. In this study, an artificial Floating Littoral Zone (FLOLIZ) was designed to mimic natural littoral zones and its effectiveness in supporting macroinvertebrate communities was assessed. The results showed that FLOLIZ had higher abundance, taxonomic richness, and diversity of macroinvertebrate communities compared to control littoral stations. Furthermore, the functional profiles of macroinvertebrate communities in FLOLIZ significantly differed from those in control stations. These findings highlight the importance of FLOLIZ in providing suitable habitats for macroinvertebrates and mitigating the effects of water-level fluctuations on aquatic biodiversity.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anne Bartels, Ulrike G. Berninger, Florian Hohenberger, Stephen Wickham, Jana S. Petermann
Summary: The study demonstrates that habitat parameters (lake size, habitat type) have a major influence on the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in alpine lakes, while elevation itself does not have significant effects on the communities. However, under climate change scenarios, habitat parameters are likely to change and this may impact alpine lake macroinvertebrates.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
D. Seekell, B. Cael, S. Norman, P. Bystrom
Summary: The littoral zone varies in size among lakes, primarily reflecting the ratio of the maximum depth of photosynthesis to maximum lake depth. Hypsometric models can accurately predict the relative size of littoral habitat when there is incomplete bathymetric information. This study provides simple rules for understanding patterns of littoral habitat size at the regional and global scales.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jan E. Vermaat, Vera Biberdzic, Vjola Braho, Biljana Budzakoska Gjoreska, Magdalena Cara, Zamira Dana, Pavle Duraskovic, Tor Erik Eriksen, Dag Hjermann, Alma Imeri, Katarina Jovanovic, Jelena Krizmanic, Lirika Kupe, Tatjana Loshkoska, Joanna Lynn Kemp, Aleksandra Markovic, Suzana Patceva, Jelena Rakocevic, Katarina Stojanovic, Marina Talevska, Sonja Trajanovska, Sasho Trajanovski, Elizabeta Veljanoska-Sarafiloska, Danijela Vidakovic, Konstantin Zdraveski, Ivana Zivic, Susanne C. Schneider
Summary: The study found that eutrophication and water level fluctuation were the most important factors influencing water quality in lakes across the Western Balkans. The impact of shoreline hydro-morphological alteration was less significant. Diatom indicators were the most responsive to environmental pressures, while macrophytes primarily responded to water level changes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tomasz Krepski, Katarzyna Kuczynska, Robert Czerniawski
Summary: The study aimed to describe the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates in the lake-river ecotones in Central Europe lowlands, identify the environmental factors shaping the biodiversity of this environment, and suggest directions for biodiversity conservation. The research found 57 taxa at the study sites, with 32 taxa having a frequency of at least 10%. The only significant relationship between fluvial model and biodiversity was the depth of the outflow, with deeper outflows having higher Shannon-Wiener index. The depth of the outflow indirectly influenced the preservation of the ecotone's biodiversity through greater water stability.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Eugenia Lopez, Juan Saad, Irina Izaguirre, Maria Cristina Marinone, Maria Soledad Fontanarrosa
Summary: This study focused on the impact of introducing non-native fish on the pleustonic macroinvertebrate assemblage in shallow Patagonian lakes. The research found that lakes with fish had poorer water quality, and the community structure was mainly affected by the relative abundance of certain invertebrate species. It suggests the need for conservation actions in these lakes and provides a baseline for monitoring and evaluating future trends in macroinvertebrate communities.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gonzalo Sotomayor, Henrietta Hampel, Raill F. Vazquez, Marie Anne Eurie Forio, Peter L. M. Goethals
Summary: This study investigated the functional diversity of macroinvertebrate families for river water quality assessment in the Paute River Basin, Ecuador. The best performing functional density index based on physical, chemical, microbiological and hydro-geomorphological variables was identified. The Random Forest algorithm and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine the best predictors, resulting in the identification of 12 variables. This approach successfully assessed the stream water quality and can be applied to other tropical basins.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. H. A. van Leeuwen, J. J. de Leeuw, J. J. J. Volwater, O. A. van Keeken, H. Jin, A. M. Drost, D. Waasdorp, E. Reichman, L. Ursem, E. S. Bakker
Summary: Current rates of habitat loss require science-based predictions on how to restore or newly create lost habitat types. In aquatic ecosystems, littoral zones are key habitats for food web functioning, but they are often replaced by unnatural steep shorelines for water safety. To reverse this trend, knowledge is needed on how to successfully (re)create littoral zones. We quantified the response of an aquatic food web to the large-scale creation of new heterogeneous littoral habitats in shallow lake Markermeer, the Netherlands.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Jussi Vesterinen, Ossi Keva, Kimmo K. Kahilainen, Ursula Strandberg, Minna Hiltunen, Paula Kankaala, Sami J. Taipale
Summary: In subarctic lakes, littoral benthic primary production is an important energy source for consumers. Pelagic zooplankton have higher essential fatty acid content compared to littoral macroinvertebrates, while there is less difference in amino acid content.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin Misteli, Alexandrine Pannard, Eirin Aasland, Sarah Faye Harpenslager, Samuel Motitsoe, Kirstine Thiemer, Stephanie Llopis, Julie Coetzee, Sabine Hilt, Jan Koehler, Susanne C. Schneider, Christophe Piscart, Gabrielle Thiebaut
Summary: Mass development of macrophytes negatively affects aquatic systems, and mechanical removal of macrophytes has implications for biodiversity, particularly zooplankton and macroinvertebrate assemblages.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tomas Besta, Jan Mares, Katerina Capkova, Emil Janecek, Lenka Stenclova, Andreja Kust, Milan Riha, Eliska Konopacova, Klara Rehakova
Summary: Hydric recultivation by flooding abandoned mining pits creates a new habitat for aquatic organisms. The periphyton in the littoral zone of post-mining lakes showed a high diversity, with different species compositions and successional patterns. Calcium ions were found to be correlated with the periphytic mats and should be investigated further.
Article
Ecology
Eerika Albrecht, Olga Hannonen, Carlos Palacin-Lizarbe, Jarno Suni, Laura H. Haerkonen, Niko Soininen, Jussi Kukkonen, Anssi Vainikka
Summary: In this paper, the process of browning in boreal lakes surrounded by managed forests and wetlands is reviewed, and the ecological consequences and ecosystem-based management of browning are discussed. Survey data on public perceptions of water quality in Finland are presented to understand the impact of browning on recreational fishing tourism. The need to go beyond the EU's Water Framework Directive and improve understanding of microbial processes within lakes is highlighted.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Kelsey Vitense, Gretchen J. A. Hansen
Summary: Lake water clarity is an important indicator of water quality, trophic status, and habitat condition. A study conducted on 909 Minnesota lakes from 1979 to 2018 showed that water clarity increased across lakes from 1984 to 1988 and 2014 to 2018. However, there was significant variation in clarity trends among lakes, with some lakes showing no change and others experiencing increases or decreases in clarity. The study highlights the importance of understanding water clarity dynamics in aquatic ecology for various purposes such as assessing fish habitat and evaluating the impacts of invasive species.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Raphael D. Mazor, Martha Sutula, Susanna Theroux, Marcus Beck, Peter R. Ode
Summary: Eutrophication is a common stressor in streams, affecting biodiversity and natural functions. By setting environmental indicators and thresholds, managers can protect against the negative impacts of eutrophication and maintain biological integrity. Evaluating bioassessment indices in response to eutrophication indicators can help establish effective management goals.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
