| Title | Site-scale isotopic variations along a river course help localize drainage basin influence on river food webs |
| Abstract | In human-impacted rivers, nutrient pollution has the potential to disrupt biodiversity organisation and ecosystem functioning, prompting calls for effective monitoring and management. Pollutants, together with natural variations, can modify the isotopic signature of aquatic organisms. Accordingly, we explored the potential of isotopic variations as an indicator of drainage basin influences on river food webs. We assessed stable N and C isotopes within six food webs along a river affected by multiple pollution sources. CORINE land cover maps and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were also applied to understand the impact on surface waters of anthropogenic pressures affecting the catchment. N isotopic signatures of taxa fell in association with ammonium inputs from agriculture, indicating that nitrogen pollution was related to synthetic fertilizers. Isotopic variations were consistent across trophic levels, highlighting site-specific communities and identifying taxa exposed to pollutants. This allowed us to locate point sources of disturbance, suggesting that food web structure plays a key role in pollutant compartmentalisation along the river. Thematic maps and DEMs helped understand how the anthropogenic impact on river biota is mediated by hydro-geomorphology. Thus, the integration of site-scale analyses of stable isotopes and land use represents a promising research pathway for explorative nutrient pollution monitoring in human-impacted rivers. © 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland |
| Source | Hydrobiologia (Dordr., Online) novembre 2015–1-16 |
| Keywords | Epilithon; Fish; Land use; Macroinvertebrates; Nutrient pollution; Stable isotopes |
| Journal | Hydrobiologia (Dordr., Online) |
| Editor | Kluwer, Dordrecht, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10750-015-2597-2 |
| Authors | Bentivoglio, F., Calizza, E., Rossi, D., Carlino, P., Careddu, G., Rossi, L. , Costantini, M.L. |
| Text | 348663 2015 10.1007/s10750 015 2597 2 Scopus http //orcid.org/0000 0002 9089 3257 Epilithon; Fish; Land use; Macroinvertebrates; Nutrient pollution; Stable isotopes Site scale isotopic variations along a river course help localize drainage basin influence on river food webs Bentivoglio, F., Calizza, E., Rossi, D., Carlino, P., Careddu, G., Rossi, L. , Costantini, M.L. a Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Sardi 70, Rome, Italy b CNR IRSA, Water Research Institute, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy c Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy In human impacted rivers, nutrient pollution has the potential to disrupt biodiversity organisation and ecosystem functioning, prompting calls for effective monitoring and management. Pollutants, together with natural variations, can modify the isotopic signature of aquatic organisms. Accordingly, we explored the potential of isotopic variations as an indicator of drainage basin influences on river food webs. We assessed stable N and C isotopes within six food webs along a river affected by multiple pollution sources. CORINE land cover maps and Digital Elevation Models DEMs were also applied to understand the impact on surface waters of anthropogenic pressures affecting the catchment. N isotopic signatures of taxa fell in association with ammonium inputs from agriculture, indicating that nitrogen pollution was related to synthetic fertilizers. Isotopic variations were consistent across trophic levels, highlighting site specific communities and identifying taxa exposed to pollutants. This allowed us to locate point sources of disturbance, suggesting that food web structure plays a key role in pollutant compartmentalisation along the river. Thematic maps and DEMs helped understand how the anthropogenic impact on river biota is mediated by hydro geomorphology. Thus, the integration of site scale analyses of stable isotopes and land use represents a promising research pathway for explorative nutrient pollution monitoring in human impacted rivers. © 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland novembre 2015 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.uri eid=2 s2.0 84948403747 origin=resultslist sort=plf f src=s sid=075219429DC5D6AD56D9CA3F7F658738.euC1gMODexYlPkQec4u1Q%3a950 sot=autdocs sdt=autdocs sl=17 s=AU ID%287103169643%29 relpos=0 citeCnt=0 searchTerm= Articolo in rivista Kluwer 1573 5117 Hydrobiologia Dordr., Online Hydrobiologia Dordr., Online Hydrobiologia Dordr., Online Hydrobiologia. Dordr., Online Hydrobiologia Dordrecht Dordr., Online Hydrobiologia Boston Dordr., Online Hydrobiologia London Dordr., Online david rossi ROSSI DAVID |
