| Title | Detecting the impact of bank and channel modification on invertebrate communities in Mediterranean temporary streams (Sardinia, SW Italy) |
| Abstract | We hypothesized that reach-scale, bank and channel modification would impact benthic communities in temporary rivers of Sardinia, when pollution and water abstraction are not relevant. A range of variables were considered, which include both artificial structures/alterations and natural features observed in a stream reach. Multivariate regression trees (MRT) were used to assess the effects of the explanatory variables on invertebrate assemblages and five groups, characterized by different habitat modification and/or features, were recognized. Four node variables determined the splits in the MRT analysis: channel reinforcement, tree-related bank and channel habitats, channel modification and bank modification. Continuity of trees in the river corridor diverged among MRT groups and significant differences among groups include presence of alders, extent of channel shading and substrate diversity. Also, the percentage of in-stream organic substrates, in particular CPOM/Xylal, showed highly significant differences among groups. For practical applications, thresholds for the extent of channel reinforcement (40%) and modification (10%) and for bank alteration (approximate to 30%) were provided, that can be used to guide the implementation of restoration measures. In moderately altered river reaches, a significant extent of tree-related habitats (approximate to 5%) can noticeably mitigate the effects of morphological alteration on aquatic invertebrates. The outcomes highlight the importance of riparian zone management as an opportune, achievable prospect in the restoration of Mediterranean temporary streams. The impact of bank and channel modification on ecological status (sensu WFD) was investigated and the tested benthic metrics, especially those based on abundance data, showed legible differences among MRT groups. Finally, bank and channel modification appears to be a potential threat for the conservation of a few Sardo-Corsican endemic species. The introduction of management criteria that openly use information on endemic species seems crucial to reduce the risk of improving overall ecological status while depleting biodiversity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
| Source | Science of the total environment 565, pp. 1138–1150 |
| Keywords | Benthic taxaTree-related habitatEcological statusEndemismWFDMRT |
| Journal | Science of the total environment |
| Editor | Elsevier, Lausanne ;, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2016 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.154 |
| Authors | Buffagni A., Tenchini R., Cazzola M., Erba S., Balestrini R., Belfiore C., Pagnotta R. |
| Text | 358011 2016 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.154 ISI Web of Science WOS 000378206300117 Scopus 2 s2.0 84970024065 Benthic taxa Tree related habitat Ecological status Endemism WFD MRT Detecting the impact of bank and channel modification on invertebrate communities in Mediterranean temporary streams Sardinia, SW Italy Buffagni A., Tenchini R., Cazzola M., Erba S., Balestrini R., Belfiore C., Pagnotta R. CNR IRSA; Array We hypothesized that reach scale, bank and channel modification would impact benthic communities in temporary rivers of Sardinia, when pollution and water abstraction are not relevant. A range of variables were considered, which include both artificial structures/alterations and natural features observed in a stream reach. Multivariate regression trees MRT were used to assess the effects of the explanatory variables on invertebrate assemblages and five groups, characterized by different habitat modification and/or features, were recognized. Four node variables determined the splits in the MRT analysis channel reinforcement, tree related bank and channel habitats, channel modification and bank modification. Continuity of trees in the river corridor diverged among MRT groups and significant differences among groups include presence of alders, extent of channel shading and substrate diversity. Also, the percentage of in stream organic substrates, in particular CPOM/Xylal, showed highly significant differences among groups. For practical applications, thresholds for the extent of channel reinforcement 40% and modification 10% and for bank alteration approximate to 30% were provided, that can be used to guide the implementation of restoration measures. In moderately altered river reaches, a significant extent of tree related habitats approximate to 5% can noticeably mitigate the effects of morphological alteration on aquatic invertebrates. The outcomes highlight the importance of riparian zone management as an opportune, achievable prospect in the restoration of Mediterranean temporary streams. The impact of bank and channel modification on ecological status sensu WFD was investigated and the tested benthic metrics, especially those based on abundance data, showed legible differences among MRT groups. Finally, bank and channel modification appears to be a potential threat for the conservation of a few Sardo Corsican endemic species. The introduction of management criteria that openly use information on endemic species seems crucial to reduce the risk of improving overall ecological status while depleting biodiversity. C 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 565 Published version Detecting the impact of bank and channel modification on invertebrate communities in Mediterranean temporary streams Sardinia, SW Italy Detecting the impact of bank and channel modification on invertebrate communities in Mediterranean temporary streams Sardinia, SW Italy mrt_sardinia_bank_channel_mod_stoten_2016.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0048 9697 Science of the total environment Science of the total environment Sci. total environ. BELFIORE CARLO TENCHINI ROBERTA raffaella.balestrini BALESTRINI RAFFAELLA andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO stefania.erba ERBA STEFANIA marcello.cazzola CAZZOLA MARCELLO romano.pagnotta PAGNOTTA ROMANO |
