| Title | A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RESTORATION MEASURES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON HYDROMORPHOLOGY AND BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES IN 26 CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN EUROPEAN RIVERS |
| Abstract | 1. Hydromorphological river restoration usually leads to habitat diversification, but the effects on benthic invertebrates, which are frequently used to assess river ecological status, are minor. We
compared the effects of river restoration on morphology and benthic invertebrates by investigating 26 pairs of non-restored and restored sections of rivers in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy
and the Netherlands.
2. Sites were grouped according to (1) region: central Europe vs. southern Europe; (2) river type: mountain vs. lowland rivers; (3) restoration approach: active vs. passive restoration and (4) a combination
of these parameters. All sites were sampled according to the same field protocol comprising hydromorphological surveys of river and floodplain mesohabitats, microhabitats at the river bottomand habitat-specific sampling of benthic invertebrates. Restoration effects were compared using Shannon-Wiener Indices (SWIs) of mesohabitats, microhabitats and invertebrate communities. Differences in metric values between non-restored and restored sites were compared for 16 metrics that evaluated hydromorphology and the benthic invertebrate community.
3. Mean SWIs differed for both mesohabitats (1Æ1 non-restored, 1Æ7 restored) and microhabitats (1Æ0 non-restored, 1Æ3 restored), while SWIs for invertebrate communities were not significantly different
(2Æ4 non-restored, 2Æ3 restored). Meso- and microhabitat metrics in the restored sections were usually higher compared with the non-restored sections, but the effects on invertebrate metrics were negligible.
4. Measures in southern Europe and mountainous regions yielded larger differences between non-restored and restored sections of rivers. Differences in the meso- and microhabitat metrics were largest for actively restored sections of central European mountain rivers and rivers from southern Europe, followed by passively restored mountain rivers in central Europe. The smallest differences were observed for lowland sites. There was no significant restoration effect on invertebrate metrics in any categories.
5. Synthesis and applications. Restoration measures addressing relatively short river sections (several hundred metres) are successful in terms of improving habitat diversity of the river and its floodplain.
Active restoration measures are suitable if short-term changes in hydromorphology are desired. To realize changes in benthic invertebrate community composition, habitat restoration within a small stretch is generally not sufficient. We conclude that restoring habitat on a larger scale, using more comprehensive measures and tackling catchment-wide problems (e.g. water quality, source populations) are required for a recovery of the invertebrate community. |
| Source | Journal of applied ecology (Print) 47, pp. 671–680 |
| Keywords | restorationbenthic invertebratesEuropemesohabitatmicrohabitat |
| Journal | Journal of applied ecology (Print) |
| Editor | Blackwell,, Oxford, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2010 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01807.x |
| Authors | JAHNIG S., BRABEC K., BUFFAGNI A., ERBA S., LORENZ A., OFENBOCK T., VERDONSCHOT P., HERING D. |
| Text | 42399 2010 10.1111/j.1365 2664.2010.01807.x ISI Web of Science WOS 000277168000019 restoration benthic invertebrates Europe mesohabitat microhabitat A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RESTORATION MEASURES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON HYDROMORPHOLOGY AND BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES IN 26 CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN EUROPEAN RIVERS JAHNIG S., BRABEC K., BUFFAGNI A., ERBA S., LORENZ A., OFENBOCK T., VERDONSCHOT P., HERING D. Department of Limnology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural Museum, 63571; Gelnhausen, Germany; Department of Applied Zoology Hydrobiology, University of Duisburg Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany; Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Masaryk University, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic; CNR IRSA, Water Research Institute, 20047 Brugherio MI , Italy; Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria; Alterra, Centre for Ecosystem Studies, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands 1. Hydromorphological river restoration usually leads to habitat diversification, but the effects on benthic invertebrates, which are frequently used to assess river ecological status, are minor. We compared the effects of river restoration on morphology and benthic invertebrates by investigating 26 pairs of non restored and restored sections of rivers in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. 2. Sites were grouped according to 1 region central Europe vs. southern Europe; 2 river type mountain vs. lowland rivers; 3 restoration approach active vs. passive restoration and 4 a combination of these parameters. All sites were sampled according to the same field protocol comprising hydromorphological surveys of river and floodplain mesohabitats, microhabitats at the river bottomand habitat specific sampling of benthic invertebrates. Restoration effects were compared using Shannon Wiener Indices SWIs of mesohabitats, microhabitats and invertebrate communities. Differences in metric values between non restored and restored sites were compared for 16 metrics that evaluated hydromorphology and the benthic invertebrate community. 3. Mean SWIs differed for both mesohabitats 1Æ1 non restored, 1Æ7 restored and microhabitats 1Æ0 non restored, 1Æ3 restored , while SWIs for invertebrate communities were not significantly different 2Æ4 non restored, 2Æ3 restored . Meso and microhabitat metrics in the restored sections were usually higher compared with the non restored sections, but the effects on invertebrate metrics were negligible. 4. Measures in southern Europe and mountainous regions yielded larger differences between non restored and restored sections of rivers. Differences in the meso and microhabitat metrics were largest for actively restored sections of central European mountain rivers and rivers from southern Europe, followed by passively restored mountain rivers in central Europe. The smallest differences were observed for lowland sites. There was no significant restoration effect on invertebrate metrics in any categories. 5. Synthesis and applications. Restoration measures addressing relatively short river sections several hundred metres are successful in terms of improving habitat diversity of the river and its floodplain. Active restoration measures are suitable if short term changes in hydromorphology are desired. To realize changes in benthic invertebrate community composition, habitat restoration within a small stretch is generally not sufficient. We conclude that restoring habitat on a larger scale, using more comprehensive measures and tackling catchment wide problems e.g. water quality, source populations are required for a recovery of the invertebrate community. 47 http //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365 2664.2010.01807.x/abstract A comparative analysis of restoration measures and their effects on hydromorphology and benthic invertebrates_Buffagni_2010 journal_of_applied_ecology_2010_v47_p6711.pdf Articolo in rivista Blackwell, 0021 8901 Journal of applied ecology Print Journal of applied ecology Print J. appl. ecol. Print Journal of applied ecology. Print andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO stefania.erba ERBA STEFANIA TA.P04.016.001 Caratteristiche ecologiche di comunita acquatiche in ambienti fluviali e lagunari TA.P04.032.001 Funzionalita degli ecosistemi acquatici dinamica dei nutrienti, idromorfologia e habitat fluviali |
