| Title | RESPONSES OF CHIRONOMID LARVAE (INSECTA, DIPTERA) TO ECOLOGICAL QUALITY IN MEDITERRANEAN RIVER MESOHABITATS (SOUTH ITALY) |
| Abstract | Chironomid larvae and pupae were studied in selected Mediterranean rivers with the aim of identifying pool and riffle taxa assemblages and of analysing their response to ecological quality gradients. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in six Italian rivers along a pool-riffle sequence in three seasons following a multihabitat sampling technique. Chironomids were identified as genus/species, other macroinvertebrates as family/genus. The main physico-chemical, hydromorphological and geographical data were collected. Samples were ascribed to five quality classes according to the STAR_ICM index. Based on Chironomid taxa, principal component analysis (PCA) axis 1 represented an organic pollution gradient, axis 2 represented seasonality. Pool and riffle samples were significantly different according to taxa assemblages. Similar results were obtained with PCA based on the whole macrobenthic community. Indicator value (IndVal) analysis facilitated the detection of the Chironomid indicators of high/good quality pools (e.g. Conchapelopia pallidula, Rheopelopia ornata, Epoicocladius ephemerae) and riffles (Tvetenia calvescens, Eukiefferiella gracei). The Berger-Parker dominance index based on Chironomid assemblages in pools was correlated to PCA axis 1 and performed well in discriminating between quality classes. In riffles, no correlations to PCA axes were detected and a wide overlap between quality classes was present. Thus, assessment in the analysed river type may focus on pool mesohabitat as this seems to represent best the ecological gradient of sites. |
| Source | River research and applications (Print) 26, pp. 1036–1051 |
| Keywords | ChironomidaebiomonitoringWFDSouthern ItalyAQEM |
| Journal | River research and applications (Print) |
| Editor | John Wiley & Sons,, Chichester, West Sussex, UK, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2010 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1002/rra.1303 |
| Authors | MARZIALI L., ARMANINI D., CAZZOLA M., ERBA S., TOPPI E., BUFFAGNI A., ROSSARO B. |
| Text | 42402 2010 10.1002/rra.1303 ISI Web of Science WOS 000283539500008 Chironomidae biomonitoring WFD Southern Italy AQEM RESPONSES OF CHIRONOMID LARVAE INSECTA, DIPTERA TO ECOLOGICAL QUALITY IN MEDITERRANEAN RIVER MESOHABITATS SOUTH ITALY MARZIALI L., ARMANINI D., CAZZOLA M., ERBA S., TOPPI E., BUFFAGNI A., ROSSARO B. IRSA U.O.S. Brugherio; DiPSA, Universita di Milano Chironomid larvae and pupae were studied in selected Mediterranean rivers with the aim of identifying pool and riffle taxa assemblages and of analysing their response to ecological quality gradients. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected in six Italian rivers along a pool riffle sequence in three seasons following a multihabitat sampling technique. Chironomids were identified as genus/species, other macroinvertebrates as family/genus. The main physico chemical, hydromorphological and geographical data were collected. Samples were ascribed to five quality classes according to the STAR_ICM index. Based on Chironomid taxa, principal component analysis PCA axis 1 represented an organic pollution gradient, axis 2 represented seasonality. Pool and riffle samples were significantly different according to taxa assemblages. Similar results were obtained with PCA based on the whole macrobenthic community. Indicator value IndVal analysis facilitated the detection of the Chironomid indicators of high/good quality pools e.g. Conchapelopia pallidula, Rheopelopia ornata, Epoicocladius ephemerae and riffles Tvetenia calvescens, Eukiefferiella gracei . The Berger Parker dominance index based on Chironomid assemblages in pools was correlated to PCA axis 1 and performed well in discriminating between quality classes. In riffles, no correlations to PCA axes were detected and a wide overlap between quality classes was present. Thus, assessment in the analysed river type may focus on pool mesohabitat as this seems to represent best the ecological gradient of sites. 26 Published version http //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rra.1303/abstract RESPONSES OF CHIRONOMID LARVAE INSECTA, DIPTERA TO ECOLOGICAL QUALITY IN MEDITERRANEAN RIVER MESOHABITATS SOUTH ITALY Marzialietal_ChiroCilento_2009RivResAppl.pdf Articolo in rivista John Wiley Sons, 1535 1459 River research and applications Print River research and applications Print River res. appl. Print River research and applications. Print River res. applic. Print andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO stefania.erba ERBA STEFANIA marcello.cazzola CAZZOLA MARCELLO laura.marziali MARZIALI LAURA TA.P04.016.001 Caratteristiche ecologiche di comunita acquatiche in ambienti fluviali e lagunari TA.P04.032.003 La risposta delle comunita acquatiche bioindicatori e WFD |
