Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca

DatoValore
TitleMacroinvertebrate metrics responses to morphological alteration in Italian rivers
AbstractThe responses of river macroinvertebrates to hydromorphological alteration are often considered weak or unclear. It is therefore crucial to verify if and how existing invertebrate-based approaches can reveal the effects of hydromorphological modification. We analyzed the responses of benthic metrics to morphological impairment, with emphasis on the STAR_ICM index, legally required for macroinvertebrate-based ecological status assessment in Italy. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was run to condense information on morphological impairment. The major gradient (Component 1) expressed a combination of bank and channel modifications opposed to tree-related features indicating the presence of comparatively unmodified habitats. Jointly, habitat descriptors including Habitat Modification Score (HMS) derived from the application of a habitat survey method were calculated. Spearman rank correlations between biological metrics and morphological impairment indicators (PCA scores and HMS) were significant. A linear mixed-effects regression approach was applied to relate HMS and STAR_ICMi across a wide geographical context. HMS explained > 60% of STAR_ICMi variability, in the absence of apparent water pollution. Results demonstrated that morphological information resumed with habitat survey methods is meaningful for the biological community and that HMS can support the interpretation of ecological status across rivers' types and in different environmental settings.
SourceHydrobiologia (The Hague. Print) 847 (9), pp. 2169–2191
KeywordsMacroinvertebratesEcological statusWFDChannel and bank modificationRiverine habitats
JournalHydrobiologia (The Hague. Print)
EditorKluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, Paesi Bassi
Year2020
TypeArticolo in rivista
DOI10.1007/s10750-020-04242-w
AuthorsErba, Stefania; Cazzola, Marcello; Belfiore, Carlo; Buffagni, Andrea
Text429478 2020 10.1007/s10750 020 04242 w ISI Web of Science WOS 000529863700012 Macroinvertebrates Ecological status WFD Channel and bank modification Riverine habitats Macroinvertebrate metrics responses to morphological alteration in Italian rivers Erba, Stefania; Cazzola, Marcello; Belfiore, Carlo; Buffagni, Andrea Natl Res Council CNR IRSA; Univ Tuscia The responses of river macroinvertebrates to hydromorphological alteration are often considered weak or unclear. It is therefore crucial to verify if and how existing invertebrate based approaches can reveal the effects of hydromorphological modification. We analyzed the responses of benthic metrics to morphological impairment, with emphasis on the STAR_ICM index, legally required for macroinvertebrate based ecological status assessment in Italy. A Principal Component Analysis PCA was run to condense information on morphological impairment. The major gradient Component 1 expressed a combination of bank and channel modifications opposed to tree related features indicating the presence of comparatively unmodified habitats. Jointly, habitat descriptors including Habitat Modification Score HMS derived from the application of a habitat survey method were calculated. Spearman rank correlations between biological metrics and morphological impairment indicators PCA scores and HMS were significant. A linear mixed effects regression approach was applied to relate HMS and STAR_ICMi across a wide geographical context. HMS explained > 60% of STAR_ICMi variability, in the absence of apparent water pollution. Results demonstrated that morphological information resumed with habitat survey methods is meaningful for the biological community and that HMS can support the interpretation of ecological status across rivers types and in different environmental settings. 847 Published version Articolo in rivista Kluwer Academic Publishers 0018 8158 Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia. The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Dordrecht The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Boston The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia London The Hague. Print andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO stefania.erba ERBA STEFANIA marcello.cazzola CAZZOLA MARCELLO