| Title | Sampling and laboratory protocols to study the effects of water-level management on the littoral invertebrate fauna in deep and large temperate lakes |
| Abstract | An integrated multidisciplinary protocol on monitoring, sampling, and laboratory procedures was developed and proposed as part of the Project "Parks Verbano Ticino" in the framework of the INTERREG V-A Italy-Switzerland 2014-2020 Cooperation Program. The project's overall goal is to evaluate the effects of water-level management (hydromorphological stress) on both macro- and meio-fauna along the shores of Lake Maggiore,
a large and deep temperate lake in northwestern Italy. Because of their importance in the aquatic food web, determining how this stress affects macro- and meio-faunal assemblages is pivotal. The protocol developed thus includes the evaluation of hydro-morphological impacts via the Lake Habitat Survey method, which entails monitoring human-induced impacts and related infrastructures, followed by an in-depth evaluation of the ecological health of lake habitats via chemical analyses. The protocol then describes the sampling methods for shallow lake waters (i.e., <1.5 m depth) of deep lakes, but it also provides guidance on the best time to sample, how to select sampling sites, and how to allocate sample replicates along transects. A detailed step-by-step laboratory procedure for sample treatment was provided in order to assess the structure of macro- and meio-fauna assemblages, as well as morpho-functional traits (e.g., body shape and size, biomass estimate) in response to water-level management. For the first time, a set of morphological and functional characteristics of macro- and meio-faunal taxa are proposed for comparison. The protocol for standardized trait measurement is intended to be widely used. We also proposed chironomid species-specific length-mass regression models for biomass estimation, which is important for determining the growth rate and secondary production of these taxa in temperate zone lakes. Length-mass equations could shed light on the role of specific species in the flow of energy through aquatic ecosystems. The proposed protocol was evaluated by team members to ensure common utility, accuracy, and repeatability of the procedures towards a feasible application by researchers and stakeholders involved in water management of lakes with similar physical characteristics to use it. The protocol, which has been adapted or simply developed to meet the needs of the Italian context, could be successfully applied to other Alpine and Mediterranean temperate, deep lakes, reservoirs, and other glacial, volcanic, and morainic lakes, as well as to a broader European context. |
| Source | Journal of limnology (Testo stamp.) 81 (s2), pp. 2073 |
| Keywords | Lake habitat surveymacroinvertebratesmeiofaunamorpho-functional traitsintegrated planning procedureLake Maggiorewater fluctuation control |
| Journal | Journal of limnology (Testo stamp.) |
| Editor | Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi., Verbania Pallanza, Italia |
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.4081/jlimnol.2022.2073 |
| Authors | Angela Boggero, Lyudmila Kamburska, Silvia Zaupa, Marzia Ciampittiello, Daniele Paganelli, Marco Cifoni, Michela Rogora, Tiziana Di Lorenzo |
| Text | 472414 2022 10.4081/jlimnol.2022.2073 Lake habitat survey macroinvertebrates meiofauna morpho functional traits integrated planning procedure Lake Maggiore water fluctuation control Sampling and laboratory protocols to study the effects of water level management on the littoral invertebrate fauna in deep and large temperate lakes Angela Boggero, Lyudmila Kamburska, Silvia Zaupa, Marzia Ciampittiello, Daniele Paganelli, Marco Cifoni, Michela Rogora, Tiziana Di Lorenzo National Research Council, Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , Verbania Pallanza National Research Council, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems CNR IRET , Florence, Italy An integrated multidisciplinary protocol on monitoring, sampling, and laboratory procedures was developed and proposed as part of the Project Parks Verbano Ticino in the framework of the INTERREG V A Italy Switzerland 2014 2020 Cooperation Program. The project s overall goal is to evaluate the effects of water level management hydromorphological stress on both macro and meio fauna along the shores of Lake Maggiore, a large and deep temperate lake in northwestern Italy. Because of their importance in the aquatic food web, determining how this stress affects macro and meio faunal assemblages is pivotal. The protocol developed thus includes the evaluation of hydro morphological impacts via the Lake Habitat Survey method, which entails monitoring human induced impacts and related infrastructures, followed by an in depth evaluation of the ecological health of lake habitats via chemical analyses. The protocol then describes the sampling methods for shallow lake waters i.e., <1.5 m depth of deep lakes, but it also provides guidance on the best time to sample, how to select sampling sites, and how to allocate sample replicates along transects. A detailed step by step laboratory procedure for sample treatment was provided in order to assess the structure of macro and meio fauna assemblages, as well as morpho functional traits e.g., body shape and size, biomass estimate in response to water level management. For the first time, a set of morphological and functional characteristics of macro and meio faunal taxa are proposed for comparison. The protocol for standardized trait measurement is intended to be widely used. We also proposed chironomid species specific length mass regression models for biomass estimation, which is important for determining the growth rate and secondary production of these taxa in temperate zone lakes. Length mass equations could shed light on the role of specific species in the flow of energy through aquatic ecosystems. The proposed protocol was evaluated by team members to ensure common utility, accuracy, and repeatability of the procedures towards a feasible application by researchers and stakeholders involved in water management of lakes with similar physical characteristics to use it. The protocol, which has been adapted or simply developed to meet the needs of the Italian context, could be successfully applied to other Alpine and Mediterranean temperate, deep lakes, reservoirs, and other glacial, volcanic, and morainic lakes, as well as to a broader European context. 81 Published version https //jlimnol.it/index.php/jlimnol/article/view/2073 Sampling and laboratory protocols to study the effects of water level management on the littoral invertebrate fauna in deep and large temperate lakes 2022_Protocollo WFL_LMaggiore.pdf Articolo in rivista Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi. 1129 5767 Journal of limnology Testo stamp. Journal of limnology Testo stamp. J. limnol. Testo stamp. Journal of limnology. Testo stamp. angela.boggero BOGGERO ANGELA marzia.ciampittiello CIAMPITTIELLO MARZIA michela.rogora ROGORA MICHELA tiziana.dilorenzo DI LORENZO TIZIANA lyudmilatodorova.kamburska KAMBURSKA LYUDMILA TODOROVA |
