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Benthic diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages, a key for evaluation of river health and pollution in the Shahrood River, Iran

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Abstract

The pre sent study analyzed the relationships of two different biological assemblages (diatom and macroinvertebrate) when they are used to characterize a set of stations (from reference stations to impacted stations) within the Shahrood River. In particular, we examined the issue of concordance among these assemblages and the physicochemical parameters detected, using both multivariate and multimetric methods. In addition, the trophic diatom index and Hilsenhoff family-level biotic index for macroinvertebrate assemblages were used to evaluate the ecological status of the Shahrood River. Diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Shahrood River differed significantly between reference and impacted stations. ANOSIM showed a significant difference in the composition and abundance of diatoms and macroinvertebrates among reference, influence and impact stations, especially between reference and impact stations. Results of CCA ordination showed that benthic diatoms and macroinvertebrate assemblages were mainly affected by DO, TSS, NO3 −, PO4 3− concentrations and heavy metals such as Zn and Cd. Biotic indices for the Shahrood River suggested a water quality category of “fair” with fairly substantial organic pollution for the impacted stations. Finally, our results suggest that an appropriate management and restoration policy needs to be implemented for the Shahrood basin.

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Acknowledgments

We thank our colleagues at the University of Guilan for their assistance with the water chemistry analyses and sampling and processing of the benthic macroinvertebrates. Special thanks to Mohammad Hossein Farhoudi and Amin Bozorgi Makrani for their cooperation and technical advice during this project. We greatly thank Mahdi Haghparast Radmard and Sadegh Ahmadi who assisted us throughout this study. We wish to thank the two anonymous reviewers and the editor for their valuable comments towards the improving this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

    Moslem Sharifinia

  2. Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, POB: 1144, Sowmehsara, Guilan, Iran

    Abbas Mahmoudifard, Kamyab Gholami & Javid Imanpour Namin

  3. International Sturgeon Research Institute, POB: 41635-3464, Rasht, Iran

    Zohreh Ramezanpour

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  1. Moslem Sharifinia
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  2. Abbas Mahmoudifard
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Correspondence to Moslem Sharifinia.

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Sharifinia, M., Mahmoudifard, A., Gholami, K. et al. Benthic diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages, a key for evaluation of river health and pollution in the Shahrood River, Iran. Limnology 17, 95–109 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-015-0464-5

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