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Responses of aquatic macrophytes to anthropogenic pressures: comparison between macrophyte metrics and indices

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Abstract

Macrophyte responses to anthropogenic pressures in two rivers of Central Spain were assessed to check if simple metrics can exhibit a greater discriminatory and explanatory power than complex indices at small spatial scales. Field surveys were undertaken during the summer of 2014 (Duraton River) and the spring of 2015 (Tajuña River). Aquatic macrophytes were sampled using a sampling square (45 × 45 cm). In the middle Duraton River, macrophytes responded positively to the presence of a hydropower dam and a small weir, with Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton pectinatus being relatively favored. Index of Macrophytes (IM) was better than Macroscopic Aquatic Vegetation Index (MAVI) and Fluvial Macrophyte Index (FMI) in detecting these responses, showing positive and significant correlations with total coverage, species richness, and species diversity. In the upper Tajuña River, macrophytes responded both negatively and positively to the occurrence of a trout farm effluent and a small weir, with Leptodictyum riparium and Veronica anagallis-aquatica being relatively favored. Although IM, MAVI, and FMI detected both negative and positive responses, correlations of IM with total coverage, species richness, and species diversity were higher. Species evenness was not sensitive enough to detect either positive or negative responses of aquatic macrophytes along the study areas. Overall, traditional and simple metrics (species composition, total coverage, species richness, species diversity) exhibited a greater discriminatory and explanatory power than more recent and complex indices (IM, MAVI, FMI) when assessing responses of aquatic macrophytes to anthropogenic pressures at impacted specific sites.

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Acknowledgements

The University of Alcala provided logistical support for carrying out field and laboratory studies. Valuable comments and suggestions by two anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

Funds for this research came from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Research project CGL2011-28585).

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  1. Unidad Docente de Ecología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Julio A. Camargo

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Correspondence to Julio A. Camargo.

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Camargo, J.A. Responses of aquatic macrophytes to anthropogenic pressures: comparison between macrophyte metrics and indices. Environ Monit Assess 190, 173 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6549-y

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