Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The lentic–lotic character of Mediterranean rivers and its importance to aquatic invertebrate communities

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Aquatic Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hydromorphological features are crucial in structuring habitats for freshwater organisms. The quantification of these variables is often performed through accurate measuring or detailed estimation, but their assessment is not always feasible for river management purposes. Economic and time constraints often lead to difficulty in creating simple summaries of collected data for practical use. The Lentic–lotic River Descriptor (LRD) was developed to identify the character of a river site in terms of local hydraulic conditions. Information about the presence of flow types, channel substrates, in-stream vegetation, organic debris and artificial features is included in its calculation. The main aim of this paper is to investigate whether the lentic–lotic character of a river site, as summarized with the LRD descriptor, is relevant to aquatic invertebrate communities in nearly natural river sites. Invertebrate data were collected with multi-habitat, proportional sampling and hydromorphological information was gained by applying the CARAVAGGIO method (river habitat survey technique) in the field. The dataset was generated from High or Good ecological status river sites located in Mediterranean areas of Italy. Correspondence Analysis was performed to relate the invertebrate community structure to a set of catchment-scale, reach-scale and chemical environmental variables. The results of the multivariate analysis indicate that LRD provides a persuasive explanation of the most important axis of variation in benthic data. This paper also presents the optimal LRD range for a set of invertebrate taxa, accompanied by a short discussion of their potential use in conservation issues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bañuelos R, Larrañaga S, Elosegi A, Pozo J (2004) Effects of eucalyptus plantations on CPOM dynamics in headwater streams: a manipulative approach. Arch Hydrobiol 159(2):211–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbour MT, Gerritsen J, Snyder GE, Stribling JB (1999) Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in wadable streams and rivers: pryphiton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, 2nd edn. EPA 841-b-99-002. USEPA, Office of Water, Washington, DC, p 153

  • Bauernfeind E, Moog O (2000) Mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) and the assessment of ecological integrity: a methodological approach. Hydrobiologia 422/423:71–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belfiore C (1983) Efemerotteri (Ephemeroptera). Guide per il riconoscimento delle specie animali delle acque interne italiane, C.N.R., Progetto finalizzato “Promozione della qualità dell’ambiente”, 24, p 106

  • Bona F, Falasco E, Fenoglio S, Iorio L, Badino G (2008) Response of macroinvertebrate and diatom communities to human-induced physical alteration in mountain streams. River Res Appl 24:1068–1081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bournaud M, Tachet H, Roux AL, Auda Y (1987) The effects of seasonal and hydrological influences on the macroinvertebrates of the Rhone River, France 1. Methodological aspects. Arch Hydrobiol 109(2):287–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovee KD, Lamb BL, Bartholow JM, Stalnaker CB, Taylor J, Heriksen J (1988) Stream habitat analysis using the instream flow incremental methodology. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD-1998-0004

  • Brookes A (1988) Channelized rivers perspectives for environmental management. Wiley, Chichester, pp 111–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks AJ, Haeusler T, Reinfelds I, Williams S (2005) Hydraulic microhabitats and the distribution of macroinvertebrate assemblages in riffles. Freshw Biol 50:331–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A (1997) Mayfly community composition and the biological quality of streams. In: Landolt P, Sartori M (eds) Ephemeroptera & Plecoptera: biology-ecology-systematics. MTL, Fribourg, pp 235–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A (ed) (2004) Classificazione ecologica e carattere lentico–lotico in fiumi mediterranei. Quaderno dell’Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque 122, p 155 (in Italian)

  • Buffagni A, Desio F (1994) Le specie del genere Baetis Leach (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) nell’Italia settentrionale: sintesi ecologica. Atti Congr Naz Ital Entomol 17:413–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A, Kemp JL (2002) Looking beyond the shores of the United Kingdom: addenda for the application of River Habitat Survey in South European rivers. J Limnol 61(2):199–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A, Crosa G, Harper DM, Kemp J (2000) Using macroinvertebrate species assemblages to identify river channel habitat units: an application of the functional habitats concept to a large, unpolluted Italian river (River Ticino, Northen Italy). Hydrobiologia 435:213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A, Kemp JL, Erba S, Belfiore C, Hering D, Moog O (2001) A Europe wide system for assessing the quality of rivers using macroinvertebrates: the AQEM project and its importance for southern Europe (with special emphasis on Italy). J Limnol 60(1):39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A, Belfiore C, Erba S, Kemp JL, Cazzola M (2003) A review of Ephemeroptera species distribution in Italy: gains from recent studies and areas for future focus. In: Gaino E (ed) Research update on Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera. Università di Perugia-Italy, pp 279–290

  • Buffagni A, Erba S, Cazzola M, Kemp JL (2004) The AQEM multimetric system for the southern Italian Apennines: assessing the impact of water quality and habitat degradation on pool macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean rivers. Hydrobiologia 516:313–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A, Erba S, Ciampittiello M (2005) Il rilevamento idromorfologico e degli habitat fluviali nel contesto della Direttiva europea sulle acque (WFD): principi e schede di applicazione del metodo CARAVAGGIO. Notiziario dei Metodi Analitici IRSA 12:32–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffagni A, Armanini DG, Erba S (2009) Does the lentic–lotic character of rivers affect invertebrate metrics used in the assessment of ecological quality? J Limnol 68(1):92–105

    Google Scholar 

  • CEN (2004) EN14614:2004. Water Quality: Guidance Standard for Assessing the Hydromorphological Features of Rivers. CEN TC 230/WG 2/TG 5: N47

  • CEN (2008) Water Quality—Guidance Standard on Determining the Degree of Modification of River Hydromorphology. CEN TC 230/WG 2/TG 5 Working document N65 Jan08, p 21

  • Church M (1994) Channel morphology and typology. In: Calow and Petts (eds) The river handbook (vol. 2). Blackwell, Oxford, pp 126–143

  • Coimbra CN, Graça MAS, Cortes RM (1996) The effects of a basic effluent on macroinvertebrate community structure in a temporary Mediterranean river. Environ Pollut 94(3):301–307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins KW, Lauff GH (1969) The influence of substrate particle size on the microdistribution of stream macrobenthos. Hydrobiologia 34:145–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davy-Bowker J, Furse MT (2006) Hydromorphology—major results and conclusions from the STAR project. Hydrobiologia 566:263–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derka T (1998) Effect of regulation of a submontane river on mayfly communities (Insecta, Ephemeroptera). Biologia 53(2):189–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Pasquale D, Buffagni A (2006) Il software CARAVAGGIOsoft: uno strumento per l’archiviazione e la gestione di dati di idromorfologia e habitat fluviale. Notiziario dei Metodi Analitici IRSA 12:20–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolédec S, Lamouroux N, Fuchs U, Mérigoux S (2007) Modelling the hydraulic preferences of benthic macroinvertebrates in small European streams. Freshw Biol 52:145–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Earle JI (2004) Stonefly (Plecoptera) species of an acidic intermittent stream in southwestern Pennsylvania, USA, comparison with a circumneutral perennial stream and consideration of survival strategies. Arch Hydrobiol 159(11):97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott JM, Humpesch UH, Macan TT (1988). Larvae of the British Ephemeroptera: a key with ecological notes. Scientific Publications of the Freshwater Biological Association No. 49. Freshwater Biological Association, p 145

  • Environment Agency (1997) River Habitat Survey—field guidance manual. Environment Agency, Bristol

    Google Scholar 

  • Erba S, Buffagni A, Holmes N, O’Hare M, Scarlett P, Stenico A (2006) Preliminary testing River Habitat Survey features for the aims of the WFD hydro-morphological assessment: an overview from the STAR Project. Hydrobiologia 566:281–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eschner TR (1983) Hydraulic geometry of the Platte River near Overton, south-central Nebraska. In: Hydrologic and Geomorphic Studies of the Platte River Basin, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, DC, pp C1–C32

  • European Commission (2000) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities L 327:1–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Extence CA, Balbi DM, Chadd RP (1999) River flow indexing using benthic macroinvertebrates: a framework for setting hydrobiological objectives. Regul Rivers Res Manag 15:543–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feld CK (2004) Identification and measure of hydromorphological degradation in Central European lowland streams. Hydrobiologia 516:69–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furse MT, Hering D, Moog O, Verdonschot PFM, Sandin L, Brabec K, Gritzalis K, Buffagni A, Pinto P, Friberg N, Murray-Bligh J, Kokes J, Alber R, Usseglio-Polatera P, Haase P, Sweeting R, Bis B, Szoszkiewicz K, Soszka H, Springe G, Sporka F, Krno I (2006) The STAR project: context, objectives and approaches. Hydrobiologia 566:3–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gore JA, Layzer JB, Mead J (2001) Macroinvertebrate instream flow studies after 20 years: a role in stream and river restoration. Regul Rivers Res Manag 17:527–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerold F, Boudot JP, Jacquemin G, Vein D, Merlet D, Rouiller J (2000) Macroinvertebrate community loss as a result of headwater stream acidification in the Vosges Mountains (N-E France). Biodivers Conserv 9(6):767–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper D, Everard M (1998) Why should the habitat-level approach underpin holistic river survey and management? Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 8:395–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper DM, Kemp JL, Vogel B, Newson MD (2000) Towards the assessment of ‘ecological integrity’ in running waters of the United Kingdom. Hydrobiologia 422/423:133–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haybach A, Schleuter M, Tittizer T (2003) Current distribution of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in German Federal Waterways. In: Gaino E (ed) Research update on Ephemeroptera & Plecoptera. Università di Perugia, Perugia, pp 313–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Hecket A, Filliben JJ (1996) Dataplot reference manual volume 2: LET subcommands and library functions, p 67

  • Hering D, Moog O, Sandin L, Verdonschot PFM (2004) Overview and application of the AQEM assessment system. Hydrobiologia 516:1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill MO, Gauch HG (1980) Detrended correspondence analysis: an improved ordination technique. Vegetatio 42:47–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes HBN (1970) The ecology of running waters. Tto University Press, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Summary for policymakers, p 22

  • Johnson WC (2000) Tree recruitment and survival in rivers: influence of hydrological processes. Hydrol Process 14:3051–3074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jowett IG (2003) Hydraulic constraints on habitat suitability for benthic invertebrates in gravel-bed rivers. River Res Appl 19:495–507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jowett IG, Richardson J (1995) Habitat preferences of common, riverine New Zealand native fishes and implications for flow management. NZ J Mar Freshw Res 29:13–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp JL, Harper DM, Crosa GA (1999) Use of ‘functional habitats’ to link ecology with morphology and hydrology in river rehabilitation. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 9:159–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lake PS (2003) Ecological effects of perturbation by drought in flowing waters. Freshw Biol 48:1161–1172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamouroux N, Capra H (2002) Simple predictions of instream habitat model outputs for target fish populations. Freshw Biol 47(8):1543–1556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legendre P, Legendre L (1998) Numerical ecology, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemly AD, Hilderbrand RH (2000) Influence of large woody debris on stream insect communities and benthic detritus. Hydrobiologia 421:179–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manel S, Dias J, Buckton S, Ormerod S (1999) Alternative methods for predicting species distribution: an illustration with Himalayan river birds. J Appl Ecol 36:734–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mérigoux S, Dolédec S (2004) Hydraulic requirements of stream communities: a case study on invertebrates. Freshw Biol 49:600–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milner NJ, Wyatt RJ, Broad K (1998) HABSCORE applications and future developments of related habitat models. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 8:633–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mobes-Hansen B, Waringer JA (1998) The influence of hydraulic stress on microdistribution patterns of zoobenthos in a sandstone brook (Weidlingbach, Lower Austria). Int Rev Hydrobiol 83(5–6):381–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Liebenau I (1969) Revision der europäischen Arten der Gattung Baetis Leach, 1815. (Insecta, Ephemeroptera). Gewässer und Abwasser 66(67):95–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Newson MD, Clark MJ, Sear DA, Brookes A (1998a) The geomorphological basis for classifying rivers. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 8:415–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newson MD, Harper DM, Padmore CL, Kemp JL, Vogel B (1998b) A cost-effective approach for linking habitats, flow types and species requirements. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 8:431–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nijboer RC, Johnson RK, Verdonschot PFM, Sommerhäuser M, Buffagni A (2004) Establishing reference conditions for European streams. Hydrobiologia 516:91–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogbeibu AE, Oribhabor BJ (2002) Ecological impact of river impoundment using benthic macro-invertebrates as indicators. Water Res 36:2427–2436

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Padmore CL (1998) The role of physical biotopes in determining the conservation status and flow requirements of British rivers. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manag 1:25–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padmore CL, Newson MD, Charlton E (1999) Instream habitat in gravel-bed rivers: identification and characterization of biotopes. In: Klingeman PC, Beschta RL, Komar PD, Bradley JB (eds) Gravel-bed rivers in the environment. Water Resources Publications, Englewood, pp 345–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Peeters ETHM, Gardeniers JJP, Tolkamp HH (1994) New methods to assess the ecological status of surface waters in The Netherlands Part 1: running waters. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 25:1914–1916

    Google Scholar 

  • Petts GE (1984) Impounded Rivers: Perspectives for Ecological Management, Environmental Monographs and Symposia Series. Wiley, Chichester, p 285

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitlo RH, Dawson FH (1990) Flow-resistance of aquatic weeds. In: Pieterse AH, Murphy KJ (eds) Aquatic weeds, The Ecology and Management of Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 74–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabeni CF, Doisy KE (2000) Correspondence of stream benthic invertebrate assemblages to regional classification schemes in Missouri. J North Am Benthol Soc 19:419–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raven PJ, Holmes NTH, Dawson FH, Fox PJA, Everard M, Fozzard IR, Rouen KJ (1998) River Habitat Survey, the physical character of rivers and streams in the UK and Isle of Man. River Habitat Survey No. 2, May 1998. The Environment Agency, Bristol, p 86

  • Raven PJ, Holmes NTH, Naura M, Dawson FH (2000) Using river habitat survey for environmental assessment and catchment planning in the U.K. Hydrobiologia 422(423):359–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabater S, Elosegi A, Acuna V, Basaguren A, Munoz I, Pozo J (2008) Effect of climate on the trophic structure of temperate forested streams. A comparison of Mediterranean and Atlantic streams. Sci Total Environ 390(2–3):475–484

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sangiorgio F, Fonnesu A, Mancinelli G (2007) Effect of Drought Frequency and Other Reach Characteristics on Invertebrate Communities and Litter Breakdown in the Intermittent Mediterranean River Pula (Sardinia, Italy). Int Rev Hydrobiol 92(2):156–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sowa R (1975) Ecology and biogeography of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of running waters in the Polish part of the Carpathians. 1. Distribution and quantitative analysis. Acta Hydrobiol 17:223–247

    Google Scholar 

  • StatSoft, Inc. (1995) STATISTICA for Windows [Computer program manual]. Tulsa, OK: StatSoft, Inc., 2325 East 13th Street, Tulsa

  • Statzner B, Higler B (1986) Stream hydraulics as a major determinant of benthic invertebrate zonation patterns. Freshw Biol 16:127–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syrovátka V, Schenková J, Brabec K (2009) The distribution of chironomid larvae and oligochaetes within a stony-bottomed river stretch: the role of substrate and hydraulic characteristics. Fundam Appl Limnol 174:43–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szoszkiewicz K, Buffagni A, Davy-Bowker J, Lesny J, Chojnicki BH, Zbierska J, Staniszewski R, Zgola T (2006) Occurrence and variability of River Habitat Survey features across Europe and the consequences for data collection and evaluation. Hydrobiologia 566:267–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak CJF, Prentice IC (1988) A theory of gradient analysis. Adv Ecol Res 18:271–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak CJF, Smilauer P (1997) CANOCO, Software for Canonical Community Ordination (ver. 4.02). Centre for Biometry, Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Urbanič G, Toman MJ, Krušnik C (2005) Microhabitat type selection of caddisfly larvae (Insecta: Trichoptera) in a shallow lowland stream. Hydrobiologia 541:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper has been prepared within the framework of the EU co-funded Eurolimpacs Project (Integrated Project to evaluate the Impacts of Global Change on European Freshwater Ecosystem, no. GOCE-CT-2003-505540), WP 2 and 7. We would like to thank the UK and Wales Environment Agencies for their support in the early development of the CARAVAGGIO method, in particular, Paul Raven and Helena Parsons. A special thank you goes to Marcello Cazzola and Daniele Demartini (CNR-IRSA, Italy) who widely contributed to taxa identification and in-field data collection. We would also like to thank our two anonymous reviewers for their help in improving the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR, IRSA, Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino, 19, 20047, Brugherio (MB), Italy

    Andrea Buffagni, Stefania Erba & David G. Armanini

Authors
  1. Andrea Buffagni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefania Erba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David G. Armanini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Buffagni.

Additional information

This paper has been prepared within the framework of the EU co-funded Eurolimpacs Project: Integrated Project to evaluate the Impacts of Global Change on European Freshwater Ecosystem, no. GOCE-CT-2003-505540.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 5 Variability of the environmental parameters in the considered dataset
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Buffagni, A., Erba, S. & Armanini, D.G. The lentic–lotic character of Mediterranean rivers and its importance to aquatic invertebrate communities. Aquat. Sci. 72, 45–60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-009-0112-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-009-0112-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation