An eco-hydrological assessment method for temporary rivers. The Celone and Salsola rivers case study (SE, Italy)

Girolamo, Anna Maria De; Gallart, Francesc; Pappagallo, Giuseppe; Santese, Gerardina; Porto, A. Lo

doi:10.1051/limn/2014028

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…In the present study, among the large number of hydrological variables extracted from streamflow data, a small number of uncorrelated variables were identified via PCA. As the hydrological regimes of temporary rivers are quite specific (De Girolamo et al ., ), it is expected that the HIs representing the major facets of these regimes are different from those for perennial rivers. Hence, we performed the PCA for all rivers and also differentiated the rivers into two sets identified a priori : perennial and temporary.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classifying the flow regimes of Mediterranean streams using multivariate analysis

et al. 2015

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Rivers in the Mediterranean region often exhibit an intermittent character. An understanding and classification of the flow regimes of these rivers is needed, as flow patterns control both physicochemical and biological processes. This paper reports an attempt to classify flow regimes in Mediterranean rivers based on hydrological variables extracted from discharge time series. Long‐term discharge records from 60 rivers within the Mediterranean region were analysed in order to classify the streams into different flow regime groups. Hydrological indices (HIs) were derived for each stream and principal component analysis (PCA) and then applied to these indices to identify subsets of HIs describing the major sources of variations, while simultaneously minimizing redundancy. PCA was performed for two groups of streams (perennial and temporary) and for all streams combined. The results show that whereas perennial streams are mainly described by high‐flow indices, temporary streams are described by duration, variability and predictability indices. Agglomerative cluster analysis based on HIs identified six groups of rivers classified according to differences in intermittency and variability. A methodology allowing such a classification for ungauged catchments was also tested. Broad‐scale catchment characteristics based on digital elevation, climate, soil and land use data were derived for each long‐term station where these data were available. By using stepwise multiple regression analysis, statistically significant relationships were fitted, linking the three selected hydrological variables (mean annual number of zero‐flow days, predictability and flashiness) to the catchment characteristics. The method provides a means of simplifying the complexity of river systems and is thus useful for river basin management. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classifying the flow regimes of Mediterranean streams using multivariate analysis

et al. 2015

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“…While habitat availability for lotic and lentic species increases with perennialization, habitat availability for terrestrial and semi-aquatic species declines. Although perennial flow may be sustained by effluent discharge, pollution can be detrimental for aquatic assemblages, as BOD 5 , dissolved oxygen, and nutrient concentrations frequently exceed the threshold of "good" water quality due to limited dilution (De Girolamo et al, 2015a). Also, in artificially sustained perrenial stream streches downstream of dams, a spread of alien fish species has been observed in many insular basins where NPSR dominate, such as in Corsica, Cyprus and Sicily among other Mediterranean islands (Blondel et al, 2010;Zogaris et al, 2012).…”

Section: Ecological Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Kirkby et al (2011) addressed the relative frequency of ecologically critical low flow stages in semiarid rivers across Europe. Moreover, using modeling approaches, it has been shown that entire river reaches may dry out as a result of water abstraction for agriculture De Girolamo et al, 2015a). Thus, De Girolamo et al (2015b) developed a new approach for evaluating the hydrological status of NPRS, in which the divergence between the current (impacted) and the natural flow conditions are assessed by using two hydrological indicators; the long-term annual mean number of months with flow (MF) , and the six-month seasonal predictability of dry periods (SD6) (Gallart et al, 2012).…”

Section: Hydrological Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-perennial Mediterranean rivers in Europe: Status, pressures, and challenges for research and management

Skoulikidis

Sabater

Datry

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

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Non-perennial rivers and streams (NPRS) cover N 50% of the global river network. They are particularly predominant in Mediterranean Europe as a result of dry climate conditions, climate change and land use development. Historically, both scientists and policy makers underestimated the importance of NRPS for nature and humans alike, mainly because they have been considered as systems of low ecological and economic value. During the past decades, diminishing water resources have increased the spatial and temporal extent of artificial NPRS as well as their exposure to multiple stressors, which threatening their ecological integrity, biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the structural and functional characteristics of NPRS in the European Mediterranean, and discuss gaps and problems in their management, concerning their typology, ecological assessment, legislative and policy protection, and incorporation in River Basin Management Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Science of the Total Environment j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / s c i t o t e n vPlans. Because NPRS comprise highly unstable ecosystems, with strong and often unpredictable temporal and spatial variability -at least as far as it is possible to assess -we outline the future research needs required to better understand, manage and conserve them as highly valuable and sensitive ecosystems. Efficient collaborative activities among multidisciplinary research groups aiming to create innovative knowledge, water managers and policy makers are urgently needed in order to establish an appropriate methodological and legislative background. The incorporation of NPRS in EU-Med River Basin Management Plans in combination with the application of ecological flows is a first step towards enhancing NPRS management and conservation in order to effectively safeguard these highly valuable albeit threatened ecosystems.

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“…hydrology, ecology and chemistry) of temporary streams [e.g. Dieter et al ., ; García‐Roger et al ., ; Kirkby et al ., ; Gallart et al ., ; De Girolamo et al ., , (submitted)]. The main focus of the MIRAGE Toolbox is to help professionals addressing the management of temporary streams from an interdisciplinary perspective by covering a wide range of the conditions that a temporary stream may experience.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Mirage Toolbox: An Integrated Assessment Tool for Temporary Streams

Prat

Gallart

Schiller

et al. 2014

River Research & Apps

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The assessment of the ecological status of water bodies, as requires by the European Water Framework Directive, can raise a number of problems when applied to temporary streams. These problems are because of the particular physical, chemical and biological conditions resulting from the recurrent cessation of flow or even the complete drying of the stream beds. In such non‐permanent water bodies, the reference quality standards developed for permanent streams may only be applicable under certain circumstances or may not be applicable at all. Work conducted within the collaborative EU‐funded project Mediterranean Intermittent River ManAGEment (MIRAGE) has addressed most of these difficulties and has used diverse approaches to solve them. These approaches have been brought together in the so‐called MIRAGE Toolbox. This toolbox consists of a series of methodologies that are designed to be used in a sequential manner to allow the establishment of the ecological and chemical status of temporary streams and to relate these findings to the hydrological status of the streams. The toolbox is intended to serve the following purposes: (i) the determination of the hydrological regime of the stream; (ii) the design of adequate schedules for biological and chemical sampling according to the aquatic state of the stream; (iii) the fulfillment of criteria for designing reference condition stations; (iv) the analysis of hydrological modifications of the stream regime (with the definition of the hydrological status); and (v) the development of new methods to measure the ecological status (including structural and functional methods) and chemical status when the stream's hydrological conditions are far from those in permanent streams. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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An eco-hydrological assessment method for temporary rivers. The Celone and Salsola rivers case study (SE, Italy)

Cited by 14 publications

References 27 publications

Classifying the flow regimes of Mediterranean streams using multivariate analysis

Classifying the flow regimes of Mediterranean streams using multivariate analysis

Non-perennial Mediterranean rivers in Europe: Status, pressures, and challenges for research and management

The Mirage Toolbox: An Integrated Assessment Tool for Temporary Streams

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