Aquatic biodiversity loss in Andean urban streams

Ríos-Touma, Blanca; Villamarín, Christian; Jijón, Gabriela; Checa, Jackie; Granda-Albuja, Genoveva; Bonifaz, Edison; Guerrero-Latorre, Laura

doi:10.1007/s11252-022-01248-1

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages of river ecosystems flowing through urban areas are generally characterized by few taxa, and taxa of pollution-sensitive insects are either poorly represented or absent in such environments (Correa-Araneda et al, 2010;Ríos-Touma et al, 2022). This was also observed in the Alameda River, with a decreasing trend in the abundance of macroinvertebrates belonging to the EPT group (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) from the upstream stations of Ayacucho (I and II) to those located downstream (V and VI).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Aquatic macroinvertebrate trophic guilds, functional feeding groups, and water quality of an andean urban river

Carrasco-Badajoz

Rayme-Chalco

Arana-Maestre

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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In the Anthropocene, man has imposed his activities above the natural processes of ecosystems. Rivers have undergone major changes associated with urban centers, so monitoring them is important to determine their status and suitability to provide environmental services. Studies applying the community ecology approach, such as energy flow in aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, may be appropriate to determine their status and functioning. This study characterized an Andean river that runs across the city of Ayacucho (Peru). Water physicochemical parameters and biotic quality indices were used and compared with the abundance of trophic guild components and functional feeding groups to demonstrate that the latter are at least equally suitable to estimate water quality. The river section studied ranged from 2640 to 2900 m a.s.l. and was monitored in the wet and dry seasons. Six monitoring stations were established according to the extent of the influence of the urban center. Water physicochemical variables and macroinvertebrate abundances were determined. A Surber net was used for multihabitat sampling; macroinvertebrates were identified to genus level (in most cases) and counted to estimate relative abundances. Trophic guilds (detritivore, predator, herbivore) were formed using the genus data from identification according to the information available in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. Functional feeding groups were set based on the classification of families. The sensitivity of trophic metrics was assessed by relating them to environmental variables and the Andean Biotic Index (ABI), the Biological Monitoring Working Party adapted for Colombia (BMWP/Col.), and the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) indices. Environmental variables and biotic indices increased significantly in the most impacted stations, where the abundance of most taxa decreased. The components of trophic guilds and functional groups varied, and those feeding on fine particles increased in sites with a higher urban impact. The metrics based on trophic characteristics were highly correlated with the BMWP/Col and ABI indices. Therefore, these indices can be used to estimate river water quality and provide information on its functioning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Aquatic macroinvertebrate trophic guilds, functional feeding groups, and water quality of an andean urban river

Carrasco-Badajoz

Rayme-Chalco

Arana-Maestre

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…Focal groups, notably charismatic taxa like Lepidoptera (i.e. diurnal butterflies, skippers and moths) [32,[41][42][43][44][45][46] and beetles (mostly dung beetles) [47][48][49][50][51][52][53], have been extensively studied, utilizing effective collection and observational survey methods that allow the establishment of standardized protocols replicable over time [54][55][56]. Substantial progress has also been achieved in freshwater monitoring programmes, with the immature stages of various aquatic orders playing a pivotal role [32,41,42,44,45,[57][58][59].…”

Section: (C) Ongoing Biomonitoring Programmes and Logistic Complexitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic challenges and opportunities in insect monitoring: a Global South perspective

Sánchez Herrera,

Forero,

Calor

et al. 2024

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Insect monitoring is pivotal for assessing biodiversity and informing conservation strategies. This study delves into the complex realm of insect monitoring in the Global South—world developing and least-developed countries as identified by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development—highlighting challenges and proposing strategic solutions. An analysis of publications from 1990 to 2024 reveals an imbalance in research contributions between the Global North and South, highlighting disparities in entomological research and the scarcity of taxonomic expertise in the Global South. We discuss the socio-economic factors that exacerbate the issues, including funding disparities, challenges in collaboration, infrastructure deficits, information technology obstacles and the impact of local currency devaluation. In addition, we emphasize the crucial role of environmental factors in shaping insect diversity, particularly in tropical regions facing multiple challenges including climate change, urbanization, pollution and various anthropogenic activities. We also stress the need for entomologists to advocate for ecosystem services provided by insects in addressing environmental issues. To enhance monitoring capacity, we propose strategies such as community engagement, outreach programmes and cultural activities to instill biodiversity appreciation. Further, language inclusivity and social media use are emphasized for effective communication. More collaborations with Global North counterparts, particularly in areas of molecular biology and remote sensing, are suggested for technological advancements. In conclusion, advocating for these strategies—global collaborations, a diverse entomological community and the integration of transverse disciplines—aims to address challenges and foster inclusive, sustainable insect monitoring in the Global South, contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation and overall ecosystem health. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring’.

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“…iv) San Pedro River is part of the upper basin of Guayllabamba in Pichincha province and is increasingly influenced by anthropogenic activities with direct sewage discharges. The sample point is located downstream in the Sangolquí district and is α-mesotrophic (strong pollution) (Ríos-Touma et al, 2022). v) Yambo is a lagoon located in Cotopaxi province and is considered eutrophic since it is a direct recipient of waste from nearby private complexes and the devastation of nearby vegetation (Orquera & Cabrera, 2020).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Screening of cyanotoxin producing genes in Ecuadorian freshwater systems

et al. 2022

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Aim This study pursued the detection of cyr and mcy genes to assess the presence of cylindrospemopsin (CN) and microcystin (MC) potential producers in Ecuadorian water bodies. Methods Environmental DNA (eDNA) was extracted from eight water bodies and one wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) from Ecuador. A nested PCR was designed to amplify mcyB, cyrE, and cyrJ genes in these environmental samples. PCR products were sequenced and blasted against GenBank database. Results Potential CN producers were found in seven water bodies and the WWTP. cyrE amplification revealed three variants belonging to Raphidopsis and Aphanizmenon species and one for cyrJ with around 90% identity with Raphidiopsis and Oscillatoria species. Four water bodies presented the same variant for mcyB similar to Microcystis panniformis with 99% of identity. Conclusions This study contributes new data on the presence of toxic cyanobacteria strains and provides new molecular tools to assess cyanotoxin hazards in Ecuadorian water bodies.

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Aquatic biodiversity loss in Andean urban streams

Cited by 10 publications

References 32 publications

Aquatic macroinvertebrate trophic guilds, functional feeding groups, and water quality of an andean urban river

Aquatic macroinvertebrate trophic guilds, functional feeding groups, and water quality of an andean urban river

Systematic challenges and opportunities in insect monitoring: a Global South perspective

Screening of cyanotoxin producing genes in Ecuadorian freshwater systems

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