Faunistic research in a fluvial ecosystem study: The case of the River Adige

Braioni, Maria Giovanna

doi:10.1080/11250009409355915

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In the Ausor Stream, as in all mountain water courses (BRAIONI, 1986;BRAIONI, 1994;BRAIONI and LORENZET, 1984;BRAIONI and CESTARO, 1986), Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera are considerably abundant, as well as Chironomidae and Coleoptera. The quantitative analysis of benthic invertebrates underlined the strong influence of the seasons as one of the main factors affecting benthic populations.…”

Section: Quantitative Analysis Of Macrobenthic Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf Litter Breakdown Processing in the Functional Monitoring of a Mountain Stream

Braioni

Cortivo²,

Salmoiraghi

2004

International Review of Hydrobiology

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This research is a contribution to an integrated overview of the alpine low-order river ecosystem. We associated the results obtained from colonization and breakdown processes (functional aspects, i.e. colonization of natural and artificial leaf packs and of artificial inorganic substrates), with the morphohydrological features of the river bed, with density and biomass of benthic invertebrates and with banks quality. We studied the Ausor stream, North-East Italy, a natural alpine stream with a narrow steep gradient channel.The applied monitoring methods allowed us to point out the total biodiversity, the seasonal and regional heterogeneity of macrobenthos and of habitats and the efficiency of breakdown and colonization processes. The integrated overview, achieved from the comparison of results, showed that diversity and variability of habitats are connected with the natural morphological development of the river bed and of riparian areas. Furthermore, heterogeneity and variability of habitats are essential in supporting biodiversity and the functional processes occurring in a natural environment.

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Section: Quantitative Analysis Of Macrobenthic Invertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf Litter Breakdown Processing in the Functional Monitoring of a Mountain Stream

Braioni

Cortivo²,

Salmoiraghi

2004

International Review of Hydrobiology

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“…The inquiries on macrozoobenthos were particularly articulated and took into consideration the structure of the community (EBI) [62,63], the quantitative aspects of the taxonomic and functional feeding groups, the main function of the leaf litter breakdown (natural and artificial), and the capacity for colonising inorganic substrata. Table 6 reports the methods and the time and space dimension of the qualitative and quantitative analyses carried out on the macrobenthic communities of the Adige River in stretches 8 to 11.…”

Section: Quality Of Macrozoobenthosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Evaluations in the Monitoring of the River Ecosystem Processes: The Adige River as a Case Stu

Braioni

Salmoiraghi

Bracco

et al. 2002

The Scientific World JOURNAL

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A model of analysis and environmental evaluation was applied to 11 stretches of the Adige River, where an innovative procedure was carried out to interpret ecological results. Within each stretch, the most suitable methods were used to assess the quality and processes of flood plains, banks, water column, bed, and interstitial environment. Indices were applied to evaluate the wild state and ecological quality of the banks (wild state index, buffer strip index) and the landscape quality of wide areas of the fluvial corridor (environmental landscape index). The biotic components (i.e., macrozoobenthos, phytoplankton and zooplankton, interstitial hyporheic fauna, vegetation in the riparian areas) were analysed by both quantitative and functional methods (as productivity, litterprocessing and colonisation). The results achieved were then translated into five classes of functional evaluation. These qualitative assessments have thus preserved a high level of precision and sensitivity in quantifying both the quality of the environmental conditions and the integrity of the ecosystem processes. Read together with urban planning data, they indicate what actions are needed to restore and rehabilitate the Adige River corridor.

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“…An ideal model for such investigations is Adige river [20], which is among the longest of the alpine area. In fact, due to its importance and the presence of both natural and anthropic features in its catchments, it has been one of the most important areas for studying macroinvertebrate assemblages since a long time ago [21]. The first ecological studies [22,23] found that macrobenthic fauna accumulated pollutants from surrounding industries and other human activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural and Functional Variations of the Macrobenthic Community of the Adige Basin along the River Continuum

Gaglio,

Aschonitis,

Muresan

et al. 2021

Water

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Since the publication of the River Continuum Concept (RCC), the capacity of the longitudinal dimension to predict the distribution of species and ecological functions in river networks was discussed by different river theories. The taxonomic structures and functional attributes of macrobenthic communities were investigated along the river continuum in the river Adige network (Northern Italy), with the aim to test the reliability of RCC theory and clarify the relation between structural and functional features in lotic systems. Distance from the spring was found to be most representative proxy among environmental parameters. The analysis highlighted the decrease of biodiversity levels along the river continuum. The decrease of taxonomic diversity corresponded to the loss in functional richness. The abundances of predator and walker taxa, as well as semelparous organisms, declined along the longitudinal gradient, suggesting variations in community complexity and granulometry. Regression models also depicted the presence of disturbed communities in the central section of the basin, where intensive agricultural activities occur, that affected environmental gradients. Overall, results offered evidences that the river continuum may predict macrobenthic community structures in terms of taxonomic diversity, thus confirming the general validity of RCC. Nonetheless, the functional analysis did not provide equally clear evidences to support the theory. After four decades from its postulation, the RCC is still a reliable model to predict the general macroinvertebrates distribution. However, community functions may respond to a number of local factors not considered in RCC, which could find a declination in other theories. The relations between structural and functional features confirmed to be complex and sensitive to disturbances and local conditions.

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Faunistic research in a fluvial ecosystem study: The case of the River Adige

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

Leaf Litter Breakdown Processing in the Functional Monitoring of a Mountain Stream

Leaf Litter Breakdown Processing in the Functional Monitoring of a Mountain Stream

Functional Evaluations in the Monitoring of the River Ecosystem Processes: The Adige River as a Case Stu

Structural and Functional Variations of the Macrobenthic Community of the Adige Basin along the River Continuum

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