Synoptic results on the potential impacts of the Lake Maggiore water management strategy on freshwater littoral ecosystems and invertebrate biocoenosis (NW, Italy)

Abstract

The first results of the application of the integrated multidisciplinary protocol to study the effects of water level management on the Lake Maggiore littoral habitats and biocoenosis are presented. The "Parchi Verbano Ticino" project (2019-2021, ID: 481668) was the driving force to fine-tune the monitoring and management system of multidisciplinary information (chemistry, hydro-morphology, macro- and meio-fauna monitoring). The study reveals that water level fluctuations in Lake Maggiore, sometimes characterized by measurable changes in water levels, have remarkable effects on littoral habitats and on the structure and function of macro- and meiofaunal assemblages living there. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential impacts of Lake Maggiore water management strategy on freshwater littoral ecosystems during late spring-early summer, and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of the lake ecosystem dynamics. Thanks to the results achieved, publicly endorsed water management rules will be stated, for the late spring-early summer period, considering frequency and amplitude of water level fluctuations as crucial factors in management plans to mitigate their impacts. The endorsed rules turn out to be a negotiated compromise between the maintenance of ecosystem services and the protection of littoral life below water.

Variation in Copepod Morphological and Life History Traits along a Vertical Gradient of Freshwater Habitats

“…The copepod assemblages within the four habitats have undergone extensive study in recent years, resulting in several publications [34,[36][37][38][39]. Readers seeking details about the sampling protocols are encouraged to refer to these references' publications.…”

“…Copepod species were categorised into two groups: "stygobites" (i.e., obligate groundwater dwellers) and "non-stygobites" (i.e., surface water species, which occasionally or accidentally enter groundwater). We captured the full copepod diversity in the four analysed habitats based on the values of parametric and non-parametric estimators of species richness [36][37][38][39]. We recognise that employing diverse sampling methods may introduce bias when comparing datasets.…”