Water mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia) of riparian springs in a small lowland river valley: what are the key factors for species distribution?

Dmitrović

Savić

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Springs are distinct freshwater habitats that are threatened globally by human impacts, but are not included in standard freshwater assessment tools. This study analysed how the standard macroinvertebrate metrics currently used in biomonitoring programmes for running waters perform in springs with similar ecological qualities but with a different degree of hydromorphological modification.Macroinvertebrate assemblages were analysed in 50 riparian springs along the Crvcka River in the Dinaric karst.2. Most metrics analysed (ASPT, EPT fam , PTH fam , BMWP, STAR_ICMi, and Spring_ICMi) showed significant differences between hydromorphologically modified and natural, i.e. unmodified, springs.3. A self-organizing map (SOM), an unsupervised artificial neural network, was used for patterning and visualizing 10 environmental parameters and the metrics analysed.Most macroinvertebrate metrics, besides IBE (which did not show any pattern) and PTH fam (which showed an opposite trend), had significantly lower values in the spring group with the highest electrical conductivity and the lowest discharge.4. The study showed that hydromorphological modification does not necessarily lead to a loss of crenobiontic species, provided that the discharge and substrate composition remain suitable. Future coordinated conservation strategies must take into account the fact that spring species assemblages are sensitive to habitat structure and organic pollution, as has been achieved in Europe for rivers assessed under the Water Framework Directive. 5. Using multimetric indices, such as the new Spring_ICMi, may help to provide a framework for assessing the response of macroinvertebrate assemblages to human impacts. They may also help in assessing the success of measures used for the conservation and restoration of these threatened but highly valuable habitats. Further investigations should verify the suitability of such metrics in assessing the deterioration of springs globally.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of macroinvertebrate multimetrics as a measure of the impact of anthropogenic modification of spring habitats

Dmitrović

Savić

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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“…There is no literature evidence on the relationship between ostracod assemblages and the hydrological assessment of a river valley (River Habitat Survey, RHS). Such analyses have been performed for aquatic beetles (Pakulnicka et al, 2016) and water mites (Zawal et al, 2018) in the Krąpiel valley. In the case of beetles, hydrological parameters were responsible for 13.3% of the total variance in species composition, while anthropogenic transformation of the river valley (RHM and HMS) had a positive influence on the crenobiontic water mite fauna.…”

Section: Effects Of Physical and Chemical Water Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lowland springs are often characterized by stable habitats, with modest changes in hydrological, thermal, chemical, and biological characteristics (De Luca et al, 2014;Rossetti et al, 2020). However, they may be affected by destabilizing factors, such as drought, flooding, and human impact (Rossetti et al, 2005(Rossetti et al, , 2020Pieri et al, 2007;Pakulnicka et al, 2016;Zawal et al, 2018). Individual springs can support a mosaic of microhabitats which results in a high species richness, for which reason springs are sometimes referred to as biodiversity hotspots (Cantonati et al, 2012;Rosati et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, the holistic approach is represented by Rosati et al (2014), Rossetti et al (2005), Zhai et al (2015), Mezquita et al (1999), as well as Roca and Baltanás (1993). The research potential of springs situated in the valley of the River Krąpiel has been noted by Pakulnicka et al (2016) who studied aquatic beetles, by Zawal et al (2018) who investigated ecological determinants of the water mite occurrence, and by Bankowska et al (2015) who discovered new and rare water mite species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Springs in a river valley may be flooded by the river when it overflows, resulting in exchange of fauna between these habitats as well as in alteration of the spring water chemistry. The fauna of springs is also influenced by their location with respect to the river; a close proximity enhances migration of river fauna (Buczyńska et al, 2016;Zawal et al, 2018). Under the current climate change, the groundwater level is often lowered, causing some springs to become ephemeral and thus facilitating survival (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental factors shaping assemblages of ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) in springs situated in the River Krąpiel valley (NW Poland)

Szlauer-Łukaszewska

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

Zawal

2021

Self Cite

We investigated the ostracod assemblage structure in springs of a small lowland River Krąpiel valley. Environmental factors and the potential of ostracods as indicators of spring type were analysed. The analysis involved the type of spring, substrate, physicochemical parameters, and the river valley's hydrological status as environmental factors. A total of thirty ostracod species were recorded. The average count of ostracod individuals in a sample amounted to 100. The assemblages were dominated by juvenile Candona sp., juvenile Psychrodromus sp., Cypria ophtalmica, and Cypridopsis vidua. The spring species accounted for less than 1% of the individual counts, except for juvenile Psychrodromus sp. with 21% and Eucypris pigra with 4%. The average number of taxa per spring was 5. The ostracod assemblages were significantly influenced by limnocrene springs, spring flooding by the river overflow, the presence of coarse leaf litter, the presence of fine organic matter, a high content of NH4 as well as by BOD5, conductivity, pH, Fe, the river habitat modification index (RHM), the habitat modification score (HMS), and the river habitat quality (RHQ). The habitat conditions for the spring species appeared to be enhanced by the domination of mineral substrate over fine particulate organic matter, an elevated pH, the presence of leaf-derived organic matter, and the absence of flooding by the river. The spring species showed no association with the Krąpiel valley hydrological factors.

Karst Springs: Isolated Ecosystem Ecology from the Water Mite Perspective

Pozojević

Small Water Bodies of the Western Balkans

2021

Self Cite

Karst springs are known to host a great diversity of water mites that include euryvalent generalists, but also a highly specialized crenobiont species (exclusively found in springs). A total of 44 crenobiontic water mite species has been reported in the springs of the Western Balkans, which is about 32% of the crenobiontic species known in Europe. Most of the crenobiontic species of the Dinaric karst are inhabitants of helocrene and rheohelocrene springs, and to a lesser extent inhabit rheocrenic springs, while only two species can be considered characteristic representatives of limnocrenic springs. Recent studies on the karstic springs of the Western Balkan have revealed that water mite richness as well as the number of crenobionts both decrease as we move from alpine to Mediterranean springs. The response of crenobiontic water mite assemblages in karstic springs is primarily driven by the crenic types and environmental variability, in particular in the geological and geographical context. Further research on the crenobiontic water mite fauna of karstic springs may help to assess the ecological challenges facing these fragile ecosystems, given increased water demand in the future and ongoing climate change.