Journal articles on the topic 'Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 journal articles for your research on the topic 'Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse journal articles on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Venohr, Markus, Simone D. Langhans, Oliver Peters, Franz Hölker, Robert Arlinghaus, Lewis Mitchell, and Christian Wolter. "The underestimated dynamics and impacts of water-based recreational activities on freshwater ecosystems." Environmental Reviews 26, no. 2 (June 2018): 199–213. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/er-2017-0024.
Full textAbstract:
Recreational activities on, in, and along freshwaters (e.g., boating, bathing, angling) positively contribute to human well-being but can also concurrently stress aquatic ecosystems. While outdoor recreation, aquatic ecosystems, and human well-being form coupled social-ecological systems, inherent fluxes and interactions between these have rarely been properly quantified. This paper synthesizes information on links between water-based recreational activities, effects on freshwater ecosystems integrity and recreational quality, and proposes a novel framework for assessment and integrated management. This framework is based on understanding relationships between recreational quality, demand and use, and recreational use-induced impacts on ecosystem state and function, as well as ecological and social carrying capacities. Current management approaches of freshwater ecosystems addressing economic, environmental, or recreational aspects are poorly linked and harmonized, and are further constrained by inadequate information on the dynamics and densities of recreational uses. Novel assessment and monitoring methods are needed to capture the short-term peak dynamics of water-based recreational uses, and we argue social media could play an increasingly important role here. An integrative recreation ecology management concept combined with peak usage information has great potential to form the basis for next-generation management approaches of freshwater and other ecosystems.
2
Bănăduc, Doru, Vladica Simić, Kevin Cianfaglione, Sophia Barinova, Sergey Afanasyev, Ahmet Öktener, Grant McCall, Snežana Simić, and Angela Curtean-Bănăduc. "Freshwater as a Sustainable Resource and Generator of Secondary Resources in the 21st Century: Stressors, Threats, Risks, Management and Protection Strategies, and Conservation Approaches." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 24 (December 9, 2022): 16570. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416570.
Full textAbstract:
This paper is a synthetic overview of some of the threats, risks, and integrated water management elements in freshwater ecosystems. The paper provides some discussion of human needs and water conservation issues related to freshwater systems: (1) introduction and background; (2) water basics and natural cycles; (3) freshwater roles in human cultures and civilizations; (4) water as a biosphere cornerstone; (5) climate as a hydrospheric ‘game changer’ from the perspective of freshwater; (6) human-induced stressors’ effects on freshwater ecosystem changes (pollution, habitat fragmentation, etc.); (7) freshwater ecosystems’ biological resources in the context of unsustainable exploitation/overexploitation; (8) invasive species, parasites, and diseases in freshwater systems; (9) freshwater ecosystems’ vegetation; (10) the relationship between human warfare and water. All of these issues and more create an extremely complex matrix of stressors that plays a driving role in changing freshwater ecosystems both qualitatively and quantitatively, as well as their capacity to offer sustainable products and services to human societies. Only internationally integrated policies, strategies, assessment, monitoring, management, protection, and conservation initiatives can diminish and hopefully stop the long-term deterioration of Earth’s freshwater resources and their associated secondary resources.
3
Di Lorenzo, Tiziana, Grant C. Hose, and Diana M. P. Galassi. "Assessment of Different Contaminants in Freshwater: Origin, Fate and Ecological Impact." Water 12, no. 6 (June 24, 2020): 1810. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12061810.
Full textAbstract:
Freshwater ecosystems cover over 15% of the world’s surface and provide ecosystem services that are pivotal in sustaining human society. However, fast-growing anthropogenic activities have deleterious impacts on these ecosystems. In this Special Issue, we collect ten studies encompassing five different factors of freshwater contamination: landfill leaks, nutrients, heavy metals, emerging organic contaminants and marble slurry. Using different approaches, the studies detailed the direct and indirect effects that these contaminants have on a range of freshwater organisms, from bacteria to vertebrates. Although the papers covered here focused on specific case studies, they exemplify common issues that are expanding in groundwaters, hyporheic zones, streams, lakes and ponds around the world. All the aspects of these issues are in dire need of being continuously discussed among scientists, end-users and policy-makers. To this end, the Special Issue presents a new free software suite for the analysis of the ecological risk and conservation priority of freshwater ecosystems. The software can support local authorities in the preparation of management plans for freshwater basins pursuant to the Water Directives in Europe.
4
T. Kingsford, Richard, and Jon Nevill. "Urgent need for a systematic expansion of freshwater protected areas in Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 12, no. 1 (2006): 7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc060007.
Full textAbstract:
Freshwater ecosystems (including inland saline wetlands and mound springs) are among the more imperilled ecosystems in the world. Australia is no exception, but their protection has lagged behind programmes of terrestrial protection. Freshwater protected areas are an essential component of biodiversity conservation programmes, but a systematic approach to their development in Australia has been slow, and hindered by incomplete ecosystem inventories at State and national levels. We examine this problem and suggest avenues for action. Further, while there is no shortage of relevant legislation and policy for protecting freshwater aquatic systems in Australia, some protective mechanisms have not yet been used, many years after their development. In some places "protection" has been only partially applied without regard to important issues of hydrologic connectivity ? with species extinction as a direct consequence. The most urgent priority is to identify those aquatic ecosystems most at risk. A comprehensive national assessment of the conservation status of freshwater ecosystems should be undertaken immediately. Such an assessment would provide both a platform and an impetus for the systematic expansion of the nation's freshwater protected areas. Political will is then essential for effective conservation, utilizing the plethora of conservation and management tools available.
5
Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, and Peter L. M. Goethals. "An Integrated Approach of Multi-Community Monitoring and Assessment of Aquatic Ecosystems to Support Sustainable Development." Sustainability 12, no. 14 (July 12, 2020): 5603. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12145603.
Full textAbstract:
Aquatic ecosystems are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world resulting in the decline of aquatic biodiversity. Monitoring and the assessment of aquatic ecosystems are necessary to protect and conserve these ecosystems as monitoring provides insights into the changes in the aquatic ecosystem over a long period of time and assessment indicates the status of these ecosystems. This paper presents an overview of different methods for the hydromorphological, physical–chemical and the biological monitoring and assessment of surface waters. Furthermore, recently developed monitoring and assessment methods are discussed to support sustainable water management and contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals 6 (SDG6 related to clean water and sanitation) and 15 (SDG15 related to terrestrial and freshwater systems) of the United Nations. However, many other SDGs are dependent on freshwater, such as food (e.g., SDG2) and climate-related SDGs. We presented an innovative concept for integrated monitoring and assessment. The main new elements are the monitoring of all communities and the use of integrated socio-environmental models to link these communities to ecosystem interactions and functions as a basis for determining their relation to the SDGs. Models can also allow to determine the effects of changes in SDGs on the different elements of the concept, and serve in this manner as tools for the selection of an optimal balance between the SDGs in the context of sustainable development.
6
Bervoets, Lieven, Marc Baillieul, Ronny Blust, Gudrun De Boeck, and Rudolf Verheyen. "Impact assessment of industrial effluents on freshwater ecosystems." Science of The Total Environment 134 (January 1993): 1123–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0048-9697(05)80116-0.
Full text
7
Alexeev, D. K., V. A. Shelutko, N. V. Zueva, E. V. Kolesnikova, E. S. Urusova, and E. A. Primak. "Research results in the field of applied and systems ecology at RSHU." HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND ECOLOGY. PROCEEDINGS OF THE RUSSIAN STATE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, no. 60 (2020): 306–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.33933/2074-2762-2020-60-306-324.
Full textAbstract:
The authors’ point of view on formation and development of applied ecology at RSHU is given. The article contains a brief overview of research results over the past 20 years in the field of applied ecology. The main directions of research of the Department of Applied and Systems Ecology are presented: consideration of features of environmental information during the processing of observation data, development of theory and methods of assessment of pollution in rivers and reservoirs, ecological and hydrometeorological problems of large cities and industrial areas, quality management of the urban environment, mathematical modeling of water body ecosystems, monitoring and assessment of the ecological status of marine ecosystems. The issues of international cooperation of the Department with foreign and Russian organizations are highlighted. One of the challenges that require making immediate decision in environment quality assessment is criterion selection for estimation the ecological condition, status or ambient quality standard. To solve this problem, it is proposed to use the method of integral assessment of the sustainability and health of marine and freshwater ecosystems, which can characterize the ecological status of the aquatic ecosystems as a whole. On the basis of synthesis of existing approaches to assessing the sustainability and ecosystem health, the choice of models and methods for their quantitative integral assessment is justified. An integral indicator of the sustainability of marine and freshwater ecosystems, as well as a training model-classification have been developed to calculate integral indices, which allow to classify various aquatic areas according to the classes of sustainability and ecosystem health. In addition, recommendations have been proposed to improve standard methods of water quality assessment based on hydrochemical data and to reduce environmental risk for sustainable development of urban areas.
8
Nel, J. L., E. Turak, S. Linke, and C. Brown. "Integration of environmental flow assessment and freshwater conservation planning: a new era in catchment management." Marine and Freshwater Research 62, no. 3 (2011): 290. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf09318.
Full textAbstract:
Integrated water resources management offers an ideal platform for addressing the goals of freshwater conservation and climate change adaptation. Environmental flow assessment and systematic conservation planning have evolved separately in respective aquatic and terrestrial realms, and both are central to freshwater conservation and can inform integrated water resources management. Integrating these two approaches is mutually beneficial. Environmental flow assessment considers dynamic flow regimes, measuring social, economic and ecological costs of development scenarios. Conservation planning systematically produces different conservation scenarios that can be used in assessing these costs. Integration also presents opportunities to examine impacts of climate change on conservation of freshwater ecosystems. We review progress in environmental flow assessment and freshwater conservation planning, exploring the mutual benefits of integration and potential ways that this can be achieved. Integration can be accomplished by using freshwater conservation planning outputs to develop conservation scenarios for assessment against different scenarios, and by assessing the extent to which each scenario achieves conservation targets. New tools that maximise complementarity by achieving conservation and flow targets simultaneously should also be developed.
9
Jenkins, K. M., R. T. Kingsford, G. P. Closs, B. J. Wolfenden, C. D. Matthaei, and S. E. Hay. "Climate change and freshwater ecosystems in Oceania: an assessment of vulnerability and adaptation opportunities." Pacific Conservation Biology 17, no. 3 (2011): 201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc110201.
Full textAbstract:
Human-forced climate change significantly threatens the world’s freshwater ecosystems, through projected changes to rainfall, temperature and sea level. We examined the threats and adaptation opportunities to climate change in a diverse selection of rivers and wetlands from Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands). We found common themes, but also important regional differences. In regulated floodplain rivers in dry regions (i.e. Australia), reduced flooding projected with climate change is a veneer on current losses, but impacts ramp up by 2070. Increasing drought threatens biota as the time between floods extends. Current measures addressing water allocations and dam management can be extended to adapt to climate change, with water buy-back and environmental flows critical. Freshwater wetlands along coastal Oceania are threatened by elevated salinity as sea level rises, potentially mitigated by levee banks. In mountainous regions of New Zealand, the biodiversity of largely pristine glacial and snow melt rivers is threatened by temperature increases, particularly endemic species. Australian snow melt rivers face similar problems, compounding impacts of hydro-electric schemes. Translocation of species and control of invasive species are the main adaptations. Changes to flow regime and rising water temperatures and sea levels are the main threats of climate change on freshwater ecosystems. Besides lowering emissions, reducing impacts of water consumption and protecting or restoring connectivity and refugia are key adaptations for conservation of freshwater ecosystems. Despite these clear imperatives, policy and management has been slow to respond, even in developed regions with significant resources to tackle such complex issues.
10
Barros, Juliana, and Sahadevan Seena. "Fungi in Freshwaters: Prioritising Aquatic Hyphomycetes in Conservation Goals." Water 14, no. 4 (February 16, 2022): 605. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14040605.
Full textAbstract:
Deprivation of protection for aquatic hyphomycetes is disturbing because they are key players in freshwater ecosystems across the globe. To attain a more holistic conservation paradigm for biodiversity in freshwaters, it is necessary to broaden our ecological perception of microfungi, mainly in aquatic hyphomycetes. A considerable groundwork still needs to be accomplished in progressing towards conserving aquatic hyphomycetes. Overcoming the paucity of information regarding the rare and endangered species, biogeography and above all, a global biodiversity database, would be a significant contribution in the initiation of an overarching conservation strategy for aquatic hyphomycetes. Being aware that the biodiversity decline in freshwaters is alarming, here we seek to explore why biodiversity data of aquatic hyphomycetes are missing. This article closely examines the threats to the biodiversity of aquatic hyphomycetes and freshwater ecosystems. Moving forward, we advocate a structured approach to gaining a thorough understanding to embrace aquatic hyphomycetes biodiversity into the conservation strategies. Including aquatic hyphomycetes in the conservation objectives may attract more funding opportunities for global surveys to initiate a fungal inclusive conservation era. Fungal conservation ventures can profit from interdisciplinary collaborations and cutting-edge science and technology, leading to informed decision making for biodiversity assessment and management.
11
Revenga, C., I. Campbell, R. Abell, P. de Villiers, and M. Bryer. "Prospects for monitoring freshwater ecosystems towards the 2010 targets." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 360, no. 1454 (February 28, 2005): 397–413. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2004.1595.
Full textAbstract:
Human activities have severely affected the condition of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Physical alteration, habitat loss, water withdrawal, pollution, overexploitation and the introduction of non-native species all contribute to the decline in freshwater species. Today, freshwater species are, in general, at higher risk of extinction than those in forests, grasslands and coastal ecosystems. For North America alone, the projected extinction rate for freshwater fauna is five times greater than that for terrestrial fauna—a rate comparable to the species loss in tropical rainforest. Because many of these extinctions go unseen, the level of assessment and knowledge of the status and trends of freshwater species are still very poor, with species going extinct before they are even taxonomically classified. Increasing human population growth and achieving the sustainable development targets set forth in 2002 will place even higher demands on the already stressed freshwater ecosystems, unless an integrated approach to managing water for people and ecosystems is implemented by a broad constituency. To inform and implement policies that support an integrated approach to water management, as well as to measure progress in halting the rapid decline in freshwater species, basin-level indicators describing the condition and threats to freshwater ecosystems and species are required. This paper discusses the extent and quality of data available on the number and size of populations of freshwater species, as well as the change in the extent and condition of natural freshwater habitats. The paper presents indicators that can be applied at multiple scales, highlighting the usefulness of using remote sensing and geographical information systems technologies to fill some of the existing information gaps. Finally, the paper includes an analysis of major data gaps and information needs with respect to freshwater species to measure progress towards the 2010 biodiversity targets.
12
Mierzejewska, Elzbieta, and Magdalena Urbaniak. "Molecular Methods as Potential Tools in Ecohydrological Studies on Emerging Contaminants in Freshwater Ecosystems." Water 12, no. 11 (October 22, 2020): 2962. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12112962.
Full textAbstract:
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) present a threat to the functioning of freshwater ecosystems. Their spread in the environment can affect both plant and animal health. Ecohydrology serves as a solution for assessment approaches (i.e., threat identification, ecotoxicological assessment, and cause–effect relationship analysis) and solution approaches (i.e., the elaboration of nature-based solutions: NBSs), mitigating the toxic effect of CECs. However, the wide array of potential molecular analyses are not fully exploited in ecohydrological research. Although the number of publications considering the application of molecular tools in freshwater studies has been steadily growing, no paper has reviewed the most prominent studies on the potential use of molecular technologies in ecohydrology. Therefore, the present article examines the role of molecular methods and novel omics technologies as essential tools in the ecohydrological approach to CECs management in freshwater ecosystems. It considers DNA, RNA and protein-level analyses intended to provide an overall view on the response of organisms to stress factors. This is compliant with the principles of ecohydrology, which emphasize the importance of multiple indicator measurements and correlation analysis in order to determine the effects of contaminants, their interaction with other environmental factors and their removal using NBS in freshwater ecosystems.
13
Bilous, L. "STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE NEEDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE." Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Geography, no. 73 (2019): 5–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.17721/1728-2721.2019.73.1.
Full textAbstract:
A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was considered as an environmental governance tool. The history of the development of the SEA and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were outlined. The EIA was considered as an environmental management tool. The role of the SEA is determined by its place in the decision-making process. The SEA can be used to assess a proposed policy, plan or programme (PPP) that has already been developed; or it can be used to develop, evaluate and modify a policy, plan or programme during its formulation. The legal framework for the SEA is defined by Directive 2001/42 / EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programs on the environment (SEA Directive). The SEA experience in Ukraine was analyzed. The reports of the SEAs of Development Strategies of Kremenchug, Gorishni Plavni and Dnipropetrovsk region were considered. The conclusion was made about the problems orientation of the Ukrainian SEAs. Inadequate attention to issues of comprehensive knowledge of the natural territorial organization, information inventory of natural resource potential of geosystems and ecosystem services are characterized by national SEAs. Inadequate attention to the issues of studying the natural organization of territories, inventory of natural resources potential of geosystems and ecosystem services are typical for the Ukraine SEAs. А concept of ecosystem services (ES) was proposed as a basis for the SEA. It is a scientific environment for the study of ecosystems, their service potential and socio-economic value. The history of the ES concept was considered in connection with the activities of the projects and programs. There are «Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA)», «The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (ТЕЕВ)», «Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES)». An overview of the ecosystem services classifications was proposed in the projects and programs. The methodology of identification of ES in the context of ecosystems for SEA was considered. Ecoregion was defined as an object of SEA and environmental governance. The review of the ecoregions of Ukraine was proposed. 12 ecoregions were defined as existing on the territory of Ukraine. The terrestrial ecoregions are represented by European mixed forests, the Eastern European forest steppe, Pontic steppe, Crimean Submediterranean forest complex, Carpathian montane forests, Pannonian mixed forests. The freshwater ecoregions are represented by Central & Western Europe, Dniester – Lower Danube, Dnieper – South Bug, Crimea Peninsula, Don. Marine ecoregion plays an important role in the nature protection system of Ukraine. This ecoregion is the Mediterranean Sea Ecoregion. The Black and Azov seas belong to its composition. WWF has identified a list of Global 200 that contains 238 ecoregions (142 terrestrial, 53 freshwaters, 43 marines) priority for the protection of their habitat diversity and biodiversity. More than half of these ecoregions are marked as endangered. The habitats of two ecoregions from the Global 200 list are in Ukraine. These are the habitats of the terrestrial ecoregion European-Mediterranean Montane Forests (the mountainous territories of the Crimean and Carpathian regions) and the freshwater ecoregion Danube River Delta.
14
Väänänen, Kristiina, Matti T. Leppänen, XuePing Chen, and Jarkko Akkanen. "Metal bioavailability in ecological risk assessment of freshwater ecosystems: From science to environmental management." Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 147 (January 2018): 430–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.08.064.
Full text
15
Gordon, Line, Michael Dunlop, and Barney Foran. "Land cover change and water vapour flows: learning from Australia." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences 358, no. 1440 (November 14, 2003): 1973–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2003.1381.
Full textAbstract:
Australia is faced with large–scale dryland salinization problems, largely as a consequence of the clearing of native vegetation for cropland and grassland. We estimate the change in continental water vapour flow (evapotranspiration) of Australia during the past 200 years. During this period there has been a substantial decrease in woody vegetation and a corresponding increase in croplands and grasslands. The shift in land use has caused a ca . 10% decrease in water vapour flows from the continent. This reduction corresponds to an annual freshwater flow of almost 340 km 3 . The society–induced alteration of freshwater flows is estimated at more than 15 times the volume of run–off freshwater that is diverted and actively managed in the Australian society. These substantial water vapour flow alterations were previously not addressed in water management but are now causing serious impacts on the Australian society and local economies. Global and continental freshwater assessments and policy often neglects the interplay between freshwater flows and landscape dynamics. Freshwater issues on both regional and global levels must be rethought and the interplay between terrestrial ecosystems and freshwater better incorporated in freshwater and ecosystem management.
16
Bayliss, P., C. M. Finlayson, J. Innes, A. Norman-López, R. Bartolo, A. Harford, N. E. Pettit, et al. "An integrated risk-assessment framework for multiple threats to floodplain values in the Kakadu Region, Australia, under a changing climate." Marine and Freshwater Research 69, no. 7 (2018): 1159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf17043.
Full textAbstract:
The internationally important river–floodplains of the Kakadu Region in northern Australia are at risk from invasive species and future sea-level rise–saltwater inundation (SLR–SWI), requiring assessments of multiple cumulative risks over different time frames. An integrated risk-assessment framework was developed to assess threats from feral animals and aquatic weeds at three SLR-scenario time frames (present-day, 2070 and 2100) to natural (magpie goose habitats), cultural (indigenous hunting–fishing sites) and economic (tourism revenue less invasive species control costs) values. Probability density functions (pdfs) were fitted to spatial data to characterise values and threats, and combined with Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analyses to account for uncertainties. All risks were integrated in a Bayesian belief network to undertake ‘what if’ management-scenario analyses, and incorporated known ecological interactions and uncertainties. Coastal landscapes and socio-ecological systems in the region will be very different by 2100 as a result of SLR; freshwater ecosystems will transform to marine-dominated ecosystems and cannot be managed back to analogue conditions. In this context, future invasive-species risks will decrease, reflecting substantial loss of freshwater habitats previously at risk and a reduction in the extent of invasive species, highlighting the importance of freshwater refugia for the survival of iconic species.
17
Finlayson, C. Max. "Wetland research and management in the Kakadu region of northern Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 69, no. 7 (2018): 1007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf18158.
Full textAbstract:
This paper provides an introduction to the ecological features that characterise the wetlands of the Kakadu region in northern Australia and places these in a wider context for other papers in a special issue that expands on these features. The special issue aims to (1) synthesise knowledge of the ecosystem process that underpins the management of the rivers and floodplains and (2) undertake an integrated assessment so as to evaluate alternative management responses in the face of an uncertain future. These aims are addressed in individual papers. The managerial and physical settings of the region are introduced before some of the previous wetland research is summarised and gaps in information considered. The gaps included an understanding of the relationship between the provision of ecosystem services and outcomes for water quality and biodiversity, and ecosystem and population dynamics of wetland biodiversity. In a conclusion, the occurrence and acceptance or management of invasive species is considered in terms of the emergence of novel ecosystems as a consequence of global change, in particular sea-level rise and anticipated transition of freshwater wetlands to saline conditions.
18
Chan, Joleen, Yiwen Zeng, and Darren C. J. Yeo. "Invasive species trait-based risk assessment for non-native freshwater fishes in a tropical city basin in Southeast Asia." PLOS ONE 16, no. 3 (March 16, 2021): e0248480. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248480.
Full textAbstract:
Biological invasions have created detrimental impacts in freshwater ecosystems. As non-native freshwater species include economically beneficial, but also harmful, species, trait-based risk assessments can be used to identify and prevent the import of potentially invasive species. Freshwater fishes are one of the most evaluated freshwater taxa to date. However, such assessments have mostly been done in sub-temperate to temperate regions, with a general lack of such research in the tropics. In view of this knowledge gap, this study aims to determine if a different set of traits are associated with successful establishment of non-native fishes within the tropics. In tropical Southeast Asia, Singapore represents a suitable model site to perform an invasive species trait-based risk assessment for the tropical region given its susceptibility to the introduction and establishment of non-native freshwater fishes and lack of stringent fish import regulation. A quantitative trait-based risk assessment was performed using random forest to determine the relative importance of species attributes associated with the successful establishment of introduced freshwater fishes in Singapore. Species having a match in climate, prior invasion success, lower absolute fecundity, higher trophic level, and involvement in the aquarium trade were found to have higher establishment likelihood (as opposed to native distributional range and maximum size being among the commonly identified predictors in subtropical/temperate trait-based risk assessments). To minimize invasive risk, incoming freshwater fishes could be screened in future for such traits, allowing lists of prohibited or regulated species to be updated. The findings could also potentially benefit the development of invasive species action plans and inform management decisions in the Southeast Asian region. Considering a geographical bias in terms of having relatively less documentation of biological invasions in the tropics, particularly Asia, this study highlights the need to perform more of such risk assessments in other parts of the tropics.
19
Pineda-Pineda, Jair J., C. T. Martínez-Martínez, J. A. Méndez-Bermúdez, Jesús Muñoz-Rojas, and José M. Sigarreta. "Application of Bipartite Networks to the Study of Water Quality." Sustainability 12, no. 12 (June 24, 2020): 5143. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12125143.
Full textAbstract:
Water is a basic natural resource for life and the sustainable development of society. Methods to assess water quality in freshwater ecosystems based on environmental quality bioindicators have proven to be low cost, reliable, and can be adapted to ecosystems with well-defined structures. The objective of this paper is to propose an interdisciplinary approach for the assessment of water quality in freshwater ecosystems through bioindicators. From the presence/absence of bioindicator organisms and their sensitivity/tolerance to environmental stress, we constructed a bipartite network, G. In this direction, we propose a new method that combines two research approaches, Graph Theory and Random Matrix Theory (RMT). Through the topological properties of the graph G, we introduce a topological index, called J P ( G ) , to evaluate the water quality, and we study its properties and relationships with known indices, such as Biological Monitoring Working Party ( B M W P ) and Shannon diversity ( H ′ ). Furthermore, we perform a scaling analysis of random bipartite networks with already specialized parameters for our case study. We validate our proposal for its application in the reservoir of Guájaro, Colombia. The results obtained allow us to infer that the proposed techniques are useful for the study of water quality, since they detect significant changes in the ecosystem.
20
Gebremedhin, Shewit, Stijn Bruneel, Abebe Getahun, Wassie Anteneh, and Peter Goethals. "Scientific Methods to Understand Fish Population Dynamics and Support Sustainable Fisheries Management." Water 13, no. 4 (February 23, 2021): 574. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13040574.
Full textAbstract:
Fisheries play a significant role in the livelihoods of the world population, while the dependence on fisheries is acute in developing countries. Fisheries are consequently a critical element for meeting the sustainable development (SDG) and FAO goals to reduce poverty, hunger and improve health and well-being. However, 90% of global marine fish stocks are fully or over-exploited. The amount of biologically unsustainable stocks increased from 10% in 1975 to 33% in 2015. Freshwater ecosystems are the most endangered ecosystems and freshwater fish stocks are worldwide in a state of crisis. The continuous fish stock decline indicates that the world is still far from achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water), FAO’s Blue Growth Initiative goal and SDG 15 (Life on Land, including freshwater systems). Failure to effectively manage world fish stocks can have disastrous effects on biodiversity and the livelihoods and socio-economic conditions of millions of people. Therefore, management strategies that successfully conserve the stocks and provide optimal sustainable yields are urgently needed. However, successful management is only possible when the necessary data are obtained and decision-makers are well informed. The main problem for the management of fisheries, particularly in developing countries, is the lack of information on the past and current status of the fish stocks. Sound data collection and validation methods are, therefore, important. Stock assessment models, which support sustainable fisheries, require life history traits as input parameters. In order to provide accurate estimates of these life history traits, standardized methods for otolith preparation and validation of the rate of growth zone deposition are essential. This review aims to assist researchers and fisheries managers, working on marine and freshwater fish species, in understanding concepts and processes related to stock assessment and population dynamics. Although most examples and case studies originate from developing countries in the African continent, the review remains of great value to many other countries.
21
Zhao, Zhongnan, and Tianzhu Zhang. "Ecological Risk Assessment of China's Freshwater Ecosystems Applying the Relative Risk Model: Toward an Ecosystem-Based Water Management in China." Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 19, no. 2 (March 4, 2013): 296–316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2012.683753.
Full text
22
Gray, Austin D., and Emily Bernhardt. "Are nitrogen and carbon cycle processes impacted by common stream antibiotics? A comparative assessment of single vs. mixture exposures." PLOS ONE 17, no. 1 (January 5, 2022): e0261714. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261714.
Full textAbstract:
A variety of antibiotics are ubiquitous in all freshwater ecosystems that receive wastewater. A wide variety of antibiotics have been developed to kill problematic bacteria and fungi through targeted application, and their use has contributed significantly to public health and livestock management. Unfortunately, a substantial fraction of the antibiotics applied to humans, pets and livestock end up in wastewater, and ultimately many of these chemicals enter freshwater ecosystems. The effect of adding chemicals that are intentionally designed to kill microbes, on freshwater microbial communities remains poorly understood. There are reasons to be concerned, as microbes play an essential role in nutrient uptake, carbon fixation and denitrification in freshwater ecosystems. Chemicals that reduce or alter freshwater microbial communities might reduce their capacity to degrade the excess nutrients and organic matter that characterize wastewater. We performed a laboratory experiment in which we exposed microbial community from unexposed stream sediments to three commonly detected antibiotics found in urban wastewater and urban streams (sulfamethoxazole, danofloxacin, and erythromycin). We assessed how the form and concentration of inorganic nitrogen, microbial carbon, and nitrogen cycling processes changed in response to environmentally relevant doses (10 μg/L) of each of these antibiotics individually and in combination. We expected to find that all antibiotics suppressed rates of microbial mineralization and nitrogen transformations and we anticipated that this suppression of microbial activity would be greatest in the combined treatment. Contrary to our expectations we measured few significant changes in microbially mediated functions in response to our experimental antibiotic dosing. We found no difference in functional gene abundance of key nitrogen cycling genes nosZ, mcrA, nirK, and amoA genes, and we measured no treatment effects on NO3- uptake or N2O, N2, CH4, CO2 production over the course of our seven-day experiment. In the mixture treatment, we measured significant increases in NH4+ concentrations over the first 24 hours of the experiment, which were indistinguishable from controls within six hours. Our results suggest remarkable community resistance to pressure antibiotic exposure poses on naïve stream sediments.
23
Saha, Amartya K., Japhet Kashaigili, Fredrick Mashingia, Halima Kiwango, Mercy Asha Mohamed, Michael Kimaro, Mathias Msafiri Igulu, et al. "Determination of Environmental Flows in Data-Poor Estuaries—Wami River Estuary in Saadani National Park, Tanzania." Hydrology 10, no. 2 (January 23, 2023): 33. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10020033.
Full textAbstract:
Land use changes and mounting water demands reduce freshwater inflows into estuaries, impairing estuarine ecosystems and accelerating coastal seawater intrusion. However, determining minimum river inflows for management guidelines is hampered by a lack of ecosystem-flow link data. This study describes the development of freshwater inflow guidelines for the Wami Estuary, combining scarce river flow data, hydrological modeling, inferring natural salinity regime from vegetation zonation and investigating freshwater requirements of people/wildlife. By adopting the Building Blocks Methodology, a detailed Environmental Flows Assessment was performed to know the minimum water depth/quality seasonal requirements for vegetation, terrestrial/aquatic wildlife and human communities. Water depth requirements were assessed for drought and normal rainfall years; corresponding discharges were obtained by a hydrological model (HEC-RAS) developed for the river channel upstream of estuary. Recommended flows were well within historically occurring flows. However, given the rapidly increasing water demand coupled with reduction in basin water storage due to deforestation/wetland loss, it is critical to ensure these minimum flows are present, without which essential ecosystem services (fisheries, water quality, mangrove forest resources and wildlife/tourism) will be jeopardized. The EFA process is described in painstaking detail to provide a reference for undertaking similar studies in data-poor regions worldwide.
24
Simonov, Nikitina, and Egidarev. "Freshwater Ecosystems versus Hydropower Development: Environmental Assessments and Conservation Measures in the Transboundary Amur River Basin." Water 11, no. 8 (July 29, 2019): 1570. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11081570.
Full textAbstract:
Hydropower development causes a multitude of negative effects on freshwater ecosystems, and to prevent and minimize possible damage, environmental impact assessments must be conducted and optimal management scenarios designed. This paper examines the impacts of both existing and proposed hydropower development on the transboundary Amur River basin shared by Russia, China, and Mongolia, including the effectiveness of different tools and measures to minimize damage. It demonstrates that the application of various assessment and conservation tools at the proper time and in the proper sequence is the key factor in mitigating and minimizing the environmental impacts of dams. The tools considered include basin-wide assessments of hydropower impacts, the creation of protected areas on rivers threatened by dam construction, and environmental flows. The results of this work show how the initial avoidance and mitigation of hydropower impacts at early planning stages are more productive than the application of any measures during and after dam construction, that the assessment of hydropower impacts must be performed at a basin level rather than be limited to a project implementation site, and that the full spectrum of possible development scenarios should be considered. In addition, this project demonstrates that stakeholder analysis and robust public engagement are as crucial for the success of environmental assessments as scientific research is for the protection of river basins.
25
Harmon, Thomas C., Robyn L. Smyth, Sudeep Chandra, Daniel Conde, Ramesh Dhungel, Jaime Escobar, Natalia Hoyos, et al. "Socioeconomic and Environmental Proxies for Comparing Freshwater Ecosystem Service Threats across International Sites: A Diagnostic Approach." Water 10, no. 11 (November 4, 2018): 1578. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w10111578.
Full textAbstract:
In this work, we develop and test proxy-based diagnostic tools for comparing freshwater ecosystem services (FWES) risks across an international array of freshwater ecosystems. FWES threats are increasing rapidly under pressure from population, climate change, pollution, land use change, and other factors. We identified spatially explicit FWES threats estimates (referred to as threat benchmarks) and extracted watershed-specific values for an array of aquatic ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere (Ramsar sites). We compared these benchmark values to values extracted for sites associated with an international FWES threat investigation. The resulting benchmark threats appeared to provide a meaningful context for the diagnostic assessment of study site selection by revealing gaps in coverage of the underlying socio-environmental problem. In an effort to simplify the method, we tested regularly updated environmental and socioeconomic metrics as potential proxies for the benchmark threats using regression analysis. Three category proxies, aggregated from (i) external (global to regional, climate-related), (ii) internal (watershed management-related), and (iii) socioeconomic and governance related proxies produced strong relationships with water supply threat benchmarks, but only weak relationships with biodiversity-related and nutrient regulation benchmark threats. Our results demonstrate the utility of advancing global FWES status and threat benchmarks for organizing coordinated research efforts and prioritizing decisions with regard to international socio-environmental problems.
26
Borrelle, Stephanie B., Jeremy Ringma, Kara Lavender Law, Cole C. Monnahan, Laurent Lebreton, Alexis McGivern, Erin Murphy, et al. "Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution." Science 369, no. 6510 (September 17, 2020): 1515–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aba3656.
Full textAbstract:
Plastic pollution is a planetary threat, affecting nearly every marine and freshwater ecosystem globally. In response, multilevel mitigation strategies are being adopted but with a lack of quantitative assessment of how such strategies reduce plastic emissions. We assessed the impact of three broad management strategies, plastic waste reduction, waste management, and environmental recovery, at different levels of effort to estimate plastic emissions to 2030 for 173 countries. We estimate that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems. Considering the ambitious commitments currently set by governments, annual emissions may reach up to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030. To reduce emissions to a level well below this prediction, extraordinary efforts to transform the global plastics economy are needed.
27
Liu, Qi, Yun Zhang, Han Wu, Fengwen Liu, Wei Peng, Xiaonan Zhang, Fengqin Chang, Ping Xie, and Hucai Zhang. "A Review and Perspective of eDNA Application to Eutrophication and HAB Control in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems." Microorganisms 8, no. 3 (March 16, 2020): 417. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8030417.
Full textAbstract:
Changing ecological communities in response to anthropogenic activities and climate change has become a worldwide problem. The eutrophication of waterbodies in freshwater and seawater caused by the effects of human activities and nutrient inputs could result in harmful algae blooms (HABs), decreases water quality, reductions in biodiversity and threats to human health. Rapid and accurate monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems are imperative. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis using high-throughput sequencing has been demonstrated to be an effective and sensitive assay for detecting and monitoring single or multiple species in different samples. In this study, we review the potential applications of eDNA approaches in controlling and mitigating eutrophication and HABs in freshwater and marine ecosystems. We use recent studies to highlight how eDNA methods have been shown to be a useful tool for providing comprehensive data in studies of eutrophic freshwater and marine environments. We also provide perspectives on using eDNA techniques to reveal molecular mechanisms in biological processes and mitigate eutrophication and HABs in aquatic ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the feasible applications of eDNA for monitoring biodiversity, surveying species communities and providing instructions for the conservation and management of the environment by integration with traditional methods and other advanced techniques.
28
Velez, Maria, Daniel Conde, Juan Lozoya, James Rusak, Felipe García-Rodríguez, Carina Seitz, Thomas Harmon, Gerardo Perillo, Jaime Escobar, and Sandra Vilardy. "Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions Improve Ecosystem Services Risk Assessment: Case Studies from Two Coastal Lagoons in South America." Water 10, no. 10 (September 28, 2018): 1350. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w10101350.
Full textAbstract:
Paleoenvironmental reconstructions are increasingly being used in conservation biology, ecosystem management, and evaluations of ecosystem services (ES), but their potential to contribute to the ES risk assessment process has not been explored. We propose that the long-term history of the ecosystem provides valuable information that augments and strengthens an ES risk assessment and that it should be considered routinely when undertaking risk assessments. We adjusted a standard ecosystem-based risk management (EBRM) protocol to include paleoenvironmental data, and tested the modified approach on two coastal lagoons in South America. Paleolimnological reconstructions in both lagoons indicate that salinity and nutrients (in Laguna de Rocha), and salinity (in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta), as controlled by hydrologic connectivity with the ocean and freshwater tributaries, have been the key variables behind ecosystem’s function. This understanding, applied to inform various components and steps in the EBRM protocol, suggests that the maintenance of hydrological connections should be a management priority to minimize risk to ES. This work illustrates the utility of including paleoenvironmental data in an EBRM context and highlights the need for a more holistic approach to risk management by incorporating the long-term history of ecosystem function.
29
Fierro, Pablo, Claudio Valdovinos, Ivan Arismendi, Gustavo Díaz, Margarita Ruiz De Gamboa, and Loretto Arriagada. "Assessment of anthropogenic threats to Chilean Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems: Literature review and expert opinions." Environmental Impact Assessment Review 77 (July 2019): 114–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2019.02.010.
Full text
30
Tang, Dehao, Xingjian Liu, Xutao Wang, and Kedong Yin. "Relationship between the Main Communities and Environments of an Urban River and Reservoir: Considering Integrated Structural and Functional Assessments of Ecosystems." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 10 (October 19, 2018): 2302. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102302.
Full textAbstract:
Rivers and reservoirs in urban areas have been associated with environmental quality problems because of the discharge of domestic waste into water bodies. However, the key effects and the extent to which environmental factors can influence the integrated structure and function of urban river ecosystems remain largely unknown. Here, a relationship model involving the species composition of the community and the various environmental factors related to the water and sediment was developed in the dry season (N) and the flood season (F) in both the urban Jiaomen River (JR) and the Baihuitian Reservoir (BR) of Guangzhou City. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to determine the spatiotemporal drivers of the phytoplankton, zooplankton and macrobenthic communities in the river and reservoir systems. The combination of the thermodynamic-oriented ecological indicators and the biodiversity measures reflected the integrated structure and function of the ecosystems. Overall, the plankton community composition was found to be largely determined by the nutrient concentrations and oxygen index, and the development of the macrobenthic communities was mainly restricted by organic matter and heavy metals. Based on the results of the integrated assessment, the structure and function of the JR ecosystem were superior to that of the BR, and the F period displayed healthier results than the N period. Moreover, the structural and functional statuses of the high eco-exergy grade communities (macrobenthic communities) in the ecosystem influenced the regional changes observed in the results of the integrated assessment. The significant seasonal variations in the plankton community affected the seasonal variations in the integrated assessment. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the management and restoration of regional freshwater environments and ecosystems.
31
Hassanzadeh, Elmira. "Trade-Offs between Human and Environment: Challenges for Regional Water Management under Changing Conditions." Water 11, no. 9 (August 26, 2019): 1773. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11091773.
Full textAbstract:
Water resource systems are under unprecedented pressure mainly due to rapid socio-economic growth, weak water and land management decisions, as well as variability and change in climate conditions. These pressures have disrupted the functionality of freshwater ecosystems and have generated water management challenges in various regions across the globe. Here, we showcase the potential trade-offs in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, between upstream human activities and downstream environmental needs under changing water availability conditions. We showed that an increase in irrigation areas can boost provincial economy but alter timing, magnitude and rhythmicity of the peak flows reaching downstream ecosystems. This indicates that the business as usual management might not be able to handle such emerging challenges. To improve water management, we argue that there is a need to better represent the dynamic interactions between human water use and water quantity and quality conditions and their influence on ecosystems. In addition, impact assessment frameworks need to be improved to better identify system vulnerabilities under changing natural and anthropogenic conditions. Moreover, due to the key role of stakeholders in adopting land and water management decisions, their viewpoints need to be understood and included in management decisions.
32
Petkova, Gergana, Hristina Prodanova, and Vanya Stoycheva. "Analysis of the national ecosystem database of Bulgaria: (Mis)matches with the MAES framework." Journal of the Bulgarian Geographical Society 47 (December 30, 2022): 73–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jbgs.e99268.
Full textAbstract:
The mapping of ecosystems is a significant element in the European Biodiversity Strategy and the results of its implementation should support the maintenance and restoration of ecosystems and their services. The quality of the spatial data is of crucial importance for the achievement of these goals. A methodological framework for Bulgaria in the form of nine separate methodologies has been developed in recent years. In this paper, we analyze the ecosystem typology for Bulgaria and the GIS database to assess the possibilities to develop a common database for the needs of integrated water management. The data analyses were carried out in two dimensions: 1) the typology and attributive data were analyzed by cross-tabular approach; and 2) the spatial data were analyzed by topology rules. The results of the study reveal three main problems of the typology: 1) for some types it is developed to the fourth level while for others it is to the third level; 2) in some of the ecosystem types, especially in the freshwater ecosystems, different categories are mixed within a single hierarchical level; 3: there are duplicated numerical designations between grassland and forest ecosystems. This necessitates a revision of the typology and the development of a correct uniform classification to be used for the needs of integrated assessment. The topology analyses of the merged data from the eight ecosystem GIS layers show extremely large numbers of gaps and overlaps. The main reason is the use of different sources for the mapping of different ecosystem types. The main conclusion is that it is practically impossible to generate topologically correct integrated GIS layers from the eight ecosystem type layers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new approach for mapping all ecosystem types into a uniform database.
33
Davis, Mathew, Chris McCarthy, and Karen Beazley. "A risk assessment for the introduction of invasive fish for Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Canada." Marine and Freshwater Research 68, no. 7 (2017): 1292. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf16069.
Full textAbstract:
Recent research has highlighted the need for invasive species risk assessments that consider multiple factors, such as habitat suitability and life history. With invasive species encroaching on the boundary of Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (Kejimkujik), Canada, there is concern surrounding the potential ecological effects on the Park’s freshwater ecosystems. Herein we present a multifactor risk analysis for the risks of introduction of two invasive species, smallmouth bass and chain pickerel. Methods included computer-based analysis of cost–distance and habitat suitability, and a literature-based review of management techniques. Smallmouth bass were found to have a high risk of establishment and consequent ecological effects in Kejimkujik. Although chain pickerel can also negatively affect aquatic communities, their separation from the Park’s primary watershed and low dispersal ability resulted in lower levels of risk. Four recommendations were developed following a review of management techniques: (1) containment of the source population for smallmouth bass; (2) public education, outreach and communication; (3) monitoring and rapid response upon detection; and (4) collaboration with other parties. Although the present study focused on Kejimkujik, similar challenges for invasive freshwater fish assessment and mitigation exist elsewhere, and our methods may prove illustrative for researchers and managers working under similar conditions.
34
Ewers Lewis, Carolyn J., Mary A. Young, Daniel Ierodiaconou, Jeffrey A. Baldock, Bruce Hawke, Jonathan Sanderman, Paul E. Carnell, and Peter I. Macreadie. "Drivers and modelling of blue carbon stock variability in sediments of southeastern Australia." Biogeosciences 17, no. 7 (April 16, 2020): 2041–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2041-2020.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. Tidal marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows are important global carbon (C) sinks, commonly referred to as coastal “blue carbon”. However, these ecosystems are rapidly declining with little understanding of what drives the magnitude and variability of C associated with them, making strategic and effective management of blue C stocks challenging. In this study, our aims were threefold: (1) identify ecological, geomorphological, and anthropogenic variables associated with 30 cm deep sediment C stock variability in blue C ecosystems in southeastern Australia, (2) create a predictive model of 30 cm deep sediment blue C stocks in southeastern Australia, and (3) map regional 30 cm deep sediment blue C stock magnitude and variability. We had the unique opportunity to use a high-spatial-density C stock dataset of sediments to 30 cm deep from 96 blue C ecosystems across the state of Victoria, Australia, integrated with spatially explicit environmental data to reach these aims. We used an information theoretic approach to create, average, validate, and select the best averaged general linear mixed effects model for predicting C stocks across the state. Ecological drivers (i.e. ecosystem type or ecological vegetation class) best explained variability in C stocks, relative to geomorphological and anthropogenic drivers. Of the geomorphological variables, distance to coast, distance to freshwater, and slope best explained C stock variability. Anthropogenic variables were of least importance. Our model explained 46 % of the variability in 30 cm deep sediment C stocks, and we estimated over 2.31 million Mg C stored in the top 30 cm of sediments in coastal blue C ecosystems in Victoria, 88 % of which was contained within four major coastal areas due to the extent of blue C ecosystems (∼87 % of total blue C ecosystem area). Regionally, these data can inform conservation management, paired with assessment of other ecosystem services, by enabling identification of hotspots for protection and key locations for restoration efforts. We recommend these methods be tested for applicability to other regions of the globe for identifying drivers of sediment C stock variability and producing predictive C stock models at scales relevant for resource management.
35
Ostfeld, Avi, Stefano Barchiesi, Matthijs Bonte, Carol R. Collier, Katharine Cross, Geoff Darch, Tracy A. Farrell, et al. "Climate change impacts on river basin and freshwater ecosystems: some observations on challenges and emerging solutions." Journal of Water and Climate Change 3, no. 3 (September 1, 2012): 171–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2012.006.
Full textAbstract:
Despite uncertainty pertaining to methods, assumptions and input data of climate change models, most models point towards a trend of an increasing frequency of flooding and drought events. How these changes reflect water management decisions and what can be done to minimize climate change impacts remains unclear. This paper summarizes and extends the workshop outcomes on ‘Climate Change Impacts on Watershed Management: Challenges and Emerging Solutions’ held at the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Montréal, 2010, hosted by the IWA Watershed and River Basin Management Specialist Group. The paper discusses climate change impacts on water management of freshwater ecosystems and river basins, and illustrates these with three case studies. It is demonstrated through the case studies that engagement of relevant stakeholders is needed early in the process of building environmental flows and climate change decision-making tools, to result in greater buy-in to decisions made, create new partnerships, and help build stronger water management institutions. New alliances are then created between water managers, policy makers, community members, and scientists. This has been highlighted by the demonstration of the Pangani integrated environmental flow assessment, through the Okavango River Basin case study, and in the more participatory governance approach proposed for the Delaware River Basin.
36
Terekhova, Vera A., Kirit Wadhia, Elena V. Fedoseeva, and Pavel V. Uchanov. "Bioassay standardization issues in freshwater ecosystem assessment: test cultures and test conditions." Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, no. 419 (2018): 32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/kmae/2018015.
Full textAbstract:
The use of bioassays for environment contamination assessment, in particular for aquatic ecosystems, has gained topicality and found extensive applications over the past decades. The methodologies are well established, but the standardization of bioassay conditions needs to be better defined in order to assure applicability as an efficient analytic tool and that results are ecologically relevant. This paper addresses the analysis of the current international situation and the specifics of Russian practice in culturing and use of test organisms for freshwater bioassays. Standardization of bioassays calls for the utilisation of pertinent sources of test cultures and the provision of appropriate cultivation conditions. The paper discusses and reviews recommendations for the selection of test species and their culturing in the context of established ecotoxicological targets and the assessment of sensitivity to various reference toxicants. The significance of the quality of water utilized for test cultures and sample dilution is highlighted. Strict water quality requirements and synthetic media options are analyzed and due consideration is given to temperature and illumination conditions. Toxkit microbiotests are discussed as an alternative to toxicity bioassays alleviating the need for continuous stock test culturing and maintenance.
37
Fernandez-Gatell, Marta, Xavier Sanchez-Vila, and Jaume Puigagut. "Power assisted MFC-based biosensor for continuous assessment of microbial activity and biomass in freshwater ecosystems." Science of The Total Environment 833 (August 2022): 155165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155165.
Full text
38
Kholodkevich, Sergey V., Tatyana V. Kuznetsova, Maxim P. Kirin, Ilya S. Smirnov, Olga A. Rudakova, Vasiliy A. Lyubimtsev, Alexandra B. Manvelova, Olga N. Susloparova, Vladimir V. Perelygin, and Olga A. Sakharova. "Bioindication of the ecological state (health) of coastal waters based on the use of automatic bioelectronic systems." Pharmacy Formulas 2, no. 3 (October 9, 2020): 64–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.17816/phf46438.
Full textAbstract:
The paper presents the data obtained in the study of the health of the ecosystems in a number of recreational areas of the Black Sea and the Eastern Gulf of Finland. Prompt assessment of the health of the ecosystems was carried out by testing the health of adult bivalve mollusks inhabiting them, using the functional load method based on the analysis of their heart rate measured by a fiber-optic bioelectronic system. The goal of the study is to test the innovative bioindication technology developed earlier by the authors on the basis of the above-mentioned method in the regional programs for environmental monitoring of the ecosystems of coastal marine and freshwater recreational water areas (using the example of a number of water areas of Sevastopol, as well as several freshwater areas of the Kurortniy District of St. Petersburg. It has been established that the functional state of mollusks may serve as an indicator of excessive pollution of coastal waters by the objects that discharge insufficiently treated wastewater from their local treatment facilities, including household wastewater. The technology applied in this study for the assessment of functional state of local species of molluscs may be effectively used to solve the problems of early diagnostics of alterations in the health status of coastal aquatic ecosystems and contribute to ensuring the ecological safety of recreational water areas, serving as an infobase for the development of science-based environmental management decisions. Taking into account a high expressiveness and easy-to-use technology applied in the study (which does not require expertise for its practical implementation), this technology may be considered as the best available technology for biomonitoring the water quality of recreational waters in Russia.
39
Bonada, Núria, Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles, Francesc Gallart, Daniel von Schiller, Pau Fortuño, Jérôme Latron, Pilar Llorens, et al. "Conservation and Management of Isolated Pools in Temporary Rivers." Water 12, no. 10 (October 15, 2020): 2870. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12102870.
Full textAbstract:
Temporary rivers are characterized by shifting habitats between flowing, isolated pools, and dry phases. Despite the fact that temporary rivers are currently receiving increasing attention by researchers and managers, the isolated pools phase has been largely disregarded. However, isolated pools in temporary rivers are transitional habitats of major ecological relevance as they support aquatic ecosystems during no-flow periods, and can act as refugees for maintaining local and regional freshwater biodiversity. Pool characteristics such as surface water permanence and size, presence of predators, local physicochemical conditions, time since disconnection from the river flow, or distance to other freshwater habitats challenge a comprehensive understanding of the ecology of these habitats, and challenge ecological quality assessments and conservation practices in temporary rivers. In this paper, we aim at providing a characterization of isolated pools from a hydrological, geomorphological, physicochemical, biogeochemical, and biological point of view as a framework to better conceptualize, conserve, and manage these habitats.
40
Piczak, Morgan L., Jill L. Brooks, Brittany Bard, Christian J. Bihun, Andrew Howarth, Amanda L. Jeanson, Luc LaRochelle, et al. "Revisiting the challenge: perspectives on Canada’s freshwater fisheries policies three decades after the Pearse Report." FACETS 7 (January 1, 2022): 912–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/facets-2021-0145.
Full textAbstract:
A seminal report by Peter H. Pearse (1988; Rising to the Challenge: A New Policy for Canada’s Freshwater Fisheries, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ottawa) outlined 62 policy recommendations focused on the management of Canada’s inland fisheries. Over three decades later, freshwater ecosystems and inland fisheries in Canada are still facing similar challenges with many emerging ones that could not have been foreseen. Here, we reflect on the contemporary relevance of the Pearse Report and propose recommendations that policy makers should consider. Broadly, our recommendations are: (1) manage fishes, fisheries, and habitat using a holistic co-management framework, with clearly defined fishery jurisdictions and partnerships with Indigenous governments; (2) engage in transparent, inclusive, and agile research to support decision-making; (3) facilitate knowledge co-production, involving interdisciplinary projects with diverse groups of actors and sectors including Indigenous Peoples, anglers, policy makers, scientists/researchers, governments, and the public; (4) embrace technological advances to support freshwater fisheries stock assessment and management; and (5) align policy and management activities in Canada with global initiatives related to increasing the sustainability of inland fisheries. We advocate for an updated comprehensive report such as the Pearse Report to ensure that we embrace robust, inclusive, and sustainable management strategies and policies for Canada’s inland fisheries for the next 30 years. It is time to again rise to the challenge.
41
Daam, Michiel A., and Paul J. Van den Brink. "Implications of differences between temperate and tropical freshwater ecosystems for the ecological risk assessment of pesticides." Ecotoxicology 19, no. 1 (August 25, 2009): 24–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10646-009-0402-6.
Full text
42
Meisch, Claude, Uta Schirpke, Lisa Huber, Johannes Rüdisser, and Ulrike Tappeiner. "Assessing Freshwater Provision and Consumption in the Alpine Space Applying the Ecosystem Service Concept." Sustainability 11, no. 4 (February 21, 2019): 1131. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11041131.
Full textAbstract:
A key challenge in the sustainable management of freshwater is related to non-stationary processes and transboundary requirements. The assessment of freshwater is often hampered due to small-scale analyses, lacking data and with the focus on only its provision. Based on the ecosystem service (ES) concept, this study aims at quantitatively comparing potential water supply with the demand for freshwater in the European Alps and their surrounding lowlands. We propose an easy-to-use combination of different mapping approaches, including a large-scale hydrologic model to estimate water supply and the downscaling of regional data to the local scale to map demand. Our results demonstrate spatial mismatches between supply and demand and a high dependency of the densely populated lowlands from water providing mountain areas. Under expected climate variations and future demographic changes, our results suggest increasing pressures on freshwater in the south of the Alps. Hence, sustainable water management strategies need to assure the supply of freshwater under changing environmental conditions to meet the increasing water demand of urbanized areas in the lowlands. Moreover, national water management strategies need to be optimally concerted at the international level, as transboundary policies and frameworks can strengthen future water provision.
43
Cabral-Lares, Magaly, Marusia Rentería-Villalobos, Aurora Mendieta-Mendoza, Ziury Ortíz-Caballero, Elena Montero-Cabrera, and Ignacio Vioque. "Partitioning and Availability of Metals from Water Suspended Sediments: Potential Pollution Risk Assessment." Water 14, no. 6 (March 20, 2022): 980. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14060980.
Full textAbstract:
The water management initiatives in freshwater systems focus on water availability to preserve this resource for human uses and the health of aquatic ecosystems. This work presents an assessment of the potential pollution risk caused by the metal availability in suspended sediments. The objective of this study was to determine the partitioning, association, and geochemical fractionation of metals in suspended sediments from a surface water body. Additionally, the environmental assessment for this reservoir was estimated using geoaccumulation, enrichment, and pollution indices of metals and the related potential risk by their elemental availability (RAC). Chemical, mineralogical, and morphological characterizations were obtained by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry, alpha spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and scanning electron microscopy. Clay, quartz, montmorillonite, and calcite were the main minerals of suspended sediments. Chemical fractionation was the parameter affecting the concentrations of metals in suspended sediments. The sediment composition is of natural origin; however, these finer particles can promote the scavenging of toxic metals. It contributes to obtaining moderate to high levels for enrichment/contamination indices. Although Ca, Mg, and U were the most accessible metals for aquatic biota, metals such as Sr, Mn, Li, Cu, and Ni in the exchangeable phase of suspended sediments are the potentially toxic elements in this aquatic ecosystem.
44
John, Andrew, Rory Nathan, Avril Horne, Michael Stewardson, and J. Angus Webb. "How to incorporate climate change into modelling environmental water outcomes: a review." Journal of Water and Climate Change 11, no. 2 (March 23, 2020): 327–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2020.263.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Environmental water represents a key resource in managing freshwater ecosystems against pervasive threats. The impacts of climate change add further pressures to environmental water management, yet anticipating these impacts through modelling approaches remains challenging due to the complexities of the climate, hydrological and ecological systems. In this paper, we review the challenges posed by each of these three areas. Large uncertainties in predicting climatic changes and non-stationarities in hydrological and ecological responses make anticipating impacts difficult. In addition, a legacy of relying on modelling approaches informed by historic dependencies in environmental water science may confound the prediction of ecological responses when extrapolating under novel conditions. We also discuss applying ecohydrological methods to support decision-making and review applications of bottom-up climate impact assessments (specifically eco-engineering decision scaling) to freshwater ecosystems. These approaches offer a promising way of incorporating climatic uncertainty and balancing competing environmental objectives, but some practical challenges remain in their adoption for modelling environmental water outcomes under climate change.
45
Singh, Atul K. "State of aquatic invasive species in tropical India: An overview." Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 24, no. 2 (April 1, 2021): 13–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.14321/aehm.024.02.05.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract India, a megadiverse tropical country is grappling with the rising trend of aquatic invasions. Out of 532 introduced non-native fish, 16 species of freshwater aquaculture and aquarium were assessed invasive by using a risk assessment protocol, ‘Fish Invasiveness Screening Test’. Six major identified invasion pathways of the aquatic invasive species were inadvertent or deliberate releases, escapes, contaminants from hatcheries, river corridors, stowaways and unaided introductions. Invasion mechanism further elucidated the factors promoting successful invasion in freshwater ecosystems. For predictive future performance of invasive fish, the concrete and predictive values based on mean abundance by weight was calculated. Over 28.67% and 29.02 % persistent increased yield of the invasive Tilapia and Common Carp respectively was predicted in the Ganga river in the coming decades. Single species Tilapia invasion facilitated multiple species fish invasion, manifesting in invasion meltdown. The trophic changes due to fish invasion exhibited biotic homogenization with trophic downgrading. Aquatic invasive species were found highly competitive interacting with native species causing serious biodiversity loss, health hazards, and economic damage consequently affecting the ecosystem services. In spite of available regulatory approaches and guidelines to manage aquatic invasive species, fish invasion has been on the rise. This paper suggests modifications and stringent implementation of the existing regulatory mechanisms besides adopting linkages, cutting-edge research on invasion science and modern molecular containment tools for effective management.
46
Pittock, Jamie, and Joerg Hartmann. "Taking a second look: climate change, periodic relicensing and improved management of dams." Marine and Freshwater Research 62, no. 3 (2011): 312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf09302.
Full textAbstract:
Dams affect rivers and other freshwater ecosystems around the world. The structural performance and service delivery of many dams has seldom been assessed; many are unsafe and no longer deliver designed benefits. Changes in hydrology from climate change will require assessment of safety and operations of infrastructure. This creates an opportunity during relicensing for modification or removal of dams to render them safe, maximise their services and minimise social and environmental impacts. We examined case studies of reassessment of dams from Australia (New South Wales), China, France and the United States that illustrated the following: the management challenge of aging and unsafe dams; unrealised opportunities to improve environmental, social and economic benefits; and the benefits of inventory and relicensing systems. Key elements of an ideal regulatory system to optimise water infrastructure performance are identified, comprising periodic (time-limited) relicensing of all infrastructure overseen by an independent regulatory agency that would take decisions in the public interest through a transparent process, involving public participation. Each dam would have an identified owner who must apply best-available technologies to maximise safety, socioeconomic and environmental performance. Dam renovation could minimise current non-climate impacts, improve migration of aquatic wildlife and even attenuate some climate impacts on freshwater biota.
47
Carosi, Antonella. "Effects of Climate Change on Freshwater Biodiversity." Water 14, no. 23 (December 5, 2022): 3953. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14233953.
Full textAbstract:
This Special Issue intended to collect articles focusing on the assessment of the possible effects of climate changes on aquatic species inhabiting inland waters all over the world, including the possible synergistic effects in combination with other anthropogenic stressors. A total of six original articles were published that report on investigations of different freshwater ecosystems across the world, including the mountain streams of the Western United States and Northwest Italy, river basins of Northwest China and Central Italy, a larger lowland river in north Italy, and a high-elevation temporary pond in Central Italy. In most of these papers, special attention was devoted to the repercussions of the climate change and its effects on three important components of the biotic community: the fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and zooplankton. According to the aims of this Special Issue, three of the articles offer new insight into the synergistic effects of global warming together with other anthropogenic stressors, including water exploitation and alien species invasions. In light of the studies’ aim to highlight the effects of climate change, three papers provided analyses of environmental data collected through long-term monitoring. The scientific findings provided by these studies could help to create sound management strategies for freshwater biodiversity conservation.
48
Mitryasova, O. P., V. D. Pohrebennyk, O. S. Petrov, Ye M. Bezsonov, and V. M. Smyrnov. "Environmental water security policy in the EU, Ukraine and other developing countries." Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu, no. 2 (2021): 125–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.33271/nvngu/2021-2/125.
Full textAbstract:
Purpose. To determine the key principles of environmental security of aquatic ecosystems in the context of sustainable use of natural resources and socio-economic development. Methodology. Comparative analysis and systematic approach. Findings. Principal aspects of water resources management in the states of the world are analyzed in the context of the provisions of the sustainable development concept. Comparison of countries with different levels of development has allowed identifying key methodological provisions that are implemented in the environmental policy ofwater. An approach to determination of the limiting indices of the impact on the environment is proposed. It was revealed that most post-Soviet countries do not use the concept of ecological system and ecosystem services in their legislative framework, which today are an integral part of the environmental policy and legislation of developed countries. The basic principles of the ecological safety of aquatic ecosystems are as follows: a water body (surface or underground ones) is a complex, functionally integrated and self-regulating ecological system. It cannot be considered as a volume with a resource for biological and amenity needs; priority in the water use should be given to the living components that exist in it and ensure its functional integrity. Any aquatic ecosystem should be economically assessed not only in terms of available water resources, but also considering other ecosystem services, particularly, the diversity of its biotic components. All these principles and the approach presented, if introduced into domestic legislation, will allow achieving progress in the field of ecological safety of aquatic ecosystems and sustainable social economic development. Originality. An approach has been improved which determines the efficiency of environmental policy in the field of water resources safety through a correlation analysis of water consumption and population size. Practical value. The research results allow for quantitative assessment of water resource management. The results of the study on the influence of the factor of freshwater resources on the socio-economic development of countries and regions of the world suggest that there is a strong statistically significant correlation in this system of connections.
49
Crook, David A., Paul Reich, Nick R. Bond, Damien McMaster, John D. Koehn, and P. Sam Lake. "Using biological information to support proactive strategies for managing freshwater fish during drought." Marine and Freshwater Research 61, no. 3 (2010): 379. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf09209.
Full textAbstract:
This paper provides an assessment of the biological attributes of fish species in south-eastern Australia and rates their potential risk from the impacts of drought. We used scientific literature and expert opinion to conduct a semiquantitative assessment of attributes considered to influence species resistance and resilience to drought for 15 freshwater fish species found in south-eastern Australia. We also present a conceptual framework to guide management of fish populations during drought. The framework focuses on (1) quantifying spatial variation in the severity of drought impacts on particular habitats (rivers, wetlands etc.), (2) assembling information on drought sensitivities of regionally important species, (3) identifying high risk areas (based on species sensitivity and drought severity), (4) determining and implementing appropriate management actions (pre-emptive, responsive), (5) monitoring outcomes and (6) disseminating information on outcomes. In many regions, historic population declines will serve to exacerbate the impacts of drought, and thus are a major threat to successful recovery from drought. Although we discuss both long-term, pre-emptive planning and short-term, responsive management actions, we contend that a long-term view is required to successfully address the threats posed by drought. Furthermore, although droughts clearly represent a severe disturbance to fish populations, ultimately it is anthropogenic factors that exacerbate drought and constrain recovery pathways (at global, regional and local scales), rather than drought per se. These factors must be addressed if we are to ensure the long-term viability of fish populations in inland aquatic ecosystems.
50
Henriksson, Patrik John Gustav, Ben Belton, Khondker Murshed-e. Jahan, and Andreu Rico. "Measuring the potential for sustainable intensification of aquaculture in Bangladesh using life cycle assessment." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115, no. 12 (March 5, 2018): 2958–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1716530115.
Full textAbstract:
Food production is a major driver of global environmental change and the overshoot of planetary sustainability boundaries. Greater affluence in developing nations and human population growth are also increasing demand for all foods, and for animal proteins in particular. Consequently, a growing body of literature calls for the sustainable intensification of food production, broadly defined as “producing more using less”. Most assessments of the potential for sustainable intensification rely on only one or two indicators, meaning that ecological trade-offs among impact categories that occur as production intensifies may remain unaccounted for. The present study addresses this limitation using life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify six local and global environmental consequences of intensifying aquaculture production in Bangladesh. Production data are from a unique survey of 2,678 farms, and results show multidirectional associations between the intensification of aquaculture production and its environmental impacts. Intensification (measured in material and economic output per unit primary area farmed) is positively correlated with acidification, eutrophication, and ecotoxicological impacts in aquatic ecosystems; negatively correlated with freshwater consumption; and indifferent with regard to global warming and land occupation. As production intensifies, the geographical locations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, acidifying emissions, freshwater consumption, and land occupation shift from the immediate vicinity of the farm to more geographically dispersed telecoupled locations across the globe. Simple changes in fish farming technology and management practices that could help make the global transition to more intensive forms of aquaculture be more sustainable are identified.