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1. Unravelling large-scale patterns and drivers of biodiversity in dry rivers

Author

Foulquier, Arnaud, Datry, Thibault, Corti, Roland, von Schiller, Daniel, Tockner, Klement, Stubbington, Rachel, Gessner, Mark O., Boyer, Frédéric, Ohlmann, Marc, Thuiller, Wilfried, Rioux, Delphine, Miquel, Christian, Albariño, Ricardo, Allen, Daniel C., Altermatt, Florian, Arce, Maria Isabel, Arnon, Shai, Banas, Damien, Banegas-Medina, Andy, Beller, Erin, Blanchette, Melanie L., Blessing, Joanna, Boëchat, Iola Gonçalves, Boersma, Kate, Bogan, Michael, Bonada, Núria, Bond, Nick, Brintrup, Katherine, Bruder, Andreas, Burrows, Ryan, Cancellario, Tommaso, Canhoto, Cristina, Carlson, Stephanie, Cid, Núria, Cornut, Julien, Danger, Michael, de Freitas Terra, Bianca, De Girolamo, Anna Maria, del Campo, Rubén, Díaz Villanueva, Verónica, Dyer, Fiona, Elosegi, Arturo, Febria, Catherine, Figueroa Jara, Ricardo, Four, Brian, Gafny, Sarig, Gómez, Rosa, Gómez-Gener, Lluís, Guareschi, Simone, Gücker, Björn, Hwan, Jason, Jones, J. Iwan, Kubheka, Patrick S., Laini, Alex, Langhans, Simone Daniela, Launay, Bertrand, Le Goff, Guillaume, Leigh, Catherine, Little, Chelsea, Lorenz, Stefan, Marshall, Jonathan, Martin Sanz, Eduardo J., McIntosh, Angus, Mendoza-Lera, Clara, Meyer, Elisabeth I., Miliša, Marko, Mlambo, Musa C., Morais, Manuela, Moya, Nabor, Negus, Peter, Niyogi, Dev, Pagán, Iluminada, Papatheodoulou, Athina, Pappagallo, Giuseppe, Pardo, Isabel, Pařil, Petr, Pauls, Steffen U., Polášek, Marek, Rodríguez-Lozano, Pablo, Rolls, Robert J., Sánchez-Montoya, Maria Mar, Savić, Ana, Shumilova, Oleksandra, Sridhar, Kandikere R., Steward, Alisha, Taleb, Amina, Uzan, Avi, Valladares, Yefrin, Vander Vorste, Ross, Waltham, Nathan J., Zak, Dominik H., and Zoppini, Annamaria

Published
2024
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3. Time series of freshwater macroinvertebrate abundances and site characteristics of European streams and rivers

Author

Welti, Ellen A. R., Bowler, Diana E., Sinclair, James S., Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Angeler, David G., Archambaud, Gaït, Arrate Jorrín, Iñaki, Aspin, Thomas, Azpiroz, Iker, Baker, Nathan Jay, Bañares, Iñaki, Barquín Ortiz, José, Bodin, Christian L., Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Bottarin, Roberta, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Domisch, Sami, Dörflinger, Gerald, Drohan, Emma, Eikland, Knut A., England, Judy, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Friberg, Nikolai, Fruget, Jean-François, Garcia Marquez, Jaime R., Georgieva, Galia, Goethals, Peter, Graça, Manuel A. S., House, Andy, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jensen, Thomas Correll, Johnson, Richard K., Jones, J. Iwan, Kiesel, Jens, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, L’Hoste, Lionel, Lizée, Marie-Hélène, Lorenz, Armin W., Maire, Anthony, Manzanos Arnaiz, Jesús Alberto, Mckie, Brendan, Millán, Andrés, Muotka, Timo, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Paavola, Riku, Paril, Petr, Peñas Silva, Francisco Jesús, Polasek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes, Rubio, Manu, Sánchez Fernández, David, Sandin, Leonard, Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Shen, Longzhu Q., Skuja, Agnija, Stoll, Stefan, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta G., Tziortzis, Iakovos, Uzunov, Yordan, van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Varadinova, Emilia, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Piet F. M., Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vidinova, Yanka, Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, and Haase, Peter

Published
2024
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4. An integrated spatio-temporal view of riverine biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding

Author

Perry, William Bernard, Seymour, Mathew, Orsini, Luisa, Jâms, Ifan Bryn, Milner, Nigel, Edwards, François, Harvey, Rachel, de Bruyn, Mark, Bista, Iliana, Walsh, Kerry, Emmett, Bridget, Blackman, Rosetta, Altermatt, Florian, Lawson Handley, Lori, Mächler, Elvira, Deiner, Kristy, Bik, Holly M., Carvalho, Gary, Colbourne, John, Cosby, Bernard Jack, Durance, Isabelle, and Creer, Simon

Published
2024
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7. Perspectives and pitfalls in preserving subterranean biodiversity through protected areas

Author

Mammola, Stefano, Altermatt, Florian, Alther, Roman, Amorim, Isabel R., Băncilă, Raluca I., Borges, Paulo A. V., Brad, Traian, Brankovits, David, Cardoso, Pedro, Cerasoli, Francesco, Chauveau, Claire A., Delić, Teo, Di Lorenzo, Tiziana, Faille, Arnaud, Fišer, Cene, Flot, Jean-François, Gabriel, Rosalina, Galassi, Diana M. P., Garzoli, Laura, Griebler, Christian, Konecny-Dupré, Lara, Martínez, Alejandro, Mori, Nataša, Nanni, Veronica, Ogorelec, Žiga, Pallarés, Susana, Salussolia, Alice, Saccò, Mattia, Stoch, Fabio, Vaccarelli, Ilaria, Zagmajster, Maja, Zittra, Carina, Meierhofer, Melissa B., Sánchez-Fernández, David, and Malard, Florian

Published
2024
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10. Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics

Author

Sinclair, James S., Welti, Ellen A. R., Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Aroviita, Jukka, Baker, Nathan J., Barešová, Libuše, Barquín, José, Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Dörflinger, Gerald, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Goethals, Peter L. M., Heino, Jani, Hering, Daniel, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jähnig, Sonja C., Johnson, Richard K., Kuglerová, Lenka, Kupilas, Benjamin, L’Hoste, Lionel, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, Lorenz, Armin W., McKie, Brendan G., Muotka, Timo, Osadčaja, Diana, Paavola, Riku, Palinauskas, Vaidas, Pařil, Petr, Pilotto, Francesca, Polášek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes J., Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Skuja, Agnija, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta, Tziortzis, Iakovos, Vannevel, Rudy, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vray, Sarah, and Haase, Peter

Published
2024
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13. Tracking a killer shrimp : Dikerogammarus villosus invasion dynamics across Europe

Author

Soto, Ismael, Cuthbert, Ross N., Ahmed, Danish A., Kouba, Antonín, Domisch, Sami, Marquez, Jaime R. G., Beidas, Ayah, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Kiesel, Jens, Shen, Longzhu Q., Florencio, Margarita, Lima, Herlander, Briski, Elizabeta, Altermatt, Florian, Archambaud-Suard, Gaït, Borza, Peter, Csabai, Zoltan, Datry, Thibault, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Fruget, Jean-François, Leitner, Patrick, Lizée, Marie-Hélène, Maire, Anthony, Ricciardi, Anthony, Schäfer, Ralf B., Stubbington, Rachel, Van der Lee, Gea H., Várbíró, Gábor, Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Haase, Peter, and Haubrock, Phillip J.

Published
2023

15. The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt

Author

Haase, Peter, Bowler, Diana E., Baker, Nathan J., Bonada, Núria, Domisch, Sami, Garcia Marquez, Jaime R., Heino, Jani, Hering, Daniel, Jähnig, Sonja C., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Stubbington, Rachel, Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Angeler, David G., Archambaud-Suard, Gaït, Jorrín, Iñaki Arrate, Aspin, Thomas, Azpiroz, Iker, Bañares, Iñaki, Ortiz, José Barquín, Bodin, Christian L., Bonacina, Luca, Bottarin, Roberta, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Dörflinger, Gerald, Drohan, Emma, Eikland, Knut A., England, Judy, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Friberg, Nikolai, Fruget, Jean-François, Georgieva, Galia, Goethals, Peter, Graça, Manuel A. S., Graf, Wolfram, House, Andy, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jensen, Thomas C., Johnson, Richard K., Jones, J. Iwan, Kiesel, Jens, Kuglerová, Lenka, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, L’Hoste, Lionel, Lizée, Marie-Helène, Lorenz, Armin W., Maire, Anthony, Arnaiz, Jesús Alberto Manzanos, McKie, Brendan G., Millán, Andrés, Monteith, Don, Muotka, Timo, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Paavola, Riku, Paril, Petr, Peñas, Francisco J., Pilotto, Francesca, Polášek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes Jessen, Rubio, Manu, Sánchez-Fernández, David, Sandin, Leonard, Schäfer, Ralf B., Scotti, Alberto, Shen, Longzhu Q., Skuja, Agnija, Stoll, Stefan, Straka, Michal, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta G., Tziortzis, Iakovos, Uzunov, Yordan, van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Varadinova, Emilia, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Piet F. M., Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vidinova, Yanka, Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, and Welti, Ellen A. R.

Published
2023
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17. The faunal Ponto-Caspianization of central and western European waterways

Author

Soto, Ismael, Cuthbert, Ross N., Ricciardi, Anthony, Ahmed, Danish A., Altermatt, Florian, Schäfer, Ralf B., Archambaud-Suard, Gaït, Bonada, Núria, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, Dick, Jaimie T. A., Floury, Mathieu, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Forcellini, Maxence, Fruget, Jean-François, Goethals, Peter, Haase, Peter, Hudgins, Emma J., Jones, J. Iwan, Kouba, Antonín, Leitner, Patrick, Lizée, Marie-Helène, Maire, Anthony, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Rasmussen, Jes Jessen, Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Skuja, Agnija, Stubbington, Rachel, Van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Várbíró, Gábor, Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, Haubrock, Phillip J., and Briski, Elizabeta

Published
2023
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29. Terrestrial land use signals on groundwater fauna beyond current protection buffers.

Author

Knüsel, Mara, Alther, Roman, and Altermatt, Florian

Subjects
GROUNDWATER, DRINKING water quality, WELLHEAD protection, WATER quality, POPULATION density
Abstract

Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are tightly linked, with direct implications for applied resource management and conservation. It is well known that human land use change and intensification of terrestrial systems can have large impacts on surface freshwater ecosystems. Contrastingly, the study and understanding of such land use impacts on groundwater communities is lagging behind. Both the impact strength of land use on groundwater communities and the spatial extents at which such interlinkages are operating are largely unknown, despite our reliance on groundwater for drinking water extraction as a key ecosystem service. Here, we analyzed groundwater amphipod occurrence from several hundred shallow groundwater aquifers used for drinking water extraction across a region of varying agricultural intensity and human population density in Switzerland. Despite drinking water extraction sites being generally built at locations with expected minimal aboveground impacts on water quality, we found a direct correlation between land use type and intensity within the surrounding catchment area and the locally measured nitrate concentrations, which is a direct proxy for drinking water quality. Furthermore, groundwater amphipods were more likely to be found at sites with higher forest coverage than at sites with higher crop and intensive pasture coverages, clearly indicating a tight connection between aboveground land use and groundwater biodiversity. Our results indicate that land use type effects on groundwater communities are most relevant and pronounced to spatial scales of about 400–1000 m around the groundwater sampling site. Importantly, the here identified spatial scale is 1.2‐ to 3‐fold exceeding the average extent of currently defined groundwater protection zones. We postulate that incorporating an ecosystem perspective into groundwater management strategies is needed for effective protection of groundwater quality and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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30. Resource Flow Network Structure Drives Metaecosystem Function.

Author

Peller, Tianna, Gounand, Isabelle, and Altermatt, Florian

Subjects
ECOSYSTEM dynamics, ECOLOGICAL disturbances, NUTRIENT cycles, SPATIAL variation, ECOSYSTEMS
Abstract

Nonliving resources frequently flow across ecosystem boundaries, which can yield networks of spatially coupled ecosystems. Yet the significance of resource flows for ecosystem function has predominantly been understood by studying two or a few coupled ecosystems, overlooking the broader resource flow network and its spatial structure. Here, we investigate how the spatial structure of larger resource flow networks influences ecosystem function at metaecosystem scales by analyzing metaecosystem models with homogeneously versus heterogeneously distributed resource flow networks but otherwise identical characteristics. We show that metaecosystem function can differ strongly between metaecosystems with contrasting resource flow networks. Differences in function generally arise through the scaling up of nonlinear local processes interacting with spatial variation in local dynamics, the latter of which is influenced by network structure. However, we find that neither network structure guarantees the greatest metaecosystem function. Rather, biotic (organism traits) and abiotic (resource flow rates) properties interact with network structure to determine which yields greater metaecosystem function. Our findings suggest that the spatial structure of resource flow networks coupling ecosystems can be a driver of ecosystem function at landscape scales. Furthermore, our study demonstrates how modifications to the structural, biotic, or abiotic properties of metaecosystem networks can have nontrivial large-scale effects on ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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31. Generalization of a density‐dependent ecosystem function in dominant aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Author

Alther, Roman, Cerroti, Francesca, Cereghetti, Eva, Krähenbühl, Andrin, and Altermatt, Florian

Subjects
FOREST litter, POPULATION density, FIELD research, GAMMARUS, AQUATIC plants
Abstract

The processing of organic matter is a central ecosystem function in freshwater ecosystems that allows the integration of terrestrial plant material into aquatic heterotrophic food webs. From an energetic perspective, many temperate aquatic systems fundamentally depend on such allochthonous inputs. Current research established that this central ecosystem function may be linked to population density of few yet dominant invertebrate detritivores, showing a negative density‐dependent relationship. Here, we extended the current knowledge and experimentally assessed the processing of leaf litter by freshwater amphipods, using broad density gradients, interspecific competition, and laboratory and field experiments. We used two species of dominant amphipods, namely the native Gammarus fossarum and the non‐native Gammarus roeselii, varying their density by two orders of magnitude, both in single‐species and two‐species treatments. Results from 252 mesocosms in the lab and 97 mesocosms in a natural stream show that per capita leaf litter processing rates are strongly negatively dependant on population density in monocultures. Interspecific competition in two‐species treatments corroborated the negative density‐dependent ecosystem function and highlighted the functional redundancy of the two detritivore species. We identified a flattening in the processing rates at previously unreported but well‐defined breakpoints. These breakpoints may reflect minimal metabolic requirements at which survival takes precedence over any other process, such as interference competition. The breakpoints were consistent across both species, indicating that they must process leaf litter equalling one fifth to one fourth of their dry body weight per day as a minimal nutritional threshold. Our results suggest the need for integrating nonlinear density‐dependencies and breakpoint population densities in key ecosystem functions in aquatic ecosystem modelling alongside classical biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships. Depending on the population density the corresponding ecosystem functioning could differ significantly. This corroborates the need to better understand biodiversity–abundance relationships when protecting aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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32. Systematic and highly resolved modelling of biodiversity in inherently rare groundwater amphipods.

Author

Knüsel, Mara, Alther, Roman, Locher, Nadine, Ozgul, Arpat, Fišer, Cene, and Altermatt, Florian

Subjects
ENDANGERED species, STATISTICAL sampling, SPECIES diversity, GROUNDWATER sampling, GLOBAL warming, SPECIES distribution
Abstract

Aim: Groundwater ecosystems harbour a unique biodiversity, but remain poorly studied, mainly due to difficulties in accessibility and imperfect species detection. Consequently, knowledge on the state and change of groundwater biodiversity remains highly deficient. In the context of global warming and excessive groundwater extraction, understanding groundwater from an ecosystem‐perspective, including organism diversity and distribution, is essential. This study presents the largest ever systematic assessment of groundwater amphipods, which are a key component of European groundwater biodiversity. Location: Switzerland (41,285 km2), including data from 906 sampling sites. Taxon: Groundwater amphipods, genera Niphargus and Crangonyx (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Methods: We applied a highly standardized citizen science approach to collect repeated groundwater fauna samples in collaboration with municipal drinking water providers. Using detection–nondetection data of the genetically identified groundwater amphipod species, we assessed the overall species diversity of both rare and common species. The distribution of commonly found species was predicted using multispecies occupancy modelling. Results: We retrieved 3882 samples from 906 sites, yielding 2350 groundwater amphipod individuals. We identified a remarkable species diversity, comprising few commonly and many rarely found species. Considering commonly found species, we identified distinct distribution ranges, low local species richness and a predominance of negative co‐occurrences. In contrast, a major portion of species were found rarely (generally at just one or two sites each), distributed uniformly throughout the study area and unrelated to common species' recognized hotspots. Many of these rarely found species are not yet formally described. Main Conclusions: Our results give robust emphasis on the rare occurrence and narrow distribution of many groundwater dwellers. Our systematic and standardized sampling data of groundwater amphipods suggest that rarity is particularly prominent and inherent to groundwater organisms. We emphasize the need of systematic data to integrate rare groundwater species in biodiversity assessments, especially in times of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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33. Projecting Untruncated Climate Change Effects on Species' Climate Suitability: Insights From an Alpine Country.

Author

Adde, Antoine, Külling, Nathan, Rey, Pierre‐Louis, Fopp, Fabian, Brun, Philipp, Broennimann, Olivier, Lehmann, Anthony, Petitpierre, Blaise, Zimmermann, Niklaus E., Pellissier, Loïc, Altermatt, Florian, and Guisan, Antoine

Subjects
SPECIES distribution, CLIMATE change, BIODIVERSITY conservation, VASCULAR plants, PROTECTED areas
Abstract

Climate projections for continental Europe indicate drier summers, increased annual precipitation, and less snowy winters, which are expected to cause shifts in species' distributions. Yet, most regions/countries currently lack comprehensive climate‐driven biodiversity projections across taxonomic groups, challenging effective conservation efforts. To address this gap, our study evaluated the potential effects of climate change on the biodiversity of an alpine country of Europe, Switzerland. We used a state‐of‐the art species distribution modeling approach and species occurrence data that covered the climatic conditions encountered across the full species' ranges to help limiting niche truncation. We quantified the relationship between baseline climate and the spatial distribution of 7291 species from 12 main taxonomic groups and projected future climate suitability for three 30‐year periods and two greenhouse gas concentration scenarios (RCP4.5 and 8.5). Our results indicated important effects of projected climate changes on species' climate suitability, with responses varying by the taxonomic and conservation status group. The percentage of species facing major changes in climate suitability was higher under RCP8.5 (68%) compared to RCP4.5 (66%). By the end of the century, decreases in climate suitability were projected for 3000 species under RCP8.5 and 1758 species under RCP4.5. The most affected groups under RCP8.5 were molluscs, algae, and amphibians, while it was molluscs, birds, and vascular plants under RCP4.5. Spatially, by 2070–2099, we projected an overall decrease in climate suitability for 39% of the cells in the study area under RCP8.5 and 10% under RCP4.5, while projecting an increase for 50% of the cells under RCP8.5 and 73% under RCP4.5. The most consistent geographical shifts were upward, southward, and eastward. We found that the coverage of high climate suitability cells by protected areas was expected to increase. Our models and maps provide guidance for spatial conservation planning by pointing out future climate‐suitable areas for biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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34. Riparian forests shape trophic interactions in detrital stream food webs.

Author

Oester, Rebecca, Altermatt, Florian, and Bruder, Andreas

Subjects
*RESOURCE availability (Ecology), *RIPARIAN forests, *FOREST litter, *FRESHWATER biodiversity, *RIPARIAN areas, *RIPARIAN plants
Abstract

Freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity are linked through spatial resource flows. Key examples are detrital subsidies from the riparian vegetation that form the base of food webs in small streams. Despite the central role of detritivores in these food webs, the consequences of altered riparian vegetation type and resource availability on their trophic strategies are less known.Therefore, we experimentally tested direct and indirect effects of riparian vegetation type (i.e. riparian forests present vs. absent) on trophic interactions and dietary imbalances of aquatic detritivores. To characterise trophic strategies, we used stoichiometric and isotopic differences between consumers and resources as functional measures of trophic link strength in leaf litter bags naturally colonised by stream decomposers and detritivores.Our results show that an absence of riparian forests affected stoichiometric and isotopic properties in stream detrital food webs. Where local riparian forests were absent, leaf litter showed lower C:N ratios, which only trichopteran detritivores mirrored, whereas plecopteran and crustacean detritivores showed differences in their isotopic signatures. Diverging patterns between resources and consumers could lead to a rewiring of energy flow paths and weaken the coupling between aquatic detritivores and terrestrial detritus.Consequently, our findings demonstrate that riparian forests are essential for aquatic food webs by not only influencing organisms themselves but also their trophic interactions and energy flow paths. Aquatic detritivores depending on terrestrial subsidies can be highly sensitive to local changes in their resource environment. Therefore, functionally divergent patterns between resources and consumers in recipient systems highlight how habitat properties of the donor system can affect food webs connected across ecosystem boundaries. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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40. Environmental DNA: The next chapter

Author

Blackman, Rosetta, primary, Couton, Marjorie, additional, Keck, François, additional, Kirschner, Dominik, additional, Carraro, Luca, additional, Cereghetti, Eva, additional, Perrelet, Kilian, additional, Bossart, Raphael, additional, Brantschen, Jeanine, additional, Zhang, Yan, additional, and Altermatt, Florian, additional

Published
2024
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45. Demographic stochasticity and resource autocorrelation control biological invasions in heterogeneous landscapes

Author

Giometto, Andrea, Altermatt, Florian, and Rinaldo, Andrea

Subjects
Quantitative Biology - Populations and Evolution, Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics, Physics - Biological Physics
Abstract

Classical models of biological invasions assess species spread in homogeneous landscapes by assuming constant growth rates and random local movement. Mounting evidence suggests, however, that demographic stochasticity, environmental heterogeneity and non-random movement of individuals affect considerably the spread dynamics. Here, we show that the dynamics of biological invasions are controlled by the spatial heterogeneity of the resource distribution. We show theoretically that increasing the landscape resource autocorrelation length causes a reduction in the average speed of species spread. Demographic stochasticity plays a key role in the slowdown, which is streghtened when individuals can actively move towards resources. The reduction in the front propagation speed is verified in laboratory microcosm experiments with the flagellated protist Euglena gracilis by comparing spread in habitats characterized by different resource heterogeneity. Our theoretical and experimental findings highlight the need to account for the intrinsic stochasticity of population dynamics to describe spread in spatially extended landscapes, which are inevitably characterized by heterogeneous spatial distributions of resources controlling vital rates. Our work identifies the resource autocorrelation length as a key modulator and a simple measure of landscape susceptibility to biological invasions, with implications for predicting the characters of biological invasions within naturally heterogeneous environmental corridors.

Published
2016

46. Time series of freshwater macroinvertebrate abundances and site characteristics of European streams and rivers

Author

Welti, Ellen A.R., Bowler, Diana E., Sinclair, James S., Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Angeler, David G., Archambaud, Gaït, Arrate Jorrín, Iñaki, Aspin, Thomas, Azpiroz, Iker, Baker, Nathan Jay, Bañares, Iñaki, Barquín Ortiz, José, Bodin, Christian L., Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Bottarin, Roberta, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Domisch, Sami, Dörflinger, Gerald, Drohan, Emma, Eikland, Knut A., England, Judy, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Friberg, Nikolai, Fruget, Jean François, Garcia Marquez, Jaime R., Georgieva, Galia, Goethals, Peter, Graça, Manuel A.S., House, Andy, Huttunen, Kaisa Leena, Jensen, Thomas Correll, Johnson, Richard K., Jones, J.I., Kiesel, Jens, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, L’Hoste, Lionel, Lizée, Marie Hélène, Lorenz, Armin W., Maire, Anthony, Manzanos Arnaiz, Jesús Alberto, Mckie, Brendan, Millán, Andrés, Muotka, Timo, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Paavola, Riku, Paril, Petr, Peñas Silva, Francisco Jesús, Polasek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes, Rubio, Manu, Sánchez Fernández, David, Sandin, Leonard, Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Shen, Longzhu Q., Skuja, Agnija, Stoll, Stefan, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta G., Tziortzis, Iakovos, Uzunov, Yordan, van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Varadinova, Emilia, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Piet F.M., Verdonschot, Ralf C.M., Vidinova, Yanka, Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, Haase, Peter, Welti, Ellen A.R., Bowler, Diana E., Sinclair, James S., Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Angeler, David G., Archambaud, Gaït, Arrate Jorrín, Iñaki, Aspin, Thomas, Azpiroz, Iker, Baker, Nathan Jay, Bañares, Iñaki, Barquín Ortiz, José, Bodin, Christian L., Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Bottarin, Roberta, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Domisch, Sami, Dörflinger, Gerald, Drohan, Emma, Eikland, Knut A., England, Judy, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Friberg, Nikolai, Fruget, Jean François, Garcia Marquez, Jaime R., Georgieva, Galia, Goethals, Peter, Graça, Manuel A.S., House, Andy, Huttunen, Kaisa Leena, Jensen, Thomas Correll, Johnson, Richard K., Jones, J.I., Kiesel, Jens, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, L’Hoste, Lionel, Lizée, Marie Hélène, Lorenz, Armin W., Maire, Anthony, Manzanos Arnaiz, Jesús Alberto, Mckie, Brendan, Millán, Andrés, Muotka, Timo, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Paavola, Riku, Paril, Petr, Peñas Silva, Francisco Jesús, Polasek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes, Rubio, Manu, Sánchez Fernández, David, Sandin, Leonard, Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Shen, Longzhu Q., Skuja, Agnija, Stoll, Stefan, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta G., Tziortzis, Iakovos, Uzunov, Yordan, van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Varadinova, Emilia, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Piet F.M., Verdonschot, Ralf C.M., Vidinova, Yanka, Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, and Haase, Peter

Abstract

Freshwater macroinvertebrates are a diverse group and play key ecological roles, including accelerating nutrient cycling, filtering water, controlling primary producers, and providing food for predators. Their differences in tolerances and short generation times manifest in rapid community responses to change. Macroinvertebrate community composition is an indicator of water quality. In Europe, efforts to improve water quality following environmental legislation, primarily starting in the 1980s, may have driven a recovery of macroinvertebrate communities. Towards understanding temporal and spatial variation of these organisms, we compiled the TREAM dataset (Time seRies of European freshwAter Macroinvertebrates), consisting of macroinvertebrate community time series from 1,816 river and stream sites (mean length of 19.2 years and 14.9 sampling years) of 22 European countries sampled between 1968 and 2020. In total, the data include >93 million sampled individuals of 2,648 taxa from 959 genera and 212 families. These data can be used to test questions ranging from identifying drivers of the population dynamics of specific taxa to assessing the success of legislative and management restoration efforts.

Published
2024

47. Integrative taxonomy of the groundwater amphipod Niphargus bihorensis Schellenberg, 1940 reveals a species-rich clade

Author

Stoch, Fabio, Knüsel, Mara, Zakšek, Valerija, Alther, Roman, Salussolia, Alice, Altermatt, Florian, Fišer, Cene, Flot, Jean-François, Stoch, Fabio, Knüsel, Mara, Zakšek, Valerija, Alther, Roman, Salussolia, Alice, Altermatt, Florian, Fišer, Cene, and Flot, Jean-François

Abstract

The genus Niphargus is the most diverse subterranean amphipod genus in the western Palearctic region but, owing to the presence of cryptic species and homoplasy, its taxonomy and biogeographic scenarios are complex, making molecular methods essential to understand its evolution. We conducted a study combining dna -based taxonomy with traditional morphotaxonomy to investigate Niphargus bihorensis Schellenberg, 1940, known from the Western Alps and Carpathians. We redescribed the type material of N. bihorensis from Bihor County, Romania, and revealed the presence of a cryptic species, N. absconditus n. sp. in the same karstic area (Pădurea Craiului Mountains). Additionally, the Alpine populations previously attributed to N. bihorensis turned out to belong to a new, not so closely related species, N. tizianoi n. sp. Phylogenetic analyses based on a concatenated dataset of one mitochondrial and two nuclear markers suggest that the N. bihorensis species complex belongs to a strongly supported clade, together with several species distributed from Switzerland to Iran., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Published
2024

48. Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics

Author

0000-0003-0787-7342, 0000-0001-6944-3422, 0000-0002-4831-6958, 0000-0001-7948-106X, 0000-0003-1897-2636, 0000-0002-4695-5932, 0000-0002-2983-3335, 0000-0003-3864-7451, 0000-0003-1700-2574, 0000-0003-2281-2491, 0000-0003-2962-7387, 0000-0003-0209-4648, 0000-0003-2033-6399, 0000-0002-6358-8011, 0000-0003-0362-6802, 0000-0001-6740-3654, 0000-0002-4952-5807, 0000-0001-6675-4751, 0000-0001-6326-5653, 0000-0003-0488-1274, 0000-0002-6349-9561, 0000-0001-7979-6563, 0000-0003-0239-9468, 0000-0002-0185-9154, 0000-0002-3262-6396, 0009-0006-6199-9200, 0000-0002-4708-1413, 0000-0002-4714-0305, 0000-0002-7471-997X, 0000-0003-1848-3154, 0000-0002-5932-3125, 0000-0001-8839-5913, 0000-0002-5861-7551, 0000-0001-8475-5109, 0000-0002-9315-7773, 0000-0002-5603-271X, 0000-0002-0977-5975, 0000-0002-7385-8302, 0000-0002-9340-0438, Sinclair, James S., Welti, Ellen A. R., Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Aroviita, Jukka, Baker, Nathan J., Barešová, Libuše, Barquín, José, Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Dörflinger, Gerald, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Goethals, Peter L. M., Heino, Jani, Hering, Daniel, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jähnig, Sonja C., Johnson, Richard K., Kuglerová, Lenka, Kupilas, Benjamin, L'Hoste, Lionel, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, Lorenz, Armin W., McKie, Brendan G., Muotka, Timo, Osadčaja, Diana, Paavola, Riku, Palinauskas, Vaidas, Pařil, Petr, Pilotto, Francesca, Polášek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes J., Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Skuja, Agnija, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta, Tziortzis, Iakovos, Vannevel, Rudy, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vray, Sarah, Haase, Peter, 0000-0003-0787-7342, 0000-0001-6944-3422, 0000-0002-4831-6958, 0000-0001-7948-106X, 0000-0003-1897-2636, 0000-0002-4695-5932, 0000-0002-2983-3335, 0000-0003-3864-7451, 0000-0003-1700-2574, 0000-0003-2281-2491, 0000-0003-2962-7387, 0000-0003-0209-4648, 0000-0003-2033-6399, 0000-0002-6358-8011, 0000-0003-0362-6802, 0000-0001-6740-3654, 0000-0002-4952-5807, 0000-0001-6675-4751, 0000-0001-6326-5653, 0000-0003-0488-1274, 0000-0002-6349-9561, 0000-0001-7979-6563, 0000-0003-0239-9468, 0000-0002-0185-9154, 0000-0002-3262-6396, 0009-0006-6199-9200, 0000-0002-4708-1413, 0000-0002-4714-0305, 0000-0002-7471-997X, 0000-0003-1848-3154, 0000-0002-5932-3125, 0000-0001-8839-5913, 0000-0002-5861-7551, 0000-0001-8475-5109, 0000-0002-9315-7773, 0000-0002-5603-271X, 0000-0002-0977-5975, 0000-0002-7385-8302, 0000-0002-9340-0438, Sinclair, James S., Welti, Ellen A. R., Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Aroviita, Jukka, Baker, Nathan J., Barešová, Libuše, Barquín, José, Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Dörflinger, Gerald, Eriksen, Tor E., Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Goethals, Peter L. M., Heino, Jani, Hering, Daniel, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jähnig, Sonja C., Johnson, Richard K., Kuglerová, Lenka, Kupilas, Benjamin, L'Hoste, Lionel, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, Lorenz, Armin W., McKie, Brendan G., Muotka, Timo, Osadčaja, Diana, Paavola, Riku, Palinauskas, Vaidas, Pařil, Petr, Pilotto, Francesca, Polášek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes J., Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Skuja, Agnija, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta, Tziortzis, Iakovos, Vannevel, Rudy, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vray, Sarah, and Haase, Peter

Abstract

Humans impact terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems, yet many broad-scale studies have found no systematic, negative biodiversity changes (for example, decreasing abundance or taxon richness). Here we show that mixed biodiversity responses may arise because community metrics show variable responses to anthropogenic impacts across broad spatial scales. We first quantified temporal trends in anthropogenic impacts for 1,365 riverine invertebrate communities from 23 European countries, based on similarity to least-impacted reference communities. Reference comparisons provide necessary, but often missing, baselines for evaluating whether communities are negatively impacted or have improved (less or more similar, respectively). We then determined whether changing impacts were consistently reflected in metrics of community abundance, taxon richness, evenness and composition. Invertebrate communities improved, that is, became more similar to reference conditions, from 1992 until the 2010s, after which improvements plateaued. Improvements were generally reflected by higher taxon richness, providing evidence that certain community metrics can broadly indicate anthropogenic impacts. However, richness responses were highly variable among sites, and we found no consistent responses in community abundance, evenness or composition. These findings suggest that, without sufficient data and careful metric selection, many common community metrics cannot reliably reflect anthropogenic impacts, helping explain the prevalence of mixed biodiversity trends.

Published
2024

49. Time series of freshwater macroinvertebrate abundances and site characteristics of European streams and rivers

Author

European Commision, 0000-0001-6944-3422, 0000-0002-4831-6958, 0000-0001-9493-2279, 0000-0002-2983-3335, 0000-0002-6352-3699, 0000-0003-3864-7451, 0000-0003-1390-6736, 0000-0003-2281-2491, 0000-0003-2962-7387, 0000-0002-8127-9335, 0000-0003-0209-4648, 0000-0001-5037-7509, 0000-0001-6675-4751, 0000-0001-7979-6563, 0000-0002-0185-9154, 0000-0003-0239-9468, 0000-0002-3262-6396, 0000-0003-0920-773X, 0000-0003-0036-363X, 0000-0003-3752-2040, 0000-0002-7471-997X, 0000-0003-3213-7135, 0000-0003-3510-1701, 0000-0001-5629-3007, 0000-0001-8475-5109, 0000-0002-9315-7773, 0000-0002-5603-271X, 0000-0002-4126-7452, 0000-0002-9340-0438, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72], Welti, Ellen A. R., Bowler, Diana E., Sinclair, James S, Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Angeler, David G., Archambaud, Gaït, Arrate Jorrín, Iñaki, Aspin, Thomas, Azpiroz, Iker, Baker, Nathan Jay, Bañares, Iñaki, Barquín Ortiz, José, Bodin, Christian L., Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Bottarin, Roberta, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Domisch, Sami, Dörflinger, Gerald, Drohan, Emma, Eikland, Knut A, England, Judy, Eriksen, Tor E, Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Friberg, Nikolai, Fruget, Jean-François, Garcia Marquez, Jaime R., Georgieva, Galia, Goethals, Peter, Graça, Manuel A. S., House, Andy, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jensen, Thomas Correll, Johnson, Richard K., Jones, J Iwan, Kiesel, Jens, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, L'Hoste, Lionel, Lizée, Marie-Hélène, Lorenz, Armin W., Maire, Anthony, Manzanos Arnaiz, Jesús Alberto, Mckie, Brendan, Millán, Andrés, Muotka, Timo, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Paavola, Riku, Paril, Petr, Peñas Silva, Francisco Jesús, Polasek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes, Rubio, Manu, Sánchez Fernández, David, Sandin, Leonard, Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Shen, Longzhu Q., Skuja, Agnija, Stoll, Stefan, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta G., Tziortzis, Iakovos, Uzunov, Yordan, van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Varadinova, Emilia, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Piet F. M., Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vidinova, Yanka, Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, Haase, Peter, European Commision, 0000-0001-6944-3422, 0000-0002-4831-6958, 0000-0001-9493-2279, 0000-0002-2983-3335, 0000-0002-6352-3699, 0000-0003-3864-7451, 0000-0003-1390-6736, 0000-0003-2281-2491, 0000-0003-2962-7387, 0000-0002-8127-9335, 0000-0003-0209-4648, 0000-0001-5037-7509, 0000-0001-6675-4751, 0000-0001-7979-6563, 0000-0002-0185-9154, 0000-0003-0239-9468, 0000-0002-3262-6396, 0000-0003-0920-773X, 0000-0003-0036-363X, 0000-0003-3752-2040, 0000-0002-7471-997X, 0000-0003-3213-7135, 0000-0003-3510-1701, 0000-0001-5629-3007, 0000-0001-8475-5109, 0000-0002-9315-7773, 0000-0002-5603-271X, 0000-0002-4126-7452, 0000-0002-9340-0438, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72], Welti, Ellen A. R., Bowler, Diana E., Sinclair, James S, Altermatt, Florian, Álvarez-Cabria, Mario, Amatulli, Giuseppe, Angeler, David G., Archambaud, Gaït, Arrate Jorrín, Iñaki, Aspin, Thomas, Azpiroz, Iker, Baker, Nathan Jay, Bañares, Iñaki, Barquín Ortiz, José, Bodin, Christian L., Bonacina, Luca, Bonada, Núria, Bottarin, Roberta, Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel, Csabai, Zoltán, Datry, Thibault, de Eyto, Elvira, Dohet, Alain, Domisch, Sami, Dörflinger, Gerald, Drohan, Emma, Eikland, Knut A, England, Judy, Eriksen, Tor E, Evtimova, Vesela, Feio, Maria J., Ferréol, Martial, Floury, Mathieu, Forcellini, Maxence, Forio, Marie Anne Eurie, Fornaroli, Riccardo, Friberg, Nikolai, Fruget, Jean-François, Garcia Marquez, Jaime R., Georgieva, Galia, Goethals, Peter, Graça, Manuel A. S., House, Andy, Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena, Jensen, Thomas Correll, Johnson, Richard K., Jones, J Iwan, Kiesel, Jens, Larrañaga, Aitor, Leitner, Patrick, L'Hoste, Lionel, Lizée, Marie-Hélène, Lorenz, Armin W., Maire, Anthony, Manzanos Arnaiz, Jesús Alberto, Mckie, Brendan, Millán, Andrés, Muotka, Timo, Murphy, John F., Ozolins, Davis, Paavola, Riku, Paril, Petr, Peñas Silva, Francisco Jesús, Polasek, Marek, Rasmussen, Jes, Rubio, Manu, Sánchez Fernández, David, Sandin, Leonard, Schäfer, Ralf B., Schmidt-Kloiber, Astrid, Scotti, Alberto, Shen, Longzhu Q., Skuja, Agnija, Stoll, Stefan, Straka, Michal, Stubbington, Rachel, Timm, Henn, Tyufekchieva, Violeta G., Tziortzis, Iakovos, Uzunov, Yordan, van der Lee, Gea H., Vannevel, Rudy, Varadinova, Emilia, Várbíró, Gábor, Velle, Gaute, Verdonschot, Piet F. M., Verdonschot, Ralf C. M., Vidinova, Yanka, Wiberg-Larsen, Peter, and Haase, Peter

Abstract

Freshwater macroinvertebrates are a diverse group and play key ecological roles, including accelerating nutrient cycling, filtering water, controlling primary producers, and providing food for predators. Their differences in tolerances and short generation times manifest in rapid community responses to change. Macroinvertebrate community composition is an indicator of water quality. In Europe, efforts to improve water quality following environmental legislation, primarily starting in the 1980s, may have driven a recovery of macroinvertebrate communities. Towards understanding temporal and spatial variation of these organisms, we compiled the TREAM dataset (Time seRies of European freshwAter Macroinvertebrates), consisting of macroinvertebrate community time series from 1,816 river and stream sites (mean length of 19.2 years and 14.9 sampling years) of 22 European countries sampled between 1968 and 2020. In total, the data include >93 million sampled individuals of 2,648 taxa from 959 genera and 212 families. These data can be used to test questions ranging from identifying drivers of the population dynamics of specific taxa to assessing the success of legislative and management restoration efforts.

Published
2024

50. Reviving Europe's rivers: Seven challenges in the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law to restore free-flowing rivers

Author

Stoffers, Twan, Altermatt, Florian, Baldan, Damiano, Bilous, Olena, Borgwardt, Florian, Buijse, Anthonie D., Bondar-Kunze, Elisabeth, Cid, Nuria, Erős, Tibor, Ferreira, Maria Teresa, Funk, Andrea, Haidvogl, Gertrud, Hohensinner, Severin, Kowal, Johannes, Nagelkerke, Leopold A.J., Neuburg, Jakob, Peller, Tianna, Schmutz, Stefan, Singer, Gabriel A., Unfer, Günther, Vitecek, Simon, Jähnig, Sonja C., Hein, Thomas, Stoffers, Twan, Altermatt, Florian, Baldan, Damiano, Bilous, Olena, Borgwardt, Florian, Buijse, Anthonie D., Bondar-Kunze, Elisabeth, Cid, Nuria, Erős, Tibor, Ferreira, Maria Teresa, Funk, Andrea, Haidvogl, Gertrud, Hohensinner, Severin, Kowal, Johannes, Nagelkerke, Leopold A.J., Neuburg, Jakob, Peller, Tianna, Schmutz, Stefan, Singer, Gabriel A., Unfer, Günther, Vitecek, Simon, Jähnig, Sonja C., and Hein, Thomas

Abstract

The EU Nature Restoration Law represents an important opportunity for freshwater habitat restoration and, consequently, freshwater biodiversity protection. However, a number of challenges must be anticipated in its implementation, which may compromise its success. Some aspects, particularly those relating to freshwater ecosystems, require more clarification. We use riverine ecosystems to illustrate existing ambiguities in the proposed legislation and the potential consequences of leaving these aspects open to interpretation during the implementation process. We also discuss potential solutions to these problems which could help ensure that the law's objectives are met. We argue that river network structure and connectivity dimensions, which result into river meta-ecosystems, must be explicitly considered. For that purpose, we ask for clear definitions of the critical terms “free-flowing rivers,” “barriers,” and “reference areas.” In addition, we recommend developing methods for integrated assessment of connectivity across river networks. As a key property of river ecosystems, this must be used to prioritize actions to increase the length and number of free-flowing rivers. Adequate restoration planning at larger spatial scales will benefit from a meta-ecosystem perspective and accurate representation of aquatic-terrestrial linkages, which will significantly improve the efficacy of restoration efforts. Furthermore, stakeholder and citizen engagement offer important opportunities at local, national, and European scales, and should be fostered to ensure inclusive decision-making. The conservation challenges outlined here are particularly important for rivers, but they also have implications for other ecosystems. These considerations are useful for policymakers, conservationists, and other stakeholders involved in the Nature Restoration Law and related policy initiatives. This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems Water and L

Published
2024

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