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Scale dependency in the hydromorphological control of a stream ecosystem functioning

Colas, Fanny and Baudoin, Jean-Marc and Gob, Frédéric and Tamisier, Vincent and Valette, Laurent and Kreutzenberger, Karl and Lambrigot, Didier and Chauvet, Eric Scale dependency in the hydromorphological control of a stream ecosystem functioning. (2017) Water Research, 115. 60-73. ISSN 0043-1354

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.01.061

Abstract

Physical habitat degradation is prevalent in river ecosystems. Although still little is known about the ecological consequences of altered hydromorphology, understanding the factors at play can contribute to sustainable environmental management. In this study we aimed to identify the hydromorphological features controlling a key ecosystem function and the spatial scales where such linkages operate. As hydromorphological and chemical pressures often occur in parallel, we examined the relative importance of hydromorphological and chemical factors as determinants of leaf breakdown. Leaf breakdown assays were investigated at 82 sites of rivers throughout the French territory. Leaf breakdown data were then crossed with data on water quality and with a multi-scale hydro- morphological assessment (i.e. upstream catchment, river segment, reach and habitat) when quantitative data were available. Microbial and total leaf breakdown rates exhibited differential responses to both hydromorphological and chemical alterations. Relationships between the chemical quality of the water and leaf breakdown were weak, while hydromorphological integrity explained independently up to 84.2% of leaf breakdown. Hydrological and morphological parameters were the main predictors of microbial leaf breakdown, whereas hydrological parameters had a major effect on total leaf breakdown, particularly at large scales, while morphological parameters were important at smaller scales. Microbial leaf breakdown were best predicted by hydromorphological features defined at the upstream catchment level whereas total leaf breakdown were best predicted by reach and habitat level geomorphic variables. This study demonstrates the use of leaf breakdown in a biomonitoring context and the importance of hydromorphological integrity for the functioning of running water. It provides new insights for envi- ronmental decision-makers to identify the management and restoration actions that have to be un- dertaken including the hydromorphogical features that should be kept in minimal maintenance to support leaf breakdown.

Item Type:Article
Additional Information:Thanks to Elsevier editor. The original PDF of the article can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135417300659
HAL Id:hal-01522441
Audience (journal):International peer-reviewed journal
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Institution:French research institutions > Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS (FRANCE)
Université de Toulouse > Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse - Toulouse INP (FRANCE)
French research institutions > Institut national de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies pour l'Environnement et l'Agriculture - IRSTEA (FRANCE)
Other partners > Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (FRANCE)
Other partners > Université Paris Est Créteil Val de Marne - UPEC (FRANCE)
Université de Toulouse > Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier - UT3 (FRANCE)
French research institutions > Agence Française pour la Biodiversité - AFB (FRANCE)
Other partners > Office national de l'eau et des milieux aquatiques - ONEMA (FRANCE)
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Deposited On:05 May 2017 08:23

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