Publication details
Benthic invertebrates as indicators of stream intermittency
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| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Due to the ongoing climate change which brings unbalanced summer precipitations together with higher evapotranspiration related to rising temperatures, there is an increasing risk of stream intermittency in the temperate zone. Mediterranean region inhabit many species which are well adapted to stream drying due to long term persistence in conditions of natural flow instability. However, the species with such preadaptations that enables survival in repeatedly drying streams can be found even in Central Europe. The populations of drying adapted taxa can raise their abundances in intermittent streams comparing to typical perennial stream. Our study was conducted on streams of Strahler orders 2-4 within the area of Czech Republic. We classified studied streams to three categories – perennial, near-perennial (dry episode <7 days) and intermittent (dry episode >7 days) in respect to the flow permanence. The 3-min multihabitat kick samples of benthic macroinvertebrates were taken in autumn and spring season. The taxonomic composition of the assemblages were analysed and indicator species analysis was performed in order to reveal the species with significant relationship to stream intermittency. More than 20 taxa from different taxonomic groups were identified as typical indicators of intermittent streams. These taxa dispose of different strategies to survive stream drying. For example they have resistant stages like a diapausing eggs, larvae or adults. Also the temporal fauna inhabiting intermittent streams have frequently synchronized emergence before flow cessation to avoid the dry period. However, in some taxa survival mechanism is not obvious and has to be studied in future. The study was supported by INTER-COST project INTER-EXCELENCE (MSMT LTC17017). |
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