科研之友
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摘要
Despite the fundamental importance of reservoirs and dams for socioeconomic development, their presence results in large-scale alterations to the natural flow regime of the rivers and profoundly influences aquatic processes and biodiversity. This study compared macroinvertebrate community composition and structure metrics, as well as biological and ecological traits to evaluate their dependence on inter-seasonal and intra-seasonal flows and water quality downstream of the Itutinga reservoir situated on Rio Grande in Brazil. The results demonstrated the utility of benthic macroinvertebrate abundance, density, richness, size, reproduction, locomotion and feeding modes to assess flow regime and water quality variability. Changes in the macroinvertebrate communities were closely associated with seasonal differences in parameters such as temperature, turbidity and nutrients, which were modulated by substrate particle size and heterogeneity. Modification of the flow regime, as a result of river regulation, influences the composition, structure and functioning of river ecosystems and is reflected in changes to the aquatic communities they support. The results of this study highlight the extreme complexity of the links between physicochemical, hydrological and biological processes in lotic systems and the need to better understand these links in order to develop and implement optimal environmental flow regimes in regulated rivers.
- 出版日期2016-4
