2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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5/26/2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | EXPERIMENTAL FLOW INTERMITTENCY AFFECTS ALPINE STREAM MACROINVERTEBRATES (VAL ROSEG, SWITZERLAND) | Virtual Platform

EXPERIMENTAL FLOW INTERMITTENCY AFFECTS ALPINE STREAM MACROINVERTEBRATES (VAL ROSEG, SWITZERLAND)

Changing weather patterns and receding glaciers are projected to increase flow intermittency in alpine streams globally, with strong effects on biodiversity and functional processes. We conducted a before-after-control-impact (BACI) flow experiment to examine the effects of intermittency on an alpine headwater stream. We monitored macroinvertebrates, periphyton and benthic organic matter over three years. Flow in one channel was manipulated to simulate the onset of increased summer intermittency (June-September) over two consecutive years, while an adjacent channel served as a control. Before manipulation, both channels had similar ecological properties. Multi-year flow manipulation caused a reduction in rheophilic macroinvertebrate density, macroinvertebrate density and taxa number. Periphyton and benthic organic matter did not differ between channels. Recovery of the macroinvertebrate community following the experimental flow intermittency took more than a year, which is discussed in the context of macroinvertebrate life histories, dispersal limitation and biotic interactions. Climate change induced shifts in stream flow regimes may lead to a fundamental shift in macroinvertebrate assemblages with local extinctions of specialized rheophilic species.

Biodiversity
Flow regime
IRES

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Presenters/Authors

Annemieke Drost (), Eawag & Wageningen University, annemieke.drost@hotmail.nl;