Poster presented in the International Congress of Phycology in 2018 in Szczecin.

1. BIOASSESSMENT OF INTERMITTENT RIVERS AND
EPHEMERAL STREAMS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN
BASIN USING DIATOMS: ARE CURRENT METHODS ADEQUATE?
Burfeid-Castellanos, A. M.1*, aburfeid@ub.edu; Flor-Arnau, N. 1; Cid , N. 1; Rodríguez-Lozano, P. 1; Bonada, N.1;
Vinyoles , D.2; Fortuño , P. 1; Acosta, R. 1; Latron, J.3; Llorens, P.3; Gallart, F. 3; Cambra, J. 1 & Prat , N. 1.
1FEM Research group, University of Barcelona, Spain, *aburfeid@ub.edu 2 University of Barcelona, Spain. 3 Surface Hydrology and Erosion Group, IDAEA-CSIC, Spain.
Arheic
Hyporheic
Eurheic
OligorheicPineda Stream
Tossa Stream Tossa Stream
Tossa Stream
Fig. 1
Compared
aquatic
states
of
Mediterranean
Streams
Fig. 2
Location of
24 sampling
sites in
Spanish
Streams and
Rivers.
Material & Methods
Diatoms were sampled using the benthic epilithic diatom
protocol of the WFD [3]. 24 sites were sampled 111 times.
Physicochemical parameters were obtained during sampling sessions.
Diatom quality indices used were trophic (IPS, IBD and CEE) and saprobic
(SLA) and calculated using OMNIDIA software [4]
Results
Effectivity of diatom indices-Aquatic
states
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Ref.
Introduction
Intermittent rivers and Ephemeral Streams (IRES) are predominant forms
of waterbodies in the Mediterranean climate [1]. Even worse, current
predictions of global change tend to increase their number. Thus, the fact
that the Water Framework Directive (WFD) does not regulate them is
potentially perilous [2]. To counteract this, LIFE TRivers project was
started. Hydrological, physicochemical and ecological traits were studied
simultaneously to observe the characteristics of these waterbodies. The
aim of this project is to prepare regulation and management of temporary
rivers.
[1]
[2] Stubbington,
[3] CEN, (2014). UNE-EN 13946: 2014. Water Quality- Guidance for the routine sampling and preparation of benthic diatoms from rivers and lakes (2014).
[4]
, R., England, J., Wood, P. J., & Sefton, C. E. M. (2017). Temporary streams in temperate zones: recognizing, monitoring and restoring transitional aquatic-terrestrial ecosystems. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, e1223.
Gallart, F., Prat, N., Garca-Roger, E. M., Latron, J., Rieradevall, M., Llorens, P., …Froebrich, J. (2012). A novel approach to analysing the regimes of temporary streams in relation to their controls on the composition and structure of aquatic biota. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 16(9), 3165–3182.
NMDS2
NMDS2
IPS
IPS
IPS
IPS
Effectivity of diatom indices-
Rivertypes
Fig. 4. No significant differences in diatom index values of each rivertype.Fig. 3. Some significant differences between index values for each aquatic state.
ID_Eu ID_Oligo IP_A IP_Eu2 IP_Oligo2 P_Eu2 P-Oligo2
Effectivity of diatom indices-mixed
Aquatic states-Rivertypes
Fig. 5. Some significant differences in diatom index values for combined
aquatic state and rivertype. Problematic singletons.
Fig. 6. NMDS graph of the distribution of samplings according to aquatic
state. No clear distinction visible. A = arheic, Eu = Eurheic, Hypo = Hyporheic,
Oligo = Oligorheic.
LIFE13/ENV/ES/000341
Fig. 7. NMDS graph of the distribution of samplings according to
rivertypes, clear distinction between perennial (P) and intermittent rivers,
No clear differentiation of intermittent dry (ID) and Intermittent pools (IP)
Fig. 8. NMDS graph of distribution of samplings according to
mixed division. Distinction of perennial and intermittent rivers visible,
no other differentiation possible.
Anosim results did not show significant differences between
diatom communities (R2=0.05492) and water qualities
(R2=0.009506) between aquatic states.
Anosim results were significant for communities in different
river types (R2=0.3481***). No such significance was found in
water quality (R2=0.03021).
Anosim results were significant for the combined approach
differentiating diatom communities in different rivertypes
and aquatic states (R2=0.254***), not so for waterquality
(R2=0.02709)
Spearman correlation between the water quality indices in each
aquatic state (except hyporheic) were positive and significant.
Arheic and eurheic water states had the lowest Rho scores
(Rho: 0.62-0.88).
Spearman correlation between the water quality indices in each
rivertype were positive and highly significant. Perennial
streams had the highest (Rho=0.96-0.97) and intermittent
dry streams the lowest scores (Rho=0.80-0.94).
Spearman correlation between water quality indices in
rivertypes and aquatic states had various outcomes. Both
intermittent types eurheic states were non-significant.
Perennial rivers were unfailingly positive and significant
(Rho=0.96-0.99), lower values were observed in intermittent
pools (Rho=0.93-0.98) and no sifnificant correlations were
observed for intermittent dry streams.
Lecointe, C., Coste, M., & Prygiel, J. (1993).“Omnidia”: software for taxonomy, calculation ofdiatom indices and inventories management. Hydrobiologia, 269(1), 509–513.
1. Current diatom indices are unable to detect the effect of river discontinuity.
2. If necessary, water quality assessment needs to be made before seasonal drought to prevent affectation of diatom indices.
3. Dry streams cannot be monitored using the WFD approved method for riparian water quality assessment.
4. Affectation by aquatic states differ depending on rivertype.
Fig. 11. Comparison of diatom IPS values for each rivertype-aquatic state.Fig. 10. Comparison of diatom IPS values for each rivertype.Fig. 9. Comparison of diatom IPS values for each aquatic state.