Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features
The present study reports seasonal data about chemico-physical trends, macrobenthic invertebrates, and <i>Phragmites australis</i> decomposition rates within a karstic freshwater system in the western classic Karst. Results presented herein were compared with those obtained from the same...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/6/460 |
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| author | Marco Bertoli Davide Lesa Alessia Merson Paolo Pastorino Marino Prearo Elisabetta Pizzul |
| author_facet | Marco Bertoli Davide Lesa Alessia Merson Paolo Pastorino Marino Prearo Elisabetta Pizzul |
| author_sort | Marco Bertoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study reports seasonal data about chemico-physical trends, macrobenthic invertebrates, and <i>Phragmites australis</i> decomposition rates within a karstic freshwater system in the western classic Karst. Results presented herein were compared with those obtained from the same system five years ago. Chemico-physical data showed higher temperatures and lower levels of pH and conductivity than in the past. The macrobenthic invertebrate community varied through the seasons and through the years, though they are dominated by few taxa, such as <i>Asellus</i> and <i>Gammarus</i>. These shredders were the most abundant functional feeding guild, playing a pivotal role in the decomposition of the vegetal organic matter. Decomposition rates <i>k</i> ranged between 0.009 and 0.016 days<sup>−1</sup> and varied seasonally. <i>k</i> values were different from those previously reported for the investigated system. Differences are mainly due to changes in water supply, depending on decreasing rainfall regimes and hydrometric levels of the Soča River, which showed lower levels than in the previous study. Changes in water supply altered the fluctuating pulse that is typical of ephemeral karstic lakes, changing the system dynamics. Potential effects of climate change on local scale are also discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:58:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-242ec4377d224dc5b70c525928c5501e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:58:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-242ec4377d224dc5b70c525928c5501e2023-11-23T16:20:26ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-06-0114646010.3390/d14060460Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental FeaturesMarco Bertoli0Davide Lesa1Alessia Merson2Paolo Pastorino3Marino Prearo4Elisabetta Pizzul5Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Science, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Science, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyExperimental Zooprofilactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, ItalyExperimental Zooprofilactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Life Science, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyThe present study reports seasonal data about chemico-physical trends, macrobenthic invertebrates, and <i>Phragmites australis</i> decomposition rates within a karstic freshwater system in the western classic Karst. Results presented herein were compared with those obtained from the same system five years ago. Chemico-physical data showed higher temperatures and lower levels of pH and conductivity than in the past. The macrobenthic invertebrate community varied through the seasons and through the years, though they are dominated by few taxa, such as <i>Asellus</i> and <i>Gammarus</i>. These shredders were the most abundant functional feeding guild, playing a pivotal role in the decomposition of the vegetal organic matter. Decomposition rates <i>k</i> ranged between 0.009 and 0.016 days<sup>−1</sup> and varied seasonally. <i>k</i> values were different from those previously reported for the investigated system. Differences are mainly due to changes in water supply, depending on decreasing rainfall regimes and hydrometric levels of the Soča River, which showed lower levels than in the previous study. Changes in water supply altered the fluctuating pulse that is typical of ephemeral karstic lakes, changing the system dynamics. Potential effects of climate change on local scale are also discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/6/460macrobenthic invertebratesdecomposition rateskarstic lakeleaf bagenvironmental management |
| spellingShingle | Marco Bertoli Davide Lesa Alessia Merson Paolo Pastorino Marino Prearo Elisabetta Pizzul Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features Diversity macrobenthic invertebrates decomposition rates karstic lake leaf bag environmental management |
| title | Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features |
| title_full | Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features |
| title_fullStr | Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features |
| title_short | Biodiversity and Litter Breakdown in a Karstic Freshwater System (Doberdò Lake, Northeast Italy) in Relation to Water Level Fluctuations and Environmental Features |
| title_sort | biodiversity and litter breakdown in a karstic freshwater system doberdo lake northeast italy in relation to water level fluctuations and environmental features |
| topic | macrobenthic invertebrates decomposition rates karstic lake leaf bag environmental management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/6/460 |
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