Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area
The Po river plain (Northern Italy) hosts artificial, lowland springs locally known as fontanili, which provide important ecosystem services in an area dominated by intensive agricultural activities. Here we present a study carried out in 50 springs. Each spring was visited once from October 2015 to...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3276 |
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| author | Giampaolo Rossetti Valentina Pieri Rossano Bolpagni Daniele Nizzoli Pierluigi Viaroli |
| author_facet | Giampaolo Rossetti Valentina Pieri Rossano Bolpagni Daniele Nizzoli Pierluigi Viaroli |
| author_sort | Giampaolo Rossetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Po river plain (Northern Italy) hosts artificial, lowland springs locally known as fontanili, which provide important ecosystem services in an area dominated by intensive agricultural activities. Here we present a study carried out in 50 springs. Each spring was visited once from October 2015 to January 2016. The sampled sites were selected to include springs studied in 2001 and 2004, to evaluate changes in water quality and ostracod assemblages that possibly occurred over a period of 10–15 years, and explore the relationships between ostracod community composition and water physical and chemical variables. Our results showed a decrease in the chemical water quality especially, in springs south of the Po river, evidenced by high nitrate levels. Most of the studied springs showed a relevant decrease in dissolved reactive silica, probably related to recent transformations of either agricultural practices or crop typology. Ostracods were mostly represented by common and tolerant species, and communities were characterized by low alpha diversity and high species turnover. Water temperature and mineralization level were the most influential variables in structuring the ostracod communities. We stress the need to implement conservation and restoration measures for these threatened ecosystems, to regain their role as ecosystem services providers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:39:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4816b1f551204ae0ac952d704b761966 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:39:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-4816b1f551204ae0ac952d704b7619662023-11-20T21:51:29ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-11-011211327610.3390/w12113276Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized AreaGiampaolo Rossetti0Valentina Pieri1Rossano Bolpagni2Daniele Nizzoli3Pierluigi Viaroli4Department of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Life Science and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, ItalyThe Po river plain (Northern Italy) hosts artificial, lowland springs locally known as fontanili, which provide important ecosystem services in an area dominated by intensive agricultural activities. Here we present a study carried out in 50 springs. Each spring was visited once from October 2015 to January 2016. The sampled sites were selected to include springs studied in 2001 and 2004, to evaluate changes in water quality and ostracod assemblages that possibly occurred over a period of 10–15 years, and explore the relationships between ostracod community composition and water physical and chemical variables. Our results showed a decrease in the chemical water quality especially, in springs south of the Po river, evidenced by high nitrate levels. Most of the studied springs showed a relevant decrease in dissolved reactive silica, probably related to recent transformations of either agricultural practices or crop typology. Ostracods were mostly represented by common and tolerant species, and communities were characterized by low alpha diversity and high species turnover. Water temperature and mineralization level were the most influential variables in structuring the ostracod communities. We stress the need to implement conservation and restoration measures for these threatened ecosystems, to regain their role as ecosystem services providers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3276groundwater dependent ecosystemsNorthern Italyhydrochemistrynutrient stoichiometrynon-marine ostracodsecosystem services |
| spellingShingle | Giampaolo Rossetti Valentina Pieri Rossano Bolpagni Daniele Nizzoli Pierluigi Viaroli Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area Water groundwater dependent ecosystems Northern Italy hydrochemistry nutrient stoichiometry non-marine ostracods ecosystem services |
| title | Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area |
| title_full | Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area |
| title_fullStr | Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area |
| title_short | Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area |
| title_sort | variability in environmental conditions strongly impacts ostracod assemblages of lowland springs in a heavily anthropized area |
| topic | groundwater dependent ecosystems Northern Italy hydrochemistry nutrient stoichiometry non-marine ostracods ecosystem services |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3276 |
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