Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China

The characteristics of the benthic community structure can effectively reflect the health status of the river ecosystem and the quality of the river ecological environment. It is of great significance to identify the limiting factors of benthic community structure for the maintenance of river ecosys...

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Main Authors: Qian Zhang, Tao Yang, Xuhao Wan, Yiyan Wang, Wei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-02-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2031092X
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author Qian Zhang
Tao Yang
Xuhao Wan
Yiyan Wang
Wei Wang
author_facet Qian Zhang
Tao Yang
Xuhao Wan
Yiyan Wang
Wei Wang
author_sort Qian Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The characteristics of the benthic community structure can effectively reflect the health status of the river ecosystem and the quality of the river ecological environment. It is of great significance to identify the limiting factors of benthic community structure for the maintenance of river ecosystem health. As a typical semi-arid ecological fragile area, the eco-environmental problems in the Wei River basin have become increasingly prominent. The benthic community structure is affected by multiple stresses such as habitat degradation and water quality deterioration. In this study, 18 national monitoring stations were selected to investigate the ecological environment and benthic invertebrate community characteristics in the Wei River basin in October 2019. W-statistics, Shannon-Winer index, Pielou index, Margalef index, and B-IBI index were selected to evaluate the community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates from three aspects of the community stability, community diversity, and community integrity. Principal component analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and canonical correspondence analysis were used to analyze the correlation and variability between zoobenthos community index and environmental factors. The results showed that the spatial difference of benthic community structure in the Wei River basin was not significant, and the Sal, NH3-N, Tub, DO in water environment and heavy metals in sediment were the main environmental factors affecting the community structure of benthos. Improving water quality and controlling pollution were the main strategies to improve benthic biodiversity and promote sustainable development in the Wei River basin.
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spelling doaj.art-9043ca64daf34235aa408dc6edfec3012022-12-21T23:09:06ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-02-01121107153Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, ChinaQian Zhang0Tao Yang1Xuhao Wan2Yiyan Wang3Wei Wang4School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi’an 710062, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China; Corresponding author at: Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China.School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of ChinaThe characteristics of the benthic community structure can effectively reflect the health status of the river ecosystem and the quality of the river ecological environment. It is of great significance to identify the limiting factors of benthic community structure for the maintenance of river ecosystem health. As a typical semi-arid ecological fragile area, the eco-environmental problems in the Wei River basin have become increasingly prominent. The benthic community structure is affected by multiple stresses such as habitat degradation and water quality deterioration. In this study, 18 national monitoring stations were selected to investigate the ecological environment and benthic invertebrate community characteristics in the Wei River basin in October 2019. W-statistics, Shannon-Winer index, Pielou index, Margalef index, and B-IBI index were selected to evaluate the community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates from three aspects of the community stability, community diversity, and community integrity. Principal component analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and canonical correspondence analysis were used to analyze the correlation and variability between zoobenthos community index and environmental factors. The results showed that the spatial difference of benthic community structure in the Wei River basin was not significant, and the Sal, NH3-N, Tub, DO in water environment and heavy metals in sediment were the main environmental factors affecting the community structure of benthos. Improving water quality and controlling pollution were the main strategies to improve benthic biodiversity and promote sustainable development in the Wei River basin.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2031092XBenthic macroinvertebratesCommunity characteristicsDriving factors identification
spellingShingle Qian Zhang
Tao Yang
Xuhao Wan
Yiyan Wang
Wei Wang
Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China
Ecological Indicators
Benthic macroinvertebrates
Community characteristics
Driving factors identification
title Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China
title_full Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China
title_fullStr Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China
title_short Community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi-arid areas – A case study of Wei River Basin, China
title_sort community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and identification of environmental driving factors in rivers in semi arid areas a case study of wei river basin china
topic Benthic macroinvertebrates
Community characteristics
Driving factors identification
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2031092X
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