Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events
Changing precipitation dynamics is one of the most important mechanisms that, by affecting the water regime, modifies the physical and chemical environment of aquatic assemblages. Thus, hydrological extremes can be considered as key drivers that shape algal assemblages and lead to diversity changes...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23001930 |
| _version_ | 1797866113320615936 |
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| author | Zsuzsanna Nemes-Kókai Krisztián Kovács Gábor Borics Rezső Mayer Zoltán Novák Ákos Gábor Robotka Júlia József Károly Érczes Áron Lukács Viktória B-Béres |
| author_facet | Zsuzsanna Nemes-Kókai Krisztián Kovács Gábor Borics Rezső Mayer Zoltán Novák Ákos Gábor Robotka Júlia József Károly Érczes Áron Lukács Viktória B-Béres |
| author_sort | Zsuzsanna Nemes-Kókai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Changing precipitation dynamics is one of the most important mechanisms that, by affecting the water regime, modifies the physical and chemical environment of aquatic assemblages. Thus, hydrological extremes can be considered as key drivers that shape algal assemblages and lead to diversity changes even in large rivers. Here, we investigated the long-term changes in the benthic diatom composition of the Rába River (River Raab), the watershed of which experienced continuous loss of precipitation in the last five years. We aim to answer the main question: Do one-off drought events and trend-like (continuous) precipitation decrease result in similar changes within diatom assemblages of this perennial river? Because, it has been already demonstrated that resilience and resistance of assemblages may vary depending on whether the drought occurs regularly or only occasionally. Our results demonstrated that one-off dry events hardly affected either assemblages’ composition or biodiversity. In contrast, continuously decreasing precipitation (drying period) had a pronounced effect on taxa and trait distribution and resulted in a significant decrease in taxonomic diversity and in functional richness. It is important to stress that the observed deteriorating diversity anticipates that a lasting drought period is likely to upset the ecological balance of the ecosystem and lead to remarkable natural damage. Since the climate scenarios project extremes in water regime in the near future, including longer periods of low precipitation, any knowledge that predicts changes in microflora can help to develop action plans by authorities to save lotic ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:19:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b195b873eb6a46f298ec11be24f7af44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:19:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-b195b873eb6a46f298ec11be24f7af442023-03-22T04:36:04ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-04-01148110051Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought eventsZsuzsanna Nemes-Kókai0Krisztián Kovács1Gábor Borics2Rezső Mayer3Zoltán Novák4Ákos Gábor Robotka5Júlia József6Károly Érczes7Áron Lukács8Viktória B-Béres9Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Bem Square 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary; Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem square 1, H-4032 Debrecen, HungaryLaboratory for Environmental Protection, Government Office of Győr-Moson-Sopron Count, Török Ignác Street 68, H-9028 Győr, HungaryCentre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Bem Square 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary; University of Nyíregyháza, PO Box 166, H-4401 Nyíregyháza, HungaryLaboratory for Environmental Protection, Government Office of Győr-Moson-Sopron Count, Török Ignác Street 68, H-9028 Győr, HungaryLaboratory for Environmental Protection, Government Office of Győr-Moson-Sopron Count, Török Ignác Street 68, H-9028 Győr, Hungary; Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Zooplankton and Ecological Interactions Research Group, Klebelsberg Kuno Street 3, H-8237 Tihany, HungaryLaboratory for Environmental Protection, Government Office of Győr-Moson-Sopron Count, Török Ignác Street 68, H-9028 Győr, HungaryLaboratory for Environmental Protection, Government Office of Győr-Moson-Sopron Count, Török Ignác Street 68, H-9028 Győr, HungaryLaboratory for Environmental Protection, Government Office of Győr-Moson-Sopron Count, Török Ignác Street 68, H-9028 Győr, HungaryCentre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Bem Square 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary; Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem square 1, H-4032 Debrecen, HungaryCentre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Bem Square 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary; Corresponding author.Changing precipitation dynamics is one of the most important mechanisms that, by affecting the water regime, modifies the physical and chemical environment of aquatic assemblages. Thus, hydrological extremes can be considered as key drivers that shape algal assemblages and lead to diversity changes even in large rivers. Here, we investigated the long-term changes in the benthic diatom composition of the Rába River (River Raab), the watershed of which experienced continuous loss of precipitation in the last five years. We aim to answer the main question: Do one-off drought events and trend-like (continuous) precipitation decrease result in similar changes within diatom assemblages of this perennial river? Because, it has been already demonstrated that resilience and resistance of assemblages may vary depending on whether the drought occurs regularly or only occasionally. Our results demonstrated that one-off dry events hardly affected either assemblages’ composition or biodiversity. In contrast, continuously decreasing precipitation (drying period) had a pronounced effect on taxa and trait distribution and resulted in a significant decrease in taxonomic diversity and in functional richness. It is important to stress that the observed deteriorating diversity anticipates that a lasting drought period is likely to upset the ecological balance of the ecosystem and lead to remarkable natural damage. Since the climate scenarios project extremes in water regime in the near future, including longer periods of low precipitation, any knowledge that predicts changes in microflora can help to develop action plans by authorities to save lotic ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23001930Climate changeCompositional alterationsEcological statusOne-off dry eventsTrend-like changes |
| spellingShingle | Zsuzsanna Nemes-Kókai Krisztián Kovács Gábor Borics Rezső Mayer Zoltán Novák Ákos Gábor Robotka Júlia József Károly Érczes Áron Lukács Viktória B-Béres Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events Ecological Indicators Climate change Compositional alterations Ecological status One-off dry events Trend-like changes |
| title | Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events |
| title_full | Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events |
| title_fullStr | Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events |
| title_full_unstemmed | Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events |
| title_short | Continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one-off drought events |
| title_sort | continuous precipitation loss induced more pronounced compositional and diversity changes in the lotic phytobenthos than one off drought events |
| topic | Climate change Compositional alterations Ecological status One-off dry events Trend-like changes |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23001930 |
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