River ecosystem processes: A synthesis of approaches, criteria of use and sensitivity to environmental stressors
2017
Authors:
von Schiller, DanielAcuña, Vicenç
Aristi, Ibon
Arroita, Maite
Basaguren, Ana
Bellin, Alberto
Boyero, Luz
Butturini, Andrea
Ginebreda, Antoni
Kalogianni, Eleni
Larrañaga, Aitor
Majone, Bruno
Martínez, Aingeru
Monroy, Silvia
Muñoz, Isabel
Paunović, Momir
Pereda, Olatz
Petrović, Mira
Pozo, Jesús
Rodríguez-Mozaz, Sara
Rivas, Daniel
Sabater, Sergi
Sabater, Francesc
Skoulikidis, Nikolaos
Solagaistua, Libe
Vardakas, Leonidas
Elosegi, Arturo
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
River ecosystems are subject to multiple stressors that affect their structure and functioning. Ecosystem structure refers to characteristics such as channel form, water quality or the composition of biological communities, whereas ecosystem functioning refers to processes such as metabolism, organic matter decomposition or secondary production. Structure and functioning respond in contrasting and complementary ways to environmental stressors. Moreover, assessing the response of ecosystem functioning to stressors is critical to understand the effects on the ecosystem services that produce direct benefits to humans. Yet, there is more information on structural than on functional parameters, and despite the many approaches available to measure river ecosystem processes, structural approaches are more widely used, especially in management. One reason for this discrepancy is the lack of synthetic studies analyzing river ecosystem functioning in a way that is useful for both scientists and managers. Here, we present a synthesis of key river ecosystem processes, which provides a description of the main characteristics of each process, including criteria guiding their measurement as well as their respective sensitivity to stressors. We also discuss the current limitations, potential improvements and future steps that the use of functional measures in rivers needs to face.
Keywords:
Aquatic; Ecosystem health; Function; Functioning; Methods; Running waterFunding / projects:
- Managing the effects of multiple stressors on aquatic ecosystems under water scarcity (EU-FP7-603629)
In:
- Science of The Total Environment (2017), 596-597: 465-480
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.081
ISSN: 0048-9697
PubMed: 28458222
WoS: 000401557600047
Scopus: 2-s2.0-85018328402
URI
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969717309191https://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2743