71 research outputs found
Local extinction and colonisation in native and exotic fish in relation to changes in land use
No full textDistribution patterns of many native and exotic fish species are well documented, yet little is known about the temporal dynamics of native and exotic diversity in relation to changes in land use. We hypothesised that colonisation rates would be higher for exotic fish species and that extinction rates would be higher for native species in large stream systems. We also predicted that cold-water species would be more impacted than thermally tolerant species. To test these hypotheses, we used generalised linear mixed models to compare changes in native and exotic fish species richness over 10 years in a French drainage basin subjected to landscape alterations. Exotic fish were more susceptible to local extinction than the native ones. Extinction was greater among cold-tolerant species and at higher elevations. Colonisation by exotic species was higher at lower elevations. Although a decade of expanding urbanisation affected fish colonisation, agricultural lands experienced higher extinction rates. In the context of global changes in land use and population pressure, our study suggests that the temporal dynamics of fish diversity are driven by landscape alterations as well as by the thermal tolerance of species
Distribution spatiale des invertébrés benthiques du réseau hydrographique Adour-Garonne : modélisation et impact de l'anthropisation
No full textL'analyse d'un grand nombre de travaux publiés décrivant la biodiversité à une échelle locale nous a permis de recenser 1093 espèces d'invertébrés benthiques provenant de 631 stations d'échantillonnage réparties dans l'ensemble du réseau hydrographique Adour-Garonne (sud-ouest de la France). La distribution spatiale de ces taxa dans le bassin donne lieu à des assemblages d'espèces à partir desquels nous proposons une biotypologie des cours d'eau. Cette classification révèle des différences longitudinales et géographiques de la composition des communautés à l'échelle régionale. Elle rend compte des différentes situations géomorphologiques rencontrées par les cours d'eau et fournit un cadre de référence utile à l'étude écologique comme à la gestion des cours d'eau d'un grand réseau hydrographique. L'eau douce constitue aussi une ressource pour les activités humaines. Les communautés d'invertébrés benthiques sont sensibles aux perturbation des cours d'eau et de leur environnement proche (utilisation des sols) qui modifient les gradients naturels de diversités spécifique et fonctionnelle. La directive européenne adoptée en 2000 définit un cadre pour la gestion, la préservation et la restauration des ressources en eau. Le grand réseau hydrographique y est clairement défini comme l'échelle d'étude adaptée. Ce travail montre qu'à cette échelle, la compréhension des écosystèmes aquatiques s'appuie nécessairement sur l'analyse d'un grand nombre d'études locales. Il souligne également l'intérêt des systèmes d'information géographique pour compiler et organiser les données écologiques et les rendre exploitables au moyen de techniques d'analyse multivariées adaptées.The analysis of a large number of published works describing biodiversity at local scales allowed us to identify 1093 species of benthic invertebrates from 631 sampling sites in the Adour-Garonne stream system (South-Western France). Macroinvertebrate distribution revealed spatial patterns in species assemblages from which we derived stream classifications. These classifications showed altitudinal and geographic differences in the specific composition of invertebrate communities reflecting the various physiographical situations encountered by streams at a regional scale. They also provide a useful framework for studying and managing streams in large geographic areas. In an economically developed area, water is a useful resource for many human activities. Macroinvertebrate communities are very sensitive to human modifications on streams and the surrounding land. These modifications induce changes in "natural" spatial patterns of specific and functional diversity. The EU Water framework directive adopted in 2000 (2000/60/EC) defines goals for management and protection of European surface waters in the next years. It clearly states that the best model for a single system of water management is management by river basin. Our work suggest that the understanding of aquatic ecosystems at a river basin scale necessarily relies on the analysis of a large number of local studies, the origin of which is generally diverse. It also emphasized the significance of geographic information systems to compile and organize biotic and abiotic data and make them exploitable through adapted multivariate analysis techniques
Environmental effects related to the local absence of exotic fish
No full textGiven the extent of biological invasions in industrialized countries, our understanding of the determinants of overall patterns of biological invasions could gain most from consideration of why exotic species are absent from some areas, rather than from distribution patterns of exotic species. Fish communities were sampled at 381 sites representing 221 rivers in the Adour-Garonne stream system (116 000 km², SW France). Very few rivers were not colonized by exotic fish species, however, on a local basis, only 33% of the sampling sites hosted exotics. Using General Linear Modelling, we found that patterns of exotic fish (occurrence, number of species, proportion within assemblage) responded to both land-use and physical variables, whereas patterns of native fish only responded to the local meso-scale characteristics of each stream reach from headwaters to mouth. All fish communities were susceptible to invasion regardless of native species richness, and higher native species richness did not decrease the opportunity for establishment by exotic species. The likelihood that exotic fish are absent primarily increased with elevation and with lower human influence upon the land cover, while human-impacted landscapes (agricultural and urban areas) were more likely to host exotic fish and higher numbers of exotic species. In light of urban and agricultural development, our ability to detect responses of exotic species to landscape alterations using a combination of simple physical and land cover variables exemplifies a cost-effective technique for assessing areas at greater invasion risk in large stream systems
Spatial patterns of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups in streams in relation to physical variables and land-cover in southwestern France
No full textInternational audienceArtificial neural networks were used to quantify the distribution of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (FFGs) in relation to physical variables and to land-cover in the Adour-Garonne stream system (SW France; 116,000 km²). The relative abundances of five FFGs were calculated from macroinvertebrate data recorded at 165 sampling sites. Each site was characterized using 5 physical variables (elevation, stream order, stream width, distance from the source, slope) and 3 land-cover variables (% forested, % urban areas, % agricultural areas). The sites were first classified using the Self-Organizing Map algorithm (SOM), according to the physical and land-cover variables. Two major clusters of sites corresponded to anthropogenically-modified and natural areas, respectively. Anthropogenically-modified areas were clearly divided into agricultural and urban landscapes. Each major cluster was divided into 3-4 subsets of sites according to a topographic gradient of physical variables. To examine the variability of the communities, FFG proportions at the 165 sites were examined on the SOM trained with physical and land-cover variables. When the riverine landscape was natural, FFG patterns responded to the upstream-downstream gradient in physical variables. When the landscape was altered by agriculture or urbanization, the effects of land-cover on FFGs overcame the influence of the physical variables. The categorization of the landscape into forested, agricultural, and urban areas was relevant to detect changes in FFG patterns. In light of increasing development along riparian zones, the use of SOMs to detect responses of FFGs to landscape alterations at regional scales exemplifies an effective technique for assessing river health based on ecological indicator groups
Invertebrate distribution patterns and river typology for the implementation of the water framework directive in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles
No full textOver the past decade, Europe's Water Framework Directive provided compelling reasons for developing tools for the biological assessment of freshwater ecosystem health in member States. Yet, the lack of published study for Europe's overseas regions reflects minimal knowledge of the distribution patterns of aquatic species in Community's outermost areas. Benthic invertebrates (84 taxa) and land cover, physical habitat and water chemistry descriptors (26 variables) were recorded at fifty-one stations in Martinique, French Lesser Antilles. Canonical Correspondence Analysis and Ward's algorithm were used to bring out patterns in community structure in relation to environmental conditions, and variation partitioning was used to specify the influence of geomorphology and anthropogenic disturbance on invertebrate communities. Species richness decreased from headwater to lowland streams, and species composition changed from northern to southern areas. The proportion of variation explained by geomorphological variables was globally higher than that explained by anthropogenic variables. Geomorphology and land cover played key roles in delineating ecological sub-regions for the freshwater biota. Despite this and the small surface area of Martinique (1080 km²), invertebrate communities showed a clear spatial turnover in composition and biological traits (e.g., insects, crustaceans and molluscs) in relation to natural conditions
Non-interactive fish communities in the coastal streams of North-western France
No full text1. Spatial patterns of freshwater fish species at regional and local scales were investigated to explore the possible role of interspecific interactions in influencing distribution and abundance within communities occupying coastal streams of North-Western France. 2. Nine sites from nine streams situated in the same biogeographical region were sampled annually over the 6-year period from 1990 to 1995. 3. Similar habitats (sites) with richer regional colonization pools exhibited proportionally richer local communities in terms of number of species, total density and total biomass of individuals. Furthermore, no negative relationships were found between density and biomass of each of the most common species and local species richness. 4. Results of dynamic regression models (applied to the above-mentioned species) suggest an absence of strong competition between all pairs of species. 5. The evidence on lack of density compensation for species-poor communities and absence of perceptible interspecific competition between species suggest that the communities studied are non-interactive. 6. Two main explanations can be advanced. First, the local abundance of species in the communities studied could be determined through differential responses to unpredictable environmental changes, rather than through biological interactions. Second, as a result of historical events, the communities studied are reduced in congeneric species which can limit, in turn, the influence of interspecific competition in structuring these communities. 7. These results underline the strong influence of regional processes in shaping local riverine fish communities and minimize the possible influence of species interactions in governing these communities
Influence of fish farming on the spatial patterns and biological traits of river invertebrates in an appenine stream system (Italy)
No full textIn applied river ecology it is implicitly assumed that community structure is a surrogate for functional properties. To test this hypothesis, 26 sites were sampled for macroinvertebrates in a Central Italian stream system impacted by 13 trout farms (1 upstream and 1 downstream site per facility). We used a fuzzy-coding approach of biological traits combined with species distribution analysis. Trout farm locally impacted the structure of macroinvertebrate communities, but serial disturbances at the stream system scale did not affect the overall regional diversity pattern. Impacted sites had species with large body size, which fed upon microorganisms and fine detritus, and which showed asexual reproduction. Least impact sites hosted small-sized invertebrates showing sexual reproduction, and feeding upon plant material and/or algae
Distribution spatiale des invertébrés benthiques du réseau hydrographique Adour-Garonne (modélisation et impact de l'anthropisation)
No full textTOULOUSE3-BU Sciences (315552104) / SudocSudocFranceF
Exploitation Hydroélectrique en Vicdessos : implications directes et indirectes du changement global sur l’écosystème aquatique
No full textNational audiencePrésentation à l’école du Haut-Vicdessos des travaux d’un chercheu
Biological traits of European pond macroinvertebrates
No full textWhilst biological traits of river macroinvertebrates show unimodal responses to geographic changes in habitat conditions in Europe, we still do not know whether spatial turnover of species result in distinct combinations of biological traits for pond macroinvertebrates. Here, we used data on the occurrence of 204 macroinvertebrate taxa in 120 ponds from four biogeographic regions of Europe, to compare their biological traits. The Mediterranean, Atlantic, Alpine, and Continental regions have specific climate, vegetation and geology. Only two taxa were exclusively found in the Alpine and Continental regions, while 28 and 34 taxa were exclusively recorded in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, respectively. Invertebrates in the Mediterranean region allocated much energy to reproduction and resistance forms. Most Mediterranean invertebrate species had narrow thermal ranges. In Continental areas, invertebrates allocated lesser energy to reproduction and dispersal, and organisms were short lived with high diversity of feeding groups. These characteristics suggest higher resilience. The main difference between ponds in the Alpine and Atlantic regions was their elevation. Alpine conditions necessitate specific adaptations related to rapid temperature fluctuations, and low nutrient concentrations. Even if our samples did not cover the full range of pond conditions across Europe, our analyses suggest that changes in community composition have important impacts on pond ecosystem functions. Consistent information on a larger set of ponds across Europe would be much needed, but their low accessibility (unpublished data and/or not disclosed by authors) remains problematic. There is still, therefore, a pressing need for the incorporation of high quality data sets into a standardized database so that they can be further analyzed in an integrated European-wide manner
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