Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-11T00:32:54.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of flow fluctuations on the daily and seasonal drift of invertebrates in a tropical river

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2013

Diego M. P. Castro*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia de Bentos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CP. 486, Pampulha, CEP 30161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Robert M. Hughes
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia de Bentos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CP. 486, Pampulha, CEP 30161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil Amnis Opes Institute and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Marcos Callisto
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia de Bentos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, CP. 486, Pampulha, CEP 30161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
*
*Corresponding author: diegobioufla@gmail.com
Get access

Abstract

Invertebrate drift results from several factors, including accidental dislodgement from the substratum, interaction with other invertebrates and predators, and changes in water quality, discharge and current velocity. We evaluated the degree to which flow fluctuations from dam releases altered the daily and seasonal invertebrate drift patterns in a tropical river. We collected macroinvertebrates during fixed flow rates (323 m3.s−1 in the wet season and 111 m3.s−1 in the dry season) and when peak flows fluctuated (378–481 m3.s−1 in the wet season and 109–173 m3.s−1 in the dry season) in 2010. Of the 31 924 organisms collected, 8872 individuals and 43 taxa were collected in the wet season and 23 052 and 32 taxa were collected during the dry season. Seasonality had a strong influence on invertebrate assemblage composition and structure in the drift. During fixed flow periods, drift densities were greatest in the dry season and drift taxonomic richness was greatest in the wet season. In the wet season, fluctuating flows increased nocturnal drift density and richness, but decreased diurnal richness; in the dry season, fluctuating flows decreased drift densities and diurnal richness. In conclusion, the daily and seasonal invertebrate drift patterns are influenced by dam operations that alter flows and this knowledge can be used to reduce the downstream effects of dams.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acreman, M.C. and Ferguson, J.D., 2010. Environmental flows and European Water Framework Directive. Freshwat. Biol., 55, 3248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allan, J.D. and Russek, E., 1985. The quantification of stream drift. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 42, 210215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
American Public Health Association – APHA, 1992. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, American Public Health Association, Washington.
Armitage, P.D., 1978. Downstream changes in the composition, numbers and biomass of bottom fauna in the Tees River, below Cow Green Reservoir and in an unregulated tributary Maize Beck, in the first five years after impoundment. Hydrobiologia, 58, 145156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brittain, J.E. and Eikeland, T.J., 1988. Invertebrate drift – a review. Hydrobiologia, 166, 7793.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruno, M.C., Maiolini, B., Carolli, M. and Silveri, L., 2009. Impact of hydropeaking on hyporheic invertebrates in an Alpine stream (Trentino, Italy). Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim., 45, 157170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruno, M.C., Siviglia, A., Carolli, M. and Maiolini, B., 2012. Multiple drift responses of benthic invertebrates to interacting hydropeaking and thermopeaking waves. Ecohydrol., in press. doi: 10.1002/eco.1275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bunn, S.E. and Arthington, A.H., 2002. Basis principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Environ. Manage., 30, 492507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callisto, M. and Goulart, M., 2005. Invertebrate drift along a longitudinal gradient in a Neotropical stream in Serra do Cipó National Park, Brazil. Hydrobiologia, 539, 4756.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Céréghino, R., Cugny, P. and Lavandier, P., 2002. Influence of intermittent hydropeaking on the longitudinal zonation patterns of benthic invertebrates in a mountain stream. Int. Rev. Hydrobiol., 87, 4760.3.0.CO;2-9>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M., 2001. Change in Marine Communities an Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation (2nd edn), Primer-e Ltd., Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK, 172 p.
Cowell, B.C. and Carew, W.C., 1976. Seasonal and diel periodicity in the drift of aquatic insects in a subtropical Florida stream. Freshwat. Biol., 6, 587594.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elliott, J.M., 1968. The life histories and drifting of Trichoptera in a Dartmoor stream. J. Anim. Ecol., 37, 615625.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Figueredo, C.C. and Giani, A., 2001. Seasonal variation in the diversity and species richness of phytoplankton in a tropical eutrophic reservoir. Hydrobiologia, 445, 165174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flecker, A.S., 1992. Fish predation and the evolution of invertebrate drift periodicity: evidence from Neotropical streams. Ecology, 73, 438448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamada, N., McCreadie, J.W. and Adler, P.H., 2002. Species richness and spatial distribution of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in streams of Central Amazonia, Brazil. Freshwat. Biol., 47, 3140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen, E.A. and Closs, G.P., 2007. Temporal consistency in the long-term spatial distribution of macroinvertebrate drift along a stream reach. Hydrobiologia, 575, 361371.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hildebrand, S.G., 1974. The relation of drift to benthos density and food level in an artificial stream. Limnol. Oceaonogr., 19, 951957.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huhta, A., Muotka, T. and Tikkanen, P., 2000. Nocturnal drift of mayfly nymphs as a post-contact antipredator mechanism. Freshwat. Biol., 45, 3342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobsen, D. and Bojsen, B., 2002. Macroinvertebrate drift in Amazon streams in relation to riparian forest cover and fish fauna. Arch. Hidrobiol., 155, 177197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, N.E., 2013. The dual nature of hydropeaking rivers: is ecopeaking possible? River Res. Applic., in press. doi: 10.1002/rra.2653.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lauters, F., Lavandier, P., Lim, P., Sabaton, C. and Belaud, A., 1996. Influence of hydropeaking on invertebrates and their relationship with fish feeding habits in a Pyrenean River. Regul. River., 12, 563573.3.0.CO;2-M>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lobón-Cerviá, J., Rezende, C.F. and Castellanos, C., 2012. High species diversity and low density typify drift and benthos composition in Neotropical streams. Fund. Appl. Limnol., 181, 129142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McIntosh, A.R., Peckarsky, B.L. and Taylor, B.W., 2002. The influence of predatory fish on mayfly drift: extrapolating from experiments to nature. Freshwat. Biol., 47, 14971513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merritt, R.W. and Cummins, K.W., 1996. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendall Hunt, Iowa, 862 p.
Mugnai, R., Nessimian, J.L. and Baptista, D.F., 2010. Manual de identificação de macroinvertebrados aquáticos do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Technical Books, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 173 p.
Naliato, D.A.O., Nogueira, M.G. and Perbiche-Neves, G., 2009. Discharge pulses of hydroelectric dams and their effects in the downstream limnological conditions: a case study in a large tropical river (SE Brazil). Lakes Reserv. Res. Manag., 14, 301314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pérez, G.R., 1988. Guía para el estudio de los macroinvertebrados acuáticos del Departamento de Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, Bogotá, 217 p.
Poff, N.L. and Ward, J., 1991. Drift responses of benthic invertebrates to experimental streamflow variation in a hydrologically stable stream. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 48, 19261936.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poff, N.L. and Zimmerman, J.K.H., 2010. Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform the science and management of environmental flows. Freshwat. Biol., 55, 194205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poff, N.L., Allan, J.D., Bain, M.B., Karr, J.R., Prestegaard, K.L., Richter, B.D., Sparks, R.E. and Stromberg, J.C., 1997. The Natural Flow Regime. A paradigm for river conservation and restoration. BioScience, 47, 769784.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pompeu, P.S., Reis, L.S., Gandini, C.V., Souza, R.C.R. and Favero, J.M., 2009. The ichthyofauna of upper rio Capivari: defining conservation strategies based on the composition and distribution of fish species. Neotrop. Ichthyol., 7, 659666.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramírez, A. and Pringle, C.M., 1998. Invertebrate drift and benthic community dynamics in a lowland tropical stream,Costa Rica. Hydrobiologia, 386, 1926.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramírez, A. and Pringle, C.M., 2001. Spatial and temporal patterns of invertebrate drift in streams draining a Neotropical landscape. Freshwat. Biol., 46, 4762.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ríos-Touma, B., Prat, N. and Encalada, A.C., 2012. Invertebrate drift and colonization processes in a tropical Andean stream. Aquat. Biol., 14, 233246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schreiber, E.S.G., 1995. Long-term patterns of invertebrate stream drift in an Australian temperate stream. Freshwat. Biol., 33, 1325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smokorowski, K.E., Metcalfe, R.A., Finucan, S.D., Jones, N., Marty, J., Power, M., Pyrce, R.S. and Steele, R., 2011. Ecosystem level assessment of environmentally based flow restrictions for maintaining ecosystem integrity: a comparison of a modified peaking versus unaltered river. Ecohydrology, 4, 791806.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Straskraba, M., 1999. Retention time as a key variable of reservoir limnology. In: Tundisi, J.G. and Straskraba, M. (eds), Theoretical Reservoir Ecology and its Applications, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, São Carlos, 385410.
Troelstrup, N.H. and Hergenrader, G.L., 1990. Effect of hydropower peaking flow fluctuations on community structure and feeding guilds of invertebrates colonizing artificial substrates in a large impounded river. Hydrobiologia, 199, 217228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waters, T.F., 1972. Drift of stream insects. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 17, 253272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zar, J.H., 1996. Biostatistical Analysis, Prentice–Hall, New Jersey, 662 p.