Search results for " Ecosystem"
showing 10 items of 633 documents
Sex-specific genetic differences in endurance swimming of Trinidadian guppies.
2015
Abstract Swim performance is considered a main fitness‐determining trait in many aquatic organisms. Swimming is generally the only way most aquatic prey can escape predation, and swimming capacity is directly linked to food capture, habitat shifts, and reproduction. Therefore, evolutionary studies of swim performance are important to understand adaptation to aquatic environments. Most studies, however, concentrate on the importance of burst‐swim responses to predators, and little is known about its effect on endurance. Even fewer studies associate differences in organism swim capabilities to key gender‐specific responses. In this experiment, we assess the gender‐specific genetic basis of sw…
Shifts in plankton assemblages promoted by free water surface constructed wetlands and their implications in eutrophication remediation
2015
Abstract Two units of free water surface constructed wetlands (FWSCWs) were created in 2009 in a Mediterranean protected site, the Albufera de Valencia Natural Park, to treat eutrophic inflows to the Albufera de Valencia lagoon, the largest coastal lagoon in the Iberian Peninsula, affected by cultural eutrophication. Data of phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass and richness of the inflows and outflows corresponding to the first 3.5 years of operation of the system have been analyzed to evaluate the role of plankton in the eutrophication reversion. The FWSCWs significantly reduced the exported microalgal biomass, stimulated the potential mixotrophic groups of phytoplankton such as Euglenoph…
Phytoplankton in the physical environment: beyond nutrients, at the end, there is some light
2009
This article summarizes the outcomes of the 15th Workshop of the International Association for Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology. Four major issues dealing with the role of physical factors in phytoplankton ecology were addressed in the articles of this special volume: global change and its likely impacts on phytoplankton, the role of physical factors in the autecology of particular species, impacts on the inocula for the following years, and the role of light in shaping phytoplankton dynamics. Case studies from different types of aquatic environments (rivers, deep and shallow lakes, floodplain lakes, wetlands, oxbows, and even the deep ocean) and from diverse geographical locations (not o…
The role of eutrophication reduction of two small man-made Mediterranean lagoons in the context of a broader remediation system: Effects on water qua…
2013
In order to meet the requirements of the European Union Water Framework Directive for the Albufera de Valencia (AV) Natural Park, in 2009, several areas of free water surface constructed wetlands (FWSCWs) planted with emergent vegetation and two small shallow lagoons planted with submerged macrophytes were created over a 40-ha area formerly occupied by rice fields. This area is currently a reserve known as Tancat de la Pipa. The dual goal of this programme was to improve the quality of the hyper-eutrophicated waters of the AV lagoon, the largest littoral lagoon in the Iberian Peninsula, and to restore former lost habitats to increase the biodiversity of the area. The lagoons were mainly fed…
Human Impact Effects on Târnava River Basin Aquatic Biodiversity (Transylvania, Romania)
2020
Today the following categories of human impact are present in the Tarnava Watershed: hydrotechnical works, insufficiently treated/cleaned sewage, river substratum mineral exploitation/over-exploitation, manure leakage, artificial standing water, industry, river embankment, deforestation, pouching, etc., the first three of these inducing the highest impact on the lotic systems habitats and biodiversity.
The Status of Romanogobio uranoscopus (Agassiz, 1828) Species, in Maramureş Mountains Nature Park (Romania)
2017
Abstract The condition of aquatic habitats typically occupied by Romanogobio uranoscopus within the Maramureş Mountains Natural Park fluctuates, in the best cases, between reduced to average. Good or excellent conservation status is now absent for populations of this species in the researched area. The identified human impact types (poaching, minor riverbeds morphodynamic changes, solid and liquid natural flow changes, destruction of the riparian vegetation and bush vegetation, habitat fragmentation/isolation of population, organic and mining pollution and displaced fish that are washed away during the periodic flooding in the lotic sectors uniformized by humans) are contributing to the dim…
Joint Methodology for the Identification and Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems in Estonia and Latvia
2020
Dynamic interactions between ground- and surface water are widely known, but the role of groundwater in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is often poorly understood and documented due to the spatiotemporal complexity. Many countries have not yet completed the assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs). GDEs are valuable ecosystems that depend on groundwater input and can not be considered and assessed separately. Changes in the quantity and chemical composition of groundwater recharge may result in significant and permanent damage on GDE flora and fauna. Aquifers are dynamic systems which are not subject to administrative boundaries and borders, therefore should be managed in cl…
Ecological assessment of developing carbon sequestration in Shenyang, China
2012
Carbon sequestration in urban ecosystems is becoming an international climate change initiative for sustainable development. Drawing upon field work undertaken in the author's native Shenyang, China, this research reports upon the natural process of carbon sequestration from the atmosphere into urban ecosystems. The risks associated within carbon sequestration in urban ecosystems are investigated and utilised the analysis of ecological carbon cycle status and integrated climate policy with reference to the sustainable development of urban planning. The primary method of this paper is the ecologically–based life assessment of urban ecosystems relevant to tackling barriers for developing carb…
Effect of restoration on zooplankton community in a permanent interdunal pond
2013
Restoration projects in wetlands are becoming increasingly frequent to recover or to create new aquatic ecosystems, after the significant impact and high degradation they have undergone. In the present study, we focused on the changes in the zooplankton community in a permanent peridunal pond where a restoration was carried out in order to increase its surface as a main objective. For this purpose, the community was compared before and after the restoration (15 years before, the year after and between 3 and 6 years later). Significant changes in environmental variables were observed after pond restoration: chlorophyll a concentration decreased and dissolved oxygen increased. Substantial mod…
Byers Peninsula: A reference site for coastal, terrestrial and limnetic ecosystem studies in maritime Antarctica
2009
Abstract This article describes the development of an international and multidisciplinary project funded by the Spanish Polar Programme on Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetlands). The project adopted Byers Peninsula as an international reference site for coastal and terrestrial (including inland waters) research within the framework of the International Polar Year initiative. Over 30 scientists from 12 countries and 26 institutions participated in the field work, and many others participated in the processing of the samples. The main themes investigated were: Holocene changes in climate, using both lacustrine sediment cores and palaeo-nests of penguins; limnology of the lakes, …