J 2022

Ecological values of intermittent rivers for terrestrial vertebrate fauna

SÁNCHEZ-MONTOYA, María Mar, Rosa GÓMEZ, Jose F CALVO, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Thibault DATRY et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Ecological values of intermittent rivers for terrestrial vertebrate fauna

Authors

SÁNCHEZ-MONTOYA, María Mar (724 Spain, guarantor), Rosa GÓMEZ (724 Spain), Jose F CALVO (724 Spain), Tomáš BARTONIČKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Thibault DATRY (250 France) and Petr PAŘIL (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Science of the Total Environment, AMSTERDAM, Elsevier, 2022, 0048-9697

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10618 Ecology

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 9.800

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/22:00119326

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

UT WoS

000740206800015

Keywords in English

Biodiversity; Dry river channels; Ecological function; Flow intermittence; Freshwater ecosystems; Wildlife conservation

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 20/1/2022 09:53, Mgr. Marie Šípková, DiS.

Abstract

V originále

Rivers are generally considered critical habitats for biodiversity; however, this often ignores the fact that many rivers may run dry and support terrestrial as well as aquatic fauna. Here, we investigated the ecological value of intermittent rivers for terrestrial vertebrates by installing camera traps along rivers subject to varying dry periods in two contrasting European climatic zones. We then analysed i) species presence and behaviours (as a proxy of ecological functions) on perennial and intermittent streams; ii) environmental (hydrological and geomorphological) and anthropogenic factors affecting the frequency of occurrence and number of species recorded; and iii) the importance of hydrological factors as regards ecological functioning. In both study areas, we recorded a higher number of species and individuals along intermittent streams than perennial streams, with highest values in intermittent reaches exhibiting shorter dry periods. Both abundance and species richness were strongly affected by hydrological factors in both study areas, including not only the occurrence but also the duration of the dry period. Dry channels played a key role as migration corridors and as a source of food, being used more frequently than riparian habitats when the river ran dry. Our findings indicate that terrestrial vertebrate fauna benefit from dry phases in rivers. Intermittent rivers, supporting a high abundance and diversity of fauna, should be considered as target ecosystems for wildlife conservation. Not doing so will jeopardise urgently needed conservation strategies in the face of accelerating global climate change.

Links

GA20-17305S, research and development project
Name: Klimaticky podmíněná homogenizace vodních bezobratlých testovaná na třech modelových systémech a historických datech
Investor: Czech Science Foundation