Kari-Matti Vuori

Impact of forest drainage on the macroinvertebrates of a small boreal headwater stream: Do buffer zones protect lotic biodiversity?

Forest drainage, utilizing protective buffer zones, caused clear changes in the habitat structure as well as in the species richness and composition of moss-dwelling invertebrates in a small headwater stream. The aquatic moss Fontinalis dalecarlica was the dominant habitat in the control riffle areas, whereas sand dominated the riffles impacted by forest ditches. The significance of the forest ditches as a source of inorganic material was studied by comparing the quality of both indigenous and transplanted moss habitats. The Fontinalis tufts in the affected sites were silted up and contained a significantly higher average amount of inorganic matter than the mosses in the control site. The species richness of invertebrates within the silted mosses was significantly lower than at the control site. Shredder-feeding stoneflies dominated the moss communities of the control site, whereas Simuliidae dominated the impacted riffles. We suggest that the drainage-induced impoverishment of the benthic communities is due to two combined disturbance factors: (1) deposition of the particles on benthic habitats and (2) particle movement along the surfaces. Further, it is concluded that the present buffer zones and sedimentation ponds are insufficient to protect the biodiversity of streams draining easily eroding lands. In order to protect these vulnerable lotic ecosystems effectively, the most erodible parts of the catchment area should be undrained, and more retentive buffer mechanisms should be utilized in the drainage areas.

Rapid behavioural and morphological responses of hydropsychid larvae (Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae) to sublethal cadmium exposure.

Larvae of Hydropsyche contubernalis and H. siltalai were exposed to sublethal cadmium concentrations of 0, 0.012, 0.16 and 10 mg/litre(-1) for 72 h. Linear logit models revealed a significant increase in the frequency and degree of damage of the anal papillae of both species with increasing Cd concentration. Hydropsyche contubernalis showed a stronger and earlier anal papillae response under Cd exposure than H. siltalai, whereas in the latter species darkening of the ventral sides of the abdomen was also observed. The lowest Cd level altered the competition behaviour of Hydropsyche contubernalis larvae after only 24 h exposure, yet no visual signs of morphological damage were detected. The exposure intruder larvae spent significantly less time trying to enter the nets of resident larvae than did unexposed intruders. In addition, both the exposed intruders and exposed residents pursued different behavioural tactics during the encounters compared to their unexposed counterparts.

Habitat characteristics and macroinvertebrate assemblages in boreal forest streams: relations to catchment silvicultural activities

We compared the stream habitat characteristics and macroinvertebrate assemblages of boreal headwater streams in both the Finnish and the Russian parts of a single river basin, the Koitajoki River. Over the last 50 years, the Finnish side of the catchment has been managed using modern forestry techniques, whereas Russian side has remained nearly unexploited and is near to its natural state. Differences in silvicultural activities were observed to contribute to differences in habitat structure. The channel habitats were in fairly natural state in the Russian reference streams, whereas the impacted Finnish sites were cleared and straightened. In comparison with the impacted channels, the abundance of coarse woody debris (CWD) was 10–100-fold higher in the reference streams. Implications on the forestry-induced deterioration of water quality were also observed. On the contrary, only small differences in macroinvertebrate assemblages were detected. Despite the lower amount of retentive structures (CWD), significantly higher relative abundance of shredders was observed in the forestry-impacted streams. Otherwise the zoobenthic communities were quite similar in the two subcatchments. We suggest that several mechanisms may explain this similarity: (1) community structure is controlled by naturally acidic conditions, (2) the adverse impacts of forestry on habitat structure and water quality of streams may be compensated by increased input of deciduous litter and organic compounds from drained, structurally young riparian forests and (3) macroinvertebrate species have flexible feeding habits and may thus readily adapt to changing conditions.

Long-term trends and variation of acidity, CODMn and colour in coastal rivers of Western Finland in relation to climate and hydrology

High acidity caused by geochemical processes and intensive land use of acid sulphate (AS) soils have continuously degraded the status of water bodies in Western Finland. Despite this, research on the long-term pattern and dynamics of acidification in rivers affected by acid sulphate soils is scarce. This study examined changes in alkalinity and pH value during the period 1913-2007 in nine large Finnish rivers discharging into the Gulf of Bothnia. In addition, patterns of COD(Mn) and colour were analysed during the period 1961-2007. Relationships between pH, alkalinity, COD(Mn) and colour and climate variables were also studied. In four rivers with no AS soil impact (Kokemäenjoki, Kemijoki, Iijoki and Oulujoki), critically low pH levels did not occur during the study period, whereas three rivers exposed to minor or moderate levels of runoff from AS soils (Lestijoki, Kalajoki, and Siikajoki) had all periods with critically low pH and alkalinity. The most severe acidity problems occurred in the rivers Kyrönjoki and Lapuanjoki, with extensive drainage of AS soils being the main reason for the low pH status. Maximum discharge was clearly related to the acidity status of many rivers during the autumn-winter runoff period, when a significant negative linear correlation was found between maximum discharge and minimum pH in the rivers affected by AS soils. There was also a more distinct relationship between maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD(Mn)) and minimum pH in autumn runoff than in spring. COD(Mn) levels significantly increased with increasing discharge in the rivers with no or minor AS soil impact. Climate change is predicted to increase river flow in general and winter discharge in particular, and therefore the acidity problems in affected rivers may increase in a future climate.

Forest drainage: a threat to benthic biodiversity of boreal headwater streams?

1. Forest drainage, including mainly ditching of waterlogged peatlands in order to increase wood growth, has caused substantial changes in the hydrology and water quality of Finnish streams. However, knowledge on the ecological impact of these changes is poor. This paper studies the potential impact of forest drainage, catchment characteristics and habitat factors on the water quality and benthic macroinvertebrates in headwater streams of the River Isojoki, western Finland. An intensive programme of water sampling was carried out at nine study sites, while zoobenthic samples covered a total of 18 streams. 2. According to multivariate regression models concentrations of aluminium and suspended solids in stream water at nine study sites increased significantly with increasing forest drainage of the catchment area. Further, drainage intensity contributed significantly to the decrease in minimum values of alkalinity. 3. In a Canonical Correspondence Analysis, the variation in macroinvertebrate species distribution and abundance was largely explained by drainage intensity, moss coverage and the concentrations of aluminium and iron in stream water. A significant positive correlation was established between the species richness of benthic macroinvertebrates and the proportional cover of vegetation on the stream bed, whereas a significant negative correlation was found between species richness and sand cover. 4. The results suggest that drainage has significantly contributed to the deterioration of water quality and habitat structure, and impoverishment of benthic communities in the headwater streams of the River Isojoki. In order to protect the ecological integrity of such boreal headwater streams, more effective protection schemes in forestry practices and rehabilitation of the adversely affected streams and their catchment areas are needed.

Assessing stream condition using macroinvertebrates and macrophytes: concordance of community responses to human impact

Freshwater bioassessment is typically based on well known taxonomic groups, such as fish and macroinvertebrates, while less studied groups are frequently excluded from bioassessment programs. We examined the community variation of stream macroinvertebrates and macrophytes (mainly aquatic bryophytes) in near-pristine reference sites and sites impacted by agriculture, forestry, or in-stream habitat alteration in western and central Finland. We specifically examined whether these taxonomic groups exhibited concordant variation in community structure and whether they could be used as surrogates for each other in stream bioassessment. The effects of human disturbance on taxonomic composition and community structure were investigated using canonical correspondence analysis and RIVPACS-type predictive models. The community concordance between macroinvertebrates and macrophytes was higher when test sites were included, suggesting that environmental degradation may increase community concordance between different biotic groups. However, despite increased concordance, macroinvertebrates and macrophytes responded to different stressors. The sensitivity of the two groups to human disturbance also differed markedly. The macroinvertebrate model determined 13 (with P t = 0+ as the threshold for species inclusion) and 12 (with P t = 0.4) out of 35 test sites as altered, whereas the macrophyte model detected impairment for only 7 sites (both probability levels), likely because of the low species richness of macrophytes in our study streams. Low richness of macrophytes may thus hinder their use in bioassessment based on taxonomic completeness, suggesting that measures that do not rely solely on species loss might perform better in at least high-gradient boreal streams.

Decomposer communities in human‐impacted streams: species dominance rather than richness affects leaf decomposition

Summary There is compelling evidence that anthropogenic disturbance can decrease biodiversity and impair ecological functioning. A major challenge to biodiversity–ecosystem function research is to disentangle the effects of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functions from the direct effects of human disturbance. We studied the influence of human disturbance (acidification and eutrophication) and a natural stressor (low pH due to bedrock geology) on leaf-shredding macroinvertebrates, fungal decomposers and leaf decomposition rates in boreal streams. We used pyrosequencing techniques to determine fungal richness and assemblage structure. Decomposition rates were higher in anthropogenically disturbed than in circumneutral reference or naturally acidic sites, but did not differ between the latter two groups. Macroinvertebrate richness was higher in circumneutral than in human-impacted or naturally acidic sites, and shredder evenness was highest in circumneutral sites. Fungal evenness was also lower in human-disturbed than in reference sites, whereas fungal richness did not vary among site groups. Decomposition rate in fine-mesh bags was related positively to current velocity and fungal dominance, while in coarse-mesh bags, it was related positively to total phosphorus. In anthropogenically disturbed streams, the effects of low pH were overridden by eutrophication, and increased decomposition rates resulted from disturbance-induced increase in species dominance rather than richness. Furthermore, decomposition rates were positively correlated with abundances of dominant taxa, suggesting that ecosystem processes may be driven by a few key species. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that leaf decomposition rates are insensitive to natural background variation, supporting the use of decomposition assays, preferably accompanied by molecular analysis of fungal assemblages, to assess stream ecosystem health. Instead of focusing solely on diversity, however, more emphasis should be placed at changes in dominance patterns, particularly if management aims are to improve stream ecosystem functioning.

The use of aquatic mosses in assessment of metal pollution: appraisal of type-specific background concentrations and inter-specific differences in metal accumulation

Tissue concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were analysed from 73 river sites, including 29 unpolluted reference sites and 44 sites differently affected by land use and industrial and municipal waste waters. Concentrations were measured both in the youngest terminal parts (reflecting the most current exposure conditions) and in the whole vegetative shoot (indicating long-term exposure) of mosses. For the dominant moss species, Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw., the concentration data were stratified according to the river type (small, medium, or large peatland or moraine land rivers) and assessed for background concentrations and patterns of concentration gradients and explored possibilities for setting criteria for environmental quality standards (EQSs). Further, we analysed species-specific differences in metal concentrations of F. antipyretica, Dichelyma falcatum (Hedw.) and Hygrohypnum ochraceum (Turn. ex Wils.). The background concentrations varied more or less according to the river type; in general, peatland rivers had higher concentration than moraine land rivers. The highest metal concentrations were found in rivers contaminated by acid sulphate soils. For most metals, concentrations in D. falcatum and H. ochraceum were higher than in F. antipyretica. Prerequisites for using mosses in pollution assessment and preliminary suggestions for defining EQSs are presented.

Disentangling the responses of boreal stream assemblages to low stressor levels of diffuse pollution and altered channel morphology.

Non-point diffuse pollution from land use and alteration of hydromorphology are among the most detrimental stressors to stream ecosystems. We explored the independent and interactive effects of morphological channel alteration (channelization for water transport of timber) and diffuse pollution on species richness and community structure of four organism groups in boreal streams: diatoms, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates, and fish. Furthermore, the effect of these stressors on stream condition was evaluated by Ecological Quality Ratios (EQR) from the national Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessment system. We grouped 91 study sites into four groups that were impacted by either diffuse pollution or hydromorphological alteration, by both stressors, or by neither one. Macroinvertebrate richness was reduced by diffuse pollution, whereas other biological groups were unaltered. Hydromorphological modification had no effect on taxon richness of any of the assemblages. Community structure of all groups was significantly affected by diffuse pollution but not by hydromorphology. Similarly, EQRs indicated negative response by diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fish to diffuse pollution, but not to hydromorphological alteration. Agricultural diffuse pollution thus affected species identities and abundances rather than taxonomic richness. Our results suggest that channelization of boreal streams for timber transport has not altered hydromorphological conditions sufficiently to have a strong impact on stream biota, whereas even moderate nutrient enrichment may be ecologically harmful. Controlling diffuse pollution and associated land use stressors should be prioritized over restoration of in-stream habitat structure to improve the ecological condition of boreal streams.

Inconsistency in the analysis of morphological deformities in chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) larvae

The incidence of morphological deformities of chironomid larvae as an indicator of sediment toxicity has been studied for decades. However, standards for deformity analysis are lacking. The authors evaluated whether 25 experts diagnosed larval deformities in a similar manner. Based on high-quality digital images, the experts rated 211 menta of Chironomus spp. larvae as normal or deformed. The larvae were from a site with polluted sediments or from a reference site. The authors revealed this to a random half of the experts, and the rest conducted the assessment blind. The authors quantified the interrater agreement by kappa coefficient, tested whether open and blind assessments differed in deformity incidence and in differentiation between the sites, and identified those deformity types rated most consistently or inconsistently. The total deformity incidence varied greatly, from 10.9% to 66.4% among experts. Kappa coefficient across rater pairs averaged 0.52, indicating insufficient agreement. The deformity types rated most consistently were those missing teeth or with extra teeth. The open and blind assessments did not differ, but differentiation between sites was clearest for raters who counted primarily absolute deformities such as missing and extra teeth and excluded apparent mechanical aberrations or deviations in tooth size or symmetry. The highly differing criteria in deformity assignment have likely led to inconsistent results in midge larval deformity studies and indicate an urgent need for standardization of the analysis.