Indicators for Climate Change Impacts - Rivers in cold ecoregions, Small rivers
Increase of respiration rate
| Stressor type | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Responding parameter group | Physico-chemical parameters |
| Responding parameter | Increase of respiration rate |
Response description
The metabolic rates of bacteria and fungi and the metabolic rates of detritivorous species will rise with increasing temperatures. The proportion between primary production and respiration will decrease.
Secondary effects
Less organic material (fine and coarse pariculate organic matter) will enter the downstream sections.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Relevant for all small rivers in cold ecoregions.
Relevant ecoregion(s) according to Illies
Borealic Uplands (20), Tundra (21), Fennoscandian Shield (22), Taiga (23)
Suggested indicator
Percentage of collectors in the invertebrate community
Justification of indicator
Collectors gather organic material, which is remineralised by fungi and bacteria. If this food source increases the percentage of collectors rises to about 40 %.
