Indicators for Climate Change Impacts - Rivers in cold ecoregions, Large rivers
Change in macroinvertebrate feeding type composition
| Stressor type | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Responding parameter group | Physico-chemical parameters |
| Responding parameter | Change in macroinvertebrate feeding type composition |
Response description
As food sources change (increasing rate of leaf litter breakdown and respiration rates in upstream reaches) less food for shredders and filter feeders is transported downstream and available in large rivers is available.
Secondary effects
Consequences for the food web, e.g. less fish production.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Relevant for all large rivers in cold ecoregions.
Relevant ecoregion(s) according to Illies
Borealic Uplands (20), Tundra (21), Fennoscandian Shield (22), Taiga (23)
Suggested indicator
Share of filter feeding organisms
Justification of indicator
Filter feeders are characteristic for large rivers in most ecoregions. The share of filter feeding organisms can be inferred from routine monitoring of benthic macroinvertebrates.
