Rivers in cold ecoregions
– Species affected by Climate Change –
Many freshwater species are directly affected by temperature increase or droughts. Other are affected by stressors, which are influenced by Climate Change, such as eutrophication. Others will benefit from temperature increase and colonise new areas.
Here you find a selection:
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Achondrostoma arcasii (Bermejuela)
Scientific name Achondrostoma arcasii Common name Bermejuela Retreating / Invasive Retreating Climate Region Cold Ecosystem type Rivers, small Stressor type Temperature Response description
Its populations are affected by an increased temperatures due to its ecological requirements.
Secondary effects
Due to its role as predator and its typical association with the brown trout its disappearance would affect the food web.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Mountain lakes and rivers. It is the only fish species inhabiting in endorreic lakes in the Iberian Peninsula
Relevant ecoregion(s)
Ecoregion 1 (Iberic-Macaronesian Region)
Mitigation measures
Habitat conservation (including conservation of water temperatures) to avoid the invasion by other species.
Reference(s)
Doadrio, I. (ed.) (2001): Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Peces Continentales de España. Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Madrid: 167-169.
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Esox lucius (Northern pike)
Scientific name Esox lucius Common name Northern pike Retreating / Invasive Retreating Climate Region Cold and temperate Ecosystem type Lakes and rivers, all sizes Stressor type Temperature Response description
Northern pike actively avoids surface temperatues aboves 25 °C, which is likely to become more common as air temperature increases across much of its distributional range.
Secondary effects
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Clear, vegetated lakes, slowly flowing creeks, streams and rivers.
Relevant ecoregion(s)
Widespread in Northern and Central Europe
Mitigation measures
Reference(s)
Reist, J.D., F.J. Wrona, T.D. Prowse, J.B. Dempson, M. Power, G. Kock, T.J. Carmichael, C.D. Sawatzky, H. Lehtonen & R.F. Tallman (2006): An overview of effects of climate change on selected arctic freshwater and anadromous fishes. Ambio 35(7): 381-387.
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Salvelinus alpinus (Arctic char)
Scientific name Salvelinus alpinus Common name Arctic char Retreating / Invasive Retreating Climate Region Cold and temperate Ecosystem type Lakes, deep, Rivers, large Stressor type Temperature, hydrology Response description
Arctic char is sensitive to water pollution and prefers cold, well oxygenated waters (temperature range 4-16 °C). Non-migratory populations stay in lakes and rivers all year round. With an increase in water temperature the fish can only go to deeper, colder water (if it is not possible to leave the water system they are in) which might not have high enough oxygen concentrations, particularly if eutrophication is enhanced by Climate Change.
Secondary effects
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Deep runs and pools of medium to large rivers, and lakes
Relevant ecoregion(s)
Salvelinus alpinus occurrs in western Norway (Ecoregion 20, Borealic Uplands), with isolated populations in Scandinavia, UK, Finland and the Alps.
Mitigation measures
Reference(s)
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Diamesa goetghebueri (Non-biting midge)
Scientific name Diamesa goetghebueri Common name Non-biting midge Retreating / Invasive Retreating Climate Region Cold Ecosystem type Rivers, small Stressor type Temperature Response description
Occurence of Diamesa goetghebueri is limited to glacier brooks and springs. Higher temperatures (during low flow periods) and higher availability of organic matter in these uppemost sections of brooks would lead to the replacement of D. goetghebueri and some other characteristic species by other macroinvertebrates.
Secondary effects
Communities predominated by non-biting midges such as Diamesa spp., Eukieferiella minor, Pseudodiamesa arctica, and Pseudokieferiella parva are primary colonizers of habitats with extreme thermal conditions and limited sources of organic matter. With rising temperatures the entire community will be lost.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Springs (krenal region)
Relevant ecoregion(s)
Ecoregion 4 (Alps)
Mitigation measures
Reference(s)
Serra-Tosio, B. (1972) Ecologie et biogéographie des Diamesini d‘Europe (Diptera, Chironomidae). Travaux du Laboratoire dHydrobiologie et de Pisciculture de Grenoble 63: 5-175.
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Diamesa latitarsis (Non-biting midge)
Scientific name Diamesa latitarsis Common name Non-biting midge Retreating / Invasive Retreating Climate Region Cold Ecosystem type Rivers, small Stressor type Temperature Response description
Glacier and snowpack loss resulting in decrease of meltwater contributions to streamflow cause reduced abundance of D. latitarsis.
Secondary effects
The species is replaced by other invertebrates, such as Habroleptoides berthelemyi, Perla grandis and Rhithrogena spp., while other cold-adapted species such as Rhyacophila angelieri are reduced.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Glacier-fed alpine streams
Relevant ecoregion(s)
Most mountainous European ecoregions
Mitigation measures
Reference(s)
Brown, L.E., D.M. Hannah & A.M. Milner (2007): Vulnerability of alpine stream biodiversity to shrinking glaciers and snowpacks. Global Change Biology 13(5): 958-966.
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Diamesa lindrothi (Non-biting midge)
Scientific name Diamesa lindrothi Common name Non-biting midge Retreating / Invasive Retreating Climate Region Cold Ecosystem type Rivers, small Stressor type Temperature Response description
The larvae of Diamesa lindrothi predominate in uppermost zone of glacier-brooks. It is adapted to low amplitude and low summer maxima of water temperature. Spinning a net over small cavities in rocks allows them to survive under conditions of fast current velocity and substratum shifts. Reduction of glaciers would have detrimental effect on the specific kryon communities (replacement by more diverse and less specialised fauna from downstream reaches).
Secondary effects
Similar effects can be predicted for other cold-adapted organisms.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Glacier-brooks with specific hydrology and very restricted amplitude of water temperature
Relevant ecoregion(s)
Subarctic/alpine ecoregions: 4 (Alps), 19 (Iceland), 20 (Borealic Uplands), 21 (Tundra)
Mitigation measures
Reference(s)
Steffan, A.W. (1971): Chironomid (Diptera) biocoenoses in Scandinavian glacier brooks. Canadian Entomologist 103: 477-486.
