Indicators for Climate Change Impacts - Rivers in temperate ecoregions, Small rivers
Reduced availability of leaves
| Stressor type | Hydrology / Morphology |
|---|---|
| Responding parameter group | Hydromorphological parameters |
| Responding parameter | Reduced availability of leaves |
Response description
Processing rates of leafs and wood increase with temperature. Floods in winter cause more than 50% of the leaf inputs to be exported, leaving little detrital material available for invertebrate consumption. In consequence, coarse particulate organic matter availability to shredders will decrease during the summer months.
Secondary effects
Decreasing abundance of shredders will limit the food source of predators (e.g. fishes).
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Relevant for all small rivers in temperate continental ecoregions.
Relevant ecoregion(s) according to Illies
Central Lowlands (14), Western Lowlands (13), Western Mountains (8), Central Mountains (9)
Suggested indicator
Share of the feeding type "shredder" in the invertebrate community
Justification of indicator
Benthic invertebrates are routinely monitored in most European countries. If the availability of leaves decreases the share of shredders will decrease, too; in small headwater streams shredders should typically account for 30-40 % of the invertebrate community.
Reference(s)
Buzby, K.M. & S.A. Perry (2000): Modeling the potential effects of climate change on leaf pack processing in central Appalachian streams. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57(9): 1773-1783.
