Indicators for Climate Change Impacts - Rivers in temperate ecoregions, Small rivers
Increase of r-strategists
| Stressor type | Hydrology / Morphology |
|---|---|
| Responding parameter group | Biological parameters |
| Responding parameter | Increase of r-strategists |
Response description
Invertebrate r-strategists benefit from unpredictable flood events, e.g. in summer, which remove most invertebrates and thus favour species rapidly colonising the competition-free space.
Secondary effects
Disappearance of stenotopic species.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Relevant for all small rivers in temperate ecoregions.
Relevant ecoregion(s) according to Illies
Pyrenees (2), Alps (4), Western Mountains (8), Central Mountains (9), Carpathians (10)
Suggested indicator
Number and discharge or flood events in unusual seasons (recorded by gauging stations)
Justification of indicator
Unusual hydrological events e.g. floods in summer cause catastrophic drifts of invertebrate species and favour r-strategists.
