Indicators for Climate Change Impacts - Rivers in warm ecoregions, Large rivers
Reduced water quality
| Stressor type | Hydrology / Morphology |
|---|---|
| Responding parameter group | Hydromorphological parameters |
| Responding parameter | Reduced water quality |
Response description
Due to an increased temperature and decrease in precipitation the runoff volume will decrease, particularly in summer. Consequently oxygen will decease and BOD increase.
Secondary effects
Community shift from sensitive to tolerant taxa.
Specification of relevant ecosystem type
Relevant for all large rivers in humid warm ecoregions.
Relevant ecoregion(s) according to Illies
Iberian Peninsula (1), Italian Peninsula (3), Dinaric Western Balkan (5), Hellenic Western Balkan (6), Eastern Balkan (7)
Suggested indicator
Saprobic Index in the summer months
Justification of indicator
Saprobic indices reflect the organic load in rivers and eventually the oxygen content. Thus, if the organic load increases the saprobic indices will decrease. Species with a high oxygen demand respectively low saprobic value will disappear and species with a low oxygen demand respectively high saprobic value will increase.
Reference(s)
Truscott, A.M., C. Soulsby et al. (2006): The dispersal characteristics of the invasive plant Mimulus guttatus and the ecological significance of increased occurrence of high-flow events. Journal of Ecology 94(6): 1080-1091.
