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Viera Straskrabova Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic Institute of Hydrobiology, Ceske Budejovice Biodiversity in aquatic systems – what are the important drivers and pressures? ALTERnet Summer School,Peyresc, 2007 •Types of aquatic systems, their main characteristics compared to terrestrial ones •Main groups of aquatic organisms (functional and taxonomic) in freshwater aquatic systems •The most important threats to biodiversity in aquatic systems, their causes, consequences and interrelations: eutrophication, acidification, toxic pollutants, land use changes, climate change, overexploitation, alien and invasive species. •Pressures and drivers act: directly = upon the aquatic systems, indirectly = upon the catchment. •The most important services and goods of aquatic ecosystems and their deterioration by pressures and drivers (and by biodiversity loss and/or change): water quality and quantity (water as a resource), fish production (aquaculture). •Framework Water Directive TYPES OF AQUATIC SYSTEMS RIVERS LAKES RESERVOIR natural succession man-made WETLANDS TERRESTRIAL Lake Bajkal Mountain lakes Reservoir Main differences from terrestrial systems PRIMARY PRODUCERS small, fast growing, less visible HETEROGENEITY smaller HERBIVORES consume whole organisms OXYGEN often less available LIGHT often limiting WATER everywhere round Selenga •Production processes, energy budget, turnover of nutrients and organic matter in relation to surrounding ecosystems (terrestrial ones, catchment). Aquatic systems mostly are NET HETEROTROPHIC Respiration surpasses production This means energy input from terrestrial systems Especially rivers have higher allochthonous input than own production River and reservoir in the catchment Input of nutrients, and organics from terrestrial system Connected with ground water Riverine Lacustrine Spatial structure of aquatic ecosystems Interphases - Ecotones WATER (pelagic) --------------------------- (benthic) SEDIMENT WATER ------------------------- BIOTA ------------------ SEDIMENT AQUATIC ---------------------(littoral)--------------- TERRESTRIAL Hot spots of biodiversity, nutrient cycling, chemical and biochemical processes Main groups of aquatic organisms Functional groups Plankton, benthos, (nekton, neuston), periphyton Large taxonomic groups Bacteria, cyanobacteria (blue-greens), algae, protozoans, rotifers, crustaceans, fish; Vascular plants, mosses, snails, worms, insects and/or their larvae Aquatic vertebrates other than fish, semi-aquatic Biodiversity problems Species extinction – loss of species Replacement by other species Change of food chain Change or deterioration of habitat Important pressures and drivers on aquatic BD They act directly on the aquatic system and/or indirectly on the cachment, surroundings etc. They can directly effect species loss and/or Indirectly efect the species through changes of conditions in habitats Direct effect on species human induced Overexploitation – fishing Introduction of new species Invasion (human induced) of alien species Habitat change for aquaculture, artificial (semi-natural) aquatic systems Pressures and drivers effecting conditions in aquatic systems (habitat change or loss) Usually caused by the input from catchment or from the air Eutrophication – increase of nutrients increased biomass, change of species, oxygen depletion Acidification – S and N oxides from the air Toxic wastes – industrial wastes, air pollution Climate effect – warming, change of water quantity Land use changes – in catchment, complex, diverse effects Land use changes, interconnected with the others Deterioration or loss of habitats, fragmentation, loss of connectideness (in rivers) Changes in water quantity – surface level decrease or increase: desertification, flooding Changing conditions – changed input of nutrients and/or toxic wastes HUMAN INDUCED and CLIMATE CHANGE Goods and services of aquatic ecosystems, human demands Water cycle in landscape – transport – connection with other ecosystems With ground water – soil – aquifers With the air – humidity – transport WATER QUANTITY flood control, water storage, irrigation (change of habitats - dams, overexploitation, climate effect) WATER FOR TRANSPORT and ENERGY navigation, hydropower generation (pollution, change of habitats - dams) WATER FOR DIRECT HUMAN USE Drinking water source – demand for low productive system with low biomass composed of „desirable organisms“ WATER FOR PRODUCTION OF „FOOD“ Fish production – demand for medium productive system Swimming, sport fishing, “natural beauty” MULTIPLE USES CONFLICTING USES DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy Coordinate Member States' efforts to improve the protection of Community waters in terms of quantity and quality, to promote sustainable water use, to contribute to the control of transboundary water problems, to protect aquatic ecosystems, and terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on them, and to safeguard and develop the potential uses of Community waters. Characteristics of the river basin district, review of the environmental impact of human activity and economic analysis of water use Monitoring of surface water status, groundwater status and protected areas for surface waters such programmes shall cover: (i) the volume and level or rate of flow (water quantity) to the extent relevant for ecological and chemical status and ecological potential, and (ii) the ecological and chemical status and ecological potential – water quality Groups of aquatic organisms recommended to be monitored: • Phytoplankton species, abundance • Macrophytes – species, abundance • Benthic invertebrates • Fish