bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of river regulation on nitrogen and phosphorus mass transport in a large south American river
Authors: Pedrozo F. , Bonetto C.
Published: February 2007

The Paraná upper reaches, above the confluence with the Paraguay River, drains a predominantly humid, tropical‐subtropical basin that has been extensively altered by anthropogenic activities. Deforestation followed by intense mechanized agriculture has progressively increased in the last decades. Many industrial settlements and hydroelectric impoundments have been developed. Suspended matter, total phosphorus, and inorganic nitrogen exportation rates were estimated at 14 t km−2 y−1, 28kg TP km−2 y−1 and 188kg N km −2 y−1 respectively. These rates are compartively low when compared to other areas of the world. It was estimated that riverine mass transport represented roughly 6 per cent of the phosphorus and 20 per cent of the nitrogen inputs in the basin. Mass transport of suspended matter and soluble reactive phosphorus are lower and inorganic nitrogen higher than in 1967–1969. Siltation in the man‐made lakes reduced both suspended matter and phosphorus transport. Inorganic nitrogen increase is thought to be related to increased fertilizer inputs.
River wildlife databases and their value for sensitive environmental management
Authors: Coles T. F. , Southey J. M. , Forbes I. , Clough T.
Published: February 2007

A survey over a 3‐year period, which commenced in 1987, of the plant and bird communities along 1200 km of river in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, Eastern England, is described. Analysis of data from 247 km of river recorded a great diversity of wildlife, comprising 570 species of plant and 80 species of breeding birds. The management value of such surveys is discussed and these include the preparation of detailed maps of each 500m section of river, which illustrate the habitat structure, and plant and bird communities. A maintenance procedure for each 500 m section of river is then agreed between conservation and operations personnel, preventing areas of wildlife importance from being accidentally destroyed. An index which combines both the diversity and rarity of the plant and bird communities is proposed as a measure of conservation importance. This index allows sections of river to be graded according to their conservation value into one of five groups. The surveys also enable predictions to be made of the effects of management actions on the wildlife and provide information by which fundamental reviews of operational activities can be carried out.
Organic matter transport and retention in a blackwater stream recovering from flow augmentation and thermal discharge
Authors: Hauer F. Richard
Published: February 2007

Organic and inorganic seston, benthic organic matter and woody debris were studied in a blackwater stream/floodplain system recovering from flow augmentation and thermal discharges. The stream had received cooling waters from two nuclear reactors from the mid‐1950s to 1968, resulting in flows over 10x greater than normal and temperatures that exceeded 70°C. Channel morphology was markedly altered, woody debris was removed or buried, and floodplain vegetation was destroyed. Fifteen years after termination of cooling water discharges, the stream continued to exhibit many characteristics of a disturbed system. Compared to an undistributed reference stream, the recovering stream had substantially less benthic organic matter, fewer snags and debris dams, and transported more organic and inorganic seston of all size fractions examined. Because of the importance of these biophysical factors in the structural morphology of blackwater streams, it is hypothesized that complete recovery will not be realized until the floodplain forest has matured and large woody debris is contributed to the stream channel.
Environmental stability and communities of chironomidae (diptera) in a regulated river
Authors: Armitage P. D. , Blackburn J. H.
Published: February 2007

Changes in the faunal composition and density of communities of chironomid larvae were studied over a four year period in a newly regulated stream and compared with those in an adjacent unregulated stream, with a view to examining “stability” in contrasting environments. A total of 68 chironomid taxa were recorded from all sites. Faunal diversity was lowest closest to the dam and highest in the unregulated site. Within the study period values of H were highest in the fourth year of study (five years after dam closure). Species increments were tending to level out at the three totally regulated sites whereas at the partially regulated and unregulated sites new taxa continued to be recorded in samples.

Clustering techniques and similarity indices clearly separated the study sites based on the composition of the chironomid fauna and there were indications that the unregulated sites were more variable in faunal composition between years than the regulated sites. The data are used to develop a conceptual model of fluctuations in faunal parameters under steady or reduced flow regimes. It is suggested that environmental stability brought about by regulation has structured the composition of the chironomid community and further that the changes occur very rapidly after impoundment. The model identifies key areas of faunal change and the question of environmental stability is discussed in relation to the scale of observation.
The legal framework for river use in the United States
Authors: Cox William E.
Published: February 2007

Use and development of rivers takes place within a complex legal framework that guides the actions of interested parties holding conflicting values. One of the major components of this legal framework is state water allocation law. This law takes several forms among the states, but its basic function is to establish rules for water use by assigning property rights in water. Another component of the legal framework for river use addresses the public access issue. The primary focus here is establishment of the boundary between the exclusive rights of landowners and the rights of the general public to use the surface and underlying beds of waterways. A third component consists of governmental controls over water use and development. These controls restrict the exercise of private property rights in the resource. From an initial focus of protecting the public right of navigation, this law has expanded to include protection of water quality and a variety of other environmental values. The current legal framework provides a relatively sound basis for balancing competing values and interests, but problems exist. For example, the division of water management responsibilities between the federal and state levels of government sometimes results in conflict, and existing procedures for managing conflict related to proposals for water transfer do not appear to be adequate. Therefore, the current framework will not remain static; it must continue to evolve in order to operate more effectively and to incorporate future increases in knowledge and the associated changes in values and management needs.
Juvenile fishes as functional describers of fluvial ecosystem dynamics: Applications on the river rhǒne, France
Authors: Copp G. H. , Oliver J. M. , Peňáz M. , Roux A. L.
Published: February 2007

Biological indicators may signal changes in freshwater quality but offer little information on long‐term trends in ecosystem succession. As an improvement over biological indicators in river management we propose the use of ‘functional describers’, abiotic and biotic elements that reflect alterations in ecosystem function and succession through changes in their concentration or abundance, including the appearance and/or extinction of organisms or groups of organisms. Juvenile (0 +) fishes have been found to be useful functional describers in many fluvial situations encountered in Europe, not least because the ontogeny of European fishes is strongly reflected in the type of habitat chosen for reproduction. Using the regulated River Rhǒne, France, as an example, the absence or presence of 0 + juveniles is shown to provide a direct reflection of a biotope's potential as a spawning area, particularly if recent hydrological conditions have not facilitated 0 + fish displacement and the lone presence of a predator species has not suggested the elimination of other fish species. Identification of the ecological function and successional state of a fluvial ecosystem is aided by consideration of species reproductive styles and tolerances. When time, labour, and/or funding is limited, the function and succession of numerous biotopes within a catchment or large fluvial system can be monitored cost effectively by analysing the 0 + fishes assemblages via the functional describer approach.
Depth distribution and mobility of a harpacticoid copepod within the bed sediment of an alpine brook
Authors: Verena Kowarc A.
Published: February 2007

The harpacticoid copepod Limnocamptus echinatus (Mrazek) shows a very distinct large‐scale vertical distribution within the bed sediments of Oberer Seebach, a second‐order gravel stream. The population peak appears in a sediment layer between 15 and 35 cm over long periods on average. Abundances are significantly lower in the topmost sediments and sediment layers below 50 cm depth. The large‐scale vertical distribution is mainly influenced by the changes and pattern of temperature and discharge, which influences the current velocity of the surface and interstitial water. Effects appear quite different, when permanent flooded areas and areas that periodically fall dry on the surface are compared. Limnocamptus echinatus is forced deeper into the sediments of the gravel bar during low water temperatures and/or high discharge situations. On permanent flooded areas the vertical distribution is more stable over long periods, but higher fluctuations occur during short periods. The Limnocamptus echinatus population shows higher mobility in deeper sediment layers (40 to 60 cm sediment depth). Comparing longer periods, water flow and the transport of fine material differ in deeper sediment layers. The water current is much slower, producing a tendency for fine material sedimentation. This might be the main reason for the higher mobility in deeper sediment layers and the restriction of 90 per cent of the Limnocamptus echinatus population to a sediment depth of 50 cm. High mobility in vertical and horizontal directions within the bed sediments is interpreted as normal reactions and adaptations to the dynamic behaviour of the system, mainly forced by physical parameters. Biological parameters appear as subdominant for large‐scale vertical distributions.
Oligochaete worms as biological describers of the interactions between surface and groundwaters: A first synthesis
Authors: Lafont M. , Durbec A. , Ille C.
Published: February 2007

The paper focuses on the definition of the vulnerability of phreatic waters to surface water pollution. The amplification of water exchanges between surface and underground waters, because of human activities, is considered as a risk of contamination of aquifers. The aim of this paper is to present a first synthesis of oligochaetes as biological describers of these exchanges.

Field investigations have shown that several rare and/or stygophilous taxa are found in surface (coarse) sediments of rivers upstream and/or downstream of dams or gravel operations. These observations relate to species such as Propappus volki, Pristina spp., Chaetogaster parvus, Rhyacodrilus carsticus, R. falciformis, Phallodrilus spp. The data suggest that these species invade surface waters from phreatic or interstitial waters when water flows are amplified between the two. Flow amplification is considered as a consequence of dams' and gravel operations' hydraulic impact. But the lack of hydraulic validation of the presumed active exchanges describer's (AED) ecological status given to those species remains a problem, giving the opportunity to examine the link between hydraulics and biology.

Preliminary results on two gravel pits of La Wantzenau (Rhine alluvial valley, France) have shown relations between the distribution of oligochaetes, especially Lumbriculidae, and soil filtration properties. Two other studies were planned along an industrially polluted tract of the River Rhǒne (Grand Gravier Island). Horizontal and vertical zonation of the river banks were performed by studying simultaneously hydraulics and oligochaetes. Preliminary results have shown that the absolute and relative abundances of taxa such as Phallodrilus sp. and S. velutinus increase in relation to the permeability of superficial coarse substrate in the horizontal plane, and to the current velocity in underground porous media in the vertical plane. The increasing percentages of P. barbatus and the decreasing percentages of Tubificidae reveal active exchange zones where superficial waters are renewed by groundwaters. Some other species such as P. vejdovskyi seem to be potential describers of water exchanges.
Spatial and temporal variations of niphargus populations in interstitial aquatic habitat at the karst/floodplain interface
Authors: Essafi Khadija , Mathieu Jacques , Beffy Jean‐Luc
Published: February 2007

Artificial substrates buried in stream sediments at the karst/floodplain interface were used to examine the spatial and temporal variations of Niphargus populations. The study was carried out at two stations in two different areas of the French Jura. One was mainly supplied by karst water (Verna station), the other by both karst and surface waters (Pissoir station). The occupation of interstitial habitat was found to depend on several interacting factors:

The waterflow and its changes at the outlet. The correlation between abundance of individuals and discharge was strongest with the discharges two to four days before sampling. The structure and restoration of populations after a spate related to geological characteristics. In particular, restoration was slower and more difficult in the sediments located at the base‐level of a massif (Verna) than at an overflow level (Pissoir).

The location of the sediments. At the Pissoir station, the number of individuals was higher at the main outflow, but also for both stations, on the banks opposite the outlet. Animals drifting from the karst system found refuge in the sediment of the opposite bank. Almost no Niphargus were found upstream from the outlets. At the Verna station, Niphargus were only found inside the cave.

The variability of the number of animals at different depths in the sediment was more difficult to explain. At the station mainly supplied by karst water, which presented a relatively constant flow during the study, the distribution seemed to be random. At the other station, where discharge varied considerably, the vertical distribution globally presented a gradient in abundance with more individuals in the upper sediment level. This gradient varied according to the samples. Discharge changes partly explained these results.
A floodplain spring: An ecotone between surface water and groundwater
Authors: Plenet S. , Gibert J. , Vervier P.
Published: February 2007

Ecotones may be viewed as boundaries separating adjacent resource patches. They are dynamic components of the aquatic landscape and in the alluvial floodplain they occur as both diffuse and concentrated zones between surface and groundwater environments. This study is focused on a floodplain spring whose water supplies a backwater of the upper Rh6ne River alluvial floodplain (Iles Nouvelles). This paper analyses the community structure on both sides of the physical boundary separating the two ecosystems in relation to hydrological characteristics. The contact between two different environments (surface water and water‐saturated sediment) creates a physical discontinuity which is of great importance for the distribution of aquatic fauna. Two types of organization are described: (1) within the sediment body there are mixed communities (epigean and hypogean) which can move with hydrological variations (biological ecotone) and (2) within the surface‐water body there is a typical epigean fauna which displays a ‘border effect’. The ecological implications of the various patterns of biological responses are discussed as well as the regulatory aspect of the ecotone which minimizes the washout of hypogean fauna towards the surface ecosystem.
An approach to the synthesis of qualitative ecological information from aquatic coleoptera communities
Authors: Bournaud Michel , Richoux Philippe , Usseglio‐Polatera Philippe
Published: February 2007

A list of 196 Coleoptera taxa, larvae and adults, covering 113 species, was obtained from several surveys of a flood plain of the Rhô river. From published reports and personal experience, each taxon is linked with the modalities of nine environmental and three biological variables. The resulting 12 ecological profiles for 196 taxa are analysed by correspondence analysis. The simultaneous ordination of the taxa and variables allows presentation of the more synthetic correspondence between the Coleoptera and their ecological and biological characteristics. The niche dimensions of the 12 variables tested here are organized along a current‐substrate gradient, from stones in rapid flow to mud in still water, which is associated with the other ecological conditions. This ordination reflects environmental conditions in a transverse direction, particularly from the central channel to the furthest annexes of the river. The Coleoptera are shown to be describers of the connectivity with the main channel. The 196 studied taxa are positioned along the gradient. They are subdivided into seven faunal groups based on their habitat range or niche width. The larger species are confined to the stagnant side of the gradient. Other variables, such as feeding and vertical distribution, clearly separate carnivores from herbivores and also larvae from adults. The next step of this study will be to extend these investigations to other functional variables and to all the species of Coleoptera in France. The information given by the Coleoptera will then be compared with actual field measurements.
Distribution, abundance and development of trichoptera larvae in the river north tyne following the commencement of hydroelectric power generation
Authors: Boon P. J.
Published: February 2007

Following turbine installation at the Kielder dam, the River North Tyne downstream is now characterized by large daily fluctuations in flow. A survey of trichopteran populations (Hydropsychidae, Rhyacophilidae and Polycentropodidae) was carried out to assess the impact of hydroelectric power generation (Phase III), and to compare the results with similar pre‐impoundment (Phase I) and post‐impoundment (Phase II) surveys. Benthic samples were collected quarterly upstream from the reservoir and at four stations downstream. Although the same three species (Hydropsyche siltalai, Hydropsyche pellucidula and Rhyacophila dorsalis) continue to dominate, there were some notable differences found between sampling sites. Species diversity was drastically reduced at the station nearest the dam, where 99% of all larvae collected were R. dorsalis. At the next station 5 km downstream, where previously H. siltalai had been dominant, R. dorsalis now constitutes 65% of collections. At the two stations farthest away from the dam the former prevalence of H. siltalai was re‐established. It is suggested that the unstable, high flows at the reservoir outlet are likely to favour the predatory R. dorsalis rather than the filter feeding hydropsychids whose nets may be susceptible to damage. Upstream from Kielder Water, R. dorsalis was prominent in benthic samples, whereas numbers of H. siltalai were 10 times lower than in Phase II and 60 times lower than in Phase I. The extent to which such upstream changes may be related to altered patterns of community structure below the dam is not known, but these observations may warrant a more cautious approach when considering upstream areas as unaffected ‘reference sites’. Instar analyses suggested that winter‐warm, summer‐cool discharges were continuing to modify larval growth rates, as noted in Phase II. The results of this study are discussed in relation to present trends in water resource development in Britain, especially with regard to future needs in monitoring and research.
Instream flow models for mixed deciduous riparian vegetation within a semiarid region
Authors: Stromberg J. C.
Published: February 2007

Empirical evidence from a semiarid watershed of the southwestern United States (Verde River basin, Arizona) indicated that abundance and species richness of mixed deciduous riparian forests varied in a curvilinear and quantifiable fashion as a function of stream flow parameters. Three indicators of riparian abundance—foliage area, stem basal area and stand width—increased most significantly with growing season flow volume, a surrogate indicator of riparian water availability. Tree species richness varied in a bell curve fashion with flood size, with the greatest richness occurring at streams with intermediate flood magnitudes. These instream flow models have management implications for riparian habitats. They suggest that flow volume (and the related attributes of water‐table recharge and floodplain soil wetting) is the primary factor regulating riparian vegetation abundance in the Verde River watershed, and provide a first approximation of the extent of riparian loss expected from flow diversion or other types of flow reduction.
Impact of flood alleviation schemes on aquatic macrophytes
Authors: Hey R. D. , Heritage G. L. , Patteson M.
Published: February 2007

Geomorphological, engineering and ecological surveys were carried out at 18 flood alleviation schemes in the UK to evaluate their environmental performance. As no pre‐scheme river corridor surveys had been carried out at any of the sites to enable the environmental impact to be directly assessed, controls were established in natural sections adjacent to five of the engineered reaches. A space–time substitution enables the pre‐scheme conditions to be estimated for comparison with the engineered reach.

The physical characteristics of the channel at bankfull conditions exert a strong influence on plant community composition. Paired assessments were carried out for engineered/control reaches on five rivers and this revealed which species and habitats were most affected by various engineering treatments. The general conclusion was that dredging, widening and straightening rivers reduces the number of desirable species, whereas two‐stage channels and schemes involving the construction of flood banks at the edge of the meander belt maintained the richness and preserved and enhanced the occurrence of key species.

Data from every cross‐section, engineered and control reaches, enabled a model to be developed relating species occurrence to physical habitat features. This can be used to predict, at the stage of appraisal or design of a project, the likely response of the river to any particular engineering works. Given information on the existing condition in the river, it enables the environmental impact of the scheme, in terms of its effect on river bed plant species, to be assessed.
Geomorphological approach to stream stabilization and restoration: Case study of the Mimmshall brook, hertfordshire, UK
Authors: Sear D. A. , Darby S. E. , Thorne C. R. , Brookes A. B.
Published: February 2007

The management of unstable river systems is conventionally costly in both financial and ecological terms. Traditional river engineering seeks to stabilize the instability through structural means rather than treating the cause of the symptom. The geomorphological approach to stream stabilization and restoration is considered with a view to providing practical recommendations for the long‐term management of the system. Historical and documentary evidence are coupled with field surveys and sediment modelling to provide a comprehensive picture of fluvial processes with the Mimmshall Brook catchment. A simple sediment budget is calculated and the results used to develop practical management options that address the causes of the instability and associated ecological and flooding problems.
Ichthyoplankton abundance and variance in a large river system concerns for long‐term monitoring
Authors: Holland‐Bartels Leslie E. , Dewey Michael R. , Zigler Steven J.
Published: February 2007

System‐wide spatial patterns of ichthyoplankton abundance and variability were assessed in the upper Mississippi and lower Illinois rivers to address the experimental design and statistical confidence in density estimates. Ichthyoplankton was sampled from June to August 1989 in primary milieus (vegetated and non‐vegated backwaters and impounded areas, main channels and main channel borders) in three navigation pools (8, 13 and 26) of the upper Mississippi River and in a downstream reach of the Illinois River. Ichthyoplankton densities varied among stations of similar aquatic landscapes (milieus) more than among subsamples within a station. An analysis of sampling effort indicated that the collection of single samples at many stations in a given milieu type is statistically and economically preferable to the collection of multiple subsamples at fewer stations. Cluster analyses also revealed that stations only generally grouped by their preassigned milieu types. Pilot studies such as this can define station groupings and sources of variation beyond an a priori habitat classification. Thus the minimum intensity of sampling required to achieve a desired statistical confidence can be identified before implementing monitoring efforts.
Effect of channelization and regulation on fish recruitment in a flood plain river
Authors: Jurajda Pavel
Published: February 2007

The recruitment of 0+ fishes was investigated in the River Morava (a tributary of the Danube), the main channel of which has now been totally isolated by channelization from its flood plain and regulated by weirs between the town of Hodonín and the river's confluence with the River Dyje (Czech Republic). Young of the year fish (YOY), collected by electrofishing, were used as an indicator of the reproduction potential of ichthyocenoses 10 years after the end of channelization and regulation works. Species richness and the structure of 0+ fish assemblages depend mainly on the spawning places and potential nurseries available. In the absence of areas with lentic backwaters or side‐arms with aquatic vegetation in the channelized river, the fish could only use the stabilized banks of stony rip‐rap or rare shallow‐slope gravel shorelines. The dominant species of 0+ juvenile fishes more or less corresponded with the structure of the adult population. Bitterling Rhodeus sericeus (Pallas), gudgeon Gobio gobio (L.), chub Leuciscus cephalus (L.), bleak Alburnus alburnus (L.) and roach Rutilus rutilus (L.) were the most abundant species in all sections of the modified main channel. However, YOY of phytophilous species (pike Esox lucius L., rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L), silver bream Blicca bjoerkna (L), tench Tinea tinca (L), carp Cyprinus carpio (L.) had almost disappeared, and a decline in density was also found for rheophils, such as vimba Vimba vimba (L.), barbel Barbus barbus (L.) and nase Chondrostoma nasus (L.), previously dominant species in the river.
Distribution and abundance of river Lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) ammocoetes in the regulated river Perhonjoki
Authors: Ojutkangas Esa , Aronen Kimmo , Laukkanen Eero
Published: February 2007

The Kaitfors hydroelectric power plant was built, and subsequent short‐term regulation was started, in the River Perhonjoki at the beginning of the 1980s. Nine kilometres of the river were impounded and, in addition to this, regulation measures made below and above the reservoir. The effects of regulation and transplantations of mature lampreys in the areas above the dam on the distribution and abundance of ammocoetes were studied. An area suitable for ammocoete habitat and the total number of 1+ and older ammocoetes were also estimated. An inventory was performed in 1982 before the power plant was completed and then again in 1985 and 1993. Over the 11 year period ammocoete densities and suitable habitats for ammocoetes decreased markedly. In 1982 the total number of 1+ and older ammocoetes was estimated to be 1.4 million. In 1985 the estimate was 439000 individuals and in 1993 only 155000 individuals. As the result of the short‐term regulation, an ice cover was formed on the most important production sites of the river banks below the dam, making them even more uninhabitable for ammocoetes during the winter. The thick, mobile ice cover and sudden fluctuations in water flow increased erosion and therefore the quality and quantity of the production sites decreased. The embankment of the area above the reservoir caused erosion and nearly all suitable habitats for ammocoetes disappeared. As a result of regulation measures, the number of spawning habitats has decreased and their quality has worsened.
A new tool to interpret magnitude and duration of fish habitat variations
Authors: Capra Herve , Breil Pascal , Souchon Yves
Published: February 2007

The main result of habitat simulation procedures is a static relationship between an index of potential habitat, e.g. weighted usable area (WUA), versus discharge in a study reach representative of a stream. A new methodology was developed to analyse the timing and magnitude of physical habitat variations. Three options are presented: (i) the habitat time series; (ii) the habitat duration curves; and (iii) the continuous under threshold habitat duration curves. The last option is a new procedure to interpret habitat chronicles. It determines continuous durations during which the total WUA in a study reach was lower than a given threshold. The assumption according to which some durations/threshold values could represent limiting events for fish population dynamics is illustrated with surveys of two wild brown trout populations. The relationship between spawning habitat conditions and the relative density of 0 + the year after was studied. A continuous duration of more than 20 days with spawning habitat conditions lower than 80% of the optimum conditions seemed to limit the number of 0 + trout. This procedure is presented as a tool to interpret natural discharge time series for management.
Floristic differences between riparian corridors of regulated and free‐flowing boreal rivers
Authors: Nilsson Christer , Jansson Roland
Published: February 2007

Riparian ecosystems are central elements in many landscapes because of their shape, diversity and function as filters and corridors. They are also among the environments most disturbed and threatened by humans. Human‐induced changes in riparian vegetation and flora were assessed by comparing free‐flowing and regulated rivers in northern Sweden. Although riparian vegetation structure is rather uniform along free‐flowing rivers, it varies distinctly along regulated rivers because of different water‐level fluctuations in storage reservoirs, run of the river impoundments and unimpounded but regulated reaches. The total species richness of vascular plants per river in the riparian zone was similar between four free‐flowing and four regulated rivers in northern Sweden. However, species richness per 200 m long site was considerably lower, and almost all groups of species were more species‐poor per site in the regulated rivers due to perturbations caused by regulation. Both free‐flowing and regulated rivers showed an increase in the species richness of ruderal plants towards the coast. In contrast, the species richness of natural plants showed different longitudinal patterns in the two types of rivers, and differences were largest along the middle reaches of the rivers. The reasons why responses in vegetation and flora to human perturbation varied downstream along regulated rivers are not known, but factors such as different disturbance patterns, irregular distribution of remnants of former riparian soils and vegetation and differences in regional plant species richness and plant dispersal along the river corridor may be important.
Habitat associations of upper Volga river fishes: Effects of reservoirs
Authors: Poddubny Arthur G. , Galat David L.
Published: February 2007

Habitat associations of upper Volga river fishes are defined within a cycle of spawning, feeding and overwintering migrations. The migration cycles of resident riverine fishes are categorized as obligate rheophils, limno‐rheophils and limnophils. Forty‐four fish species in 14 families occurred in the upper Volga River before regulation. Four mainstem reservoirs were constructed on the upper Volga between 1937 and 1957: Ivankovo, Uglich, Rybinsk and Gorky. They are maintained in a stage of delayed and sustained annual flood pulse. Additional impacts of reservoir construction include the creation of a new pelagic habitat, replacement of floodplains by lacustrine littoral and sublittoral habitats, creation of a complex bathyal habitat from former river channels and replacement of riverine flow patterns by pelagic water mass circulations. Populations of rheophilic species declined, while a new pelagophilic fish guild developed. Forty‐six fish species are now present; seven species were lost and nine introduced after impoundment. Spawning, feeding and wintering habitats are outlined for reservoir guilds. Ichthyomass increased three to four times following reservoir construction and commercial fish harvest from Rybinsk Reservoir between 1945 and 1992 ranged from 2220 to 4304 t/y. Reservoirs of the upper Volga have limited bioproductivity due to a deficiency and uneven distribution of reproductive habitats, decreasing bottom irregularity, seasonal anomalies of flooding and draining of the littoral and sublittoral and underestimating the importance of tributaries. Lack of littoral reproductive habitat can be remedied by increasing the area of protected littoral through the construction of chains of small islands, diking and reclamation of bogged areas. Improved reproduction of migrating local stocks can be achieved by removing sand bars across tributary mouths, construction of artificial spawning grounds and restoration and preservation of preferred habitats in the main channel.
Palp to gill area ratio of bivalves: A sensitive indicator of elevated suspended solids
Authors: Payne Barry S. , Miller Andrew C. , Lei Jin
Published: February 2007

Area measurements were made of the gills and labial palps of several freshwater bivalve species from sites with distinctly different suspended solids concentrations. Without exception, the palp to gill area ratio (PA:GA) was markedly higher for populations from sites with high versus low suspended solids concentrations. The average PA:GA (expressed as a percentage) ranged from 9·3 to 11·5 for bivalves from high suspended solids concentration sites and from 2.5 to 4.8 for bivalves from low suspended solids concentration sites. Such interpopulation differences were observed for two introduced species, Dreissena polymorpha and Corbicula fluminea, despite extremely brief residence times in an evolutionary sense. At any particular location, different species of native unionids had similar PA:GA. These results suggest that PA:GA is a sensitive biological indicator of suspended solids concentration, with interpopulation differences probably reflecting ecophenotypic rather than genetic variation.
Biological monitoring of fish assemblages in Tennessee Valley reservoirs
Authors: Jennings Martin J. , Fore Leska S. , Karr James R.
Published: February 2007

Reservoirs comprise an expanding proportion of global freshwater resources. New multimetric approaches to biological monitoring, such as the index of biological integrity, have been useful in streams; similar approaches in reservoirs might aid managers concerned about the reservoirs they manage. Electrofishing data from Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs were used to evaluate the applicability of biomonitoring to those reservoirs. Individual metrics and overall index scores exhibited substantial annual variation. Within‐year variation in scores from a supplemental data set suggests that annual changes in scores may not represent real fluctuations in resource condition. Species accumulation curves demonstrate that standard samples consisting of ten timed runs were not adequate; the sample error was high. Some metrics are useful, but they require more testing; other metrics are clearly not appropriate for use in a integrative multimetric index. Finally, the reservoirs included in this study may be similarly degraded; independent data from separate regions and watersheds are needed to resolve this and other issues. Although attaching qualitative judgements (e.g. excellent to poor) is premature, the concept of a reservoir biomonitoring index deserves more study, especially the development of more comprehensive and systematic sampling programmes designed to resolve sample adequacy and sources of variation in sample data.
Modification and assessment of an index of biotic integrity to quantify water resource quality in great rivers
Authors: Simon Thomas P. , Emery Erich B.
Published: February 2007

A measure of stream quality, the index of biotic integrity (IBI), was adapted to great rivers (>3226 km2) and calibrated using a variety of spatial scales. Fish fauna was sampled at 60 localities within 15 impoundments of the Ohio River drainage, eastern Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, with boat electroshocker methods during the summers and autumns of 1990–1993 to provide biological information for the IBI. Significant correlation was not found between ecoregion or differing reservoirs; however, the IBI was sensitive to differences in land use and variable industrial and municipal loadings. Species richness, the percentage large river faunal group, the proportion of round‐bodied sucker species, the number of centrarchid species, the number of sensitive taxa and the proportion of simple lithophilous spawning species showed the greatest change between riverine and lacustrine habitats within an impoundment. The percentage large river faunal group metric was not significantly different between riverine, transitional and lacustrine habitats; however, the metric reflected significant differences when evaluated with habitat information. The number of centrarchid species was higher in lacustrine habitats, whereas round‐bodied sucker species were highest in transitional habitats. The inherent variation of proportional metrics was significantly reduced with the removal of gizzard shad. This modification of the IBI will enhance assessment sensitivity over the original approach designed for wadable streams and rivers.
A centralised approach to environmental management: The case of Singapore
Authors: Ooi Giok Ling
Published: February 2007

The dynamic economies of Asian countries including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea have economic as well as environmental lessons to share. More attention however has been paid to the economic rather than environmental lessons. This paper examines Singapore's experience with balancing economic and environmental needs. It has been relatively successful at achieving this balance and this is evident in the two case‐studies which are discussed. The discussion highlights the centralised approach to policy decision‐making on both development and environment in Singapore and provides evidence in support of the argument that the success of such an approach to policy‐making must be attributed to the close coordination of state agencies that are implementing development programmes.
Australian forests: Resource security or national heritage
Authors: Thompson Herb , Tracy Julie
Published: February 2007

In Australia, the debate has intensified with respect to the continued logging of old‐growth forests and export of woodchips. This has developed into antagonism between conservationist groups on one side, and a coalition of trade unions and business enterprises on the other. Much of the antagonism has been played out in the political arena around the issue of ‘resource security’ legislation.

The specific legislation was defeated in 1992, but it is argued herein that this has not and will not conclude an on‐going debate around similar issues. The material consequences of economic recession have provided an interdependency between agents of the working class and capital to exploit native forests for the full value of the existing timber. This coalition of interests is having an effect not only on political discourse and policy determination but even the valuation of forest ecology itself. This paper examines the economic, technical and ethical parameters of that debate and concludes that the material interests of labour and capital will be pertinent to long‐term outcomes.

The first man who, having enclosed a piece of land, thought of saying ‘this is mine’ and found people simple enough to believe him, was the real founder of civil society. How many crimes, wars, murders; how much misery and horror the human race would have been spared if someone had pulled up the stakes and filled in the ditch and cried out to his fellow men: Beware of listening to this imposter. You are lost if you forget that the fruits of the earth belong to everyone and that the earth itself belongs to no onel (Rousseau 1984; p. 109).
An inquiry into prospects for sustainability in mineral planning
Authors: Hammersley Richard
Published: February 2007

The relationship of planning for minerals development with notions of sustainability is explored. Environmental planning control cannot hope to resolve issues of global resource usage, but should address issues of the efficient use of the resources at local and national levels, the minimization of environmental damage and the effective reuse of sites. Market‐led central government policy generally avoids issues of resource management, but some new policy guidance does aim at alternative depletion strategies. The operational phases of mineral extraction can be made more sustainable if there is the political will to enforce high standards of environmental protection. The restoration of worked out sites presents major opportunities for sustainable development ideas. A major current problem lies in old, inadequate mineral permissions; their updating is an urgent priority. The relationship between mineral extraction and sustainability as a model of planned resource use and replacement is redefined.

The Sustainability Research Centre at the University of Central England (UCE) has been established, with pump‐priming finance, to provide a framework for a focused research effort into the theory and practice of sustainability as a fundamental criterion for the planning and implementation of land development proposals. It has been formed by a team of lecturers from the Schools of Planning, Architecture, Housing and Estate Management at UCE; it is intended to promote an interdisciplinary approach to the research. Immediate objectives include: publication of the proceedings of the recent conference entitled ‘Struggling with Sustainability’; the establishment of a sustainability database; and extending support for an established research project into policy–action relationships in minerals planning. This current paper is one product of the latter initiative.
Effectiveness of environmental performance measures in ensuring sustainable development: The water and agricultural industries highlighted
Authors: Johnston A. R. , Lewis K. A.
Published: February 2007

If businesses are to contribute to green sustainable development, then a method of measuring progress is essential. Accounting methods need to be used that indicate to the organization and the general public the progress of the business towards sustainability. Sustainability, by some definitions, refers to the degradation or depletion of natural resources, i.e. direct and indirect environmental effects. For example, consider the effect of pesticides contaminating water. Sustainability would reflect the degradation of the water quality and the disturbance of the water's aquatic ecosystem, the damage to aquatic life and the possible human and animal health effects. Consequently, by this definition, sustainability is equivalent to the environmental effects. The considerations required to identify environmental performance measures (EPMs) which reflect the progress towards sustainable development and which measure environmental performance are discussed. Environmental performance measures can be used in a wide variety of ways and this is illustrated with respect to two research projects currently being carried out at the University of Hertfordshire. The first discusses the use of corporate EPMs with the water industry of England and Wales by examining company environmental reports. The second uses EPMs to measure environmental performance and the goal of both business and green sustainability within arable agriculture.
Meta‐analysis of mixed treatment comparisons at multiple follow‐up times
Authors: Lu G. , Ades A. E. , Sutton A. J. , Cooper N. J. , Briggs A. H. , Caldwell D. M.
Published: February 2007

Mixed treatment comparisons (MTC) meta‐analysis is a methodology for making inferences on relative treatment effects based on a synthesis of both direct and indirect evidence on multiple treatment contrasts. This is particularly useful in the context of cost‐effectiveness analysis and medical decision making. Here, we extend these methods to a more complex situation where trials report results at one or more, different yet fixed, follow‐up times. These methods are applied to an illustrative data set combining evidence on healing rates under six different treatments for gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD). A series of Bayesian hierarchical models based on piece‐wise exponential hazards is developed that borrow strength across the MTC networks and also across time points. These include models for absolute and relative treatment effects, models with fixed or random effects over time, random walk models, and models with homogeneous or heterogeneous between‐trials variation. The deviance information criterion (DIC) is used to guide model development and selection. Models for absolute treatment effects generate materially different rankings of the treatments than models that separate the trial‐specific baselines from the relative treatment effects. The extent of between‐trials heterogeneity in treatment effects depends on treatment contrast. In discussion we note that models of this type have a very wide potential application. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.