Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management.

ABSTRACT: Although the trait concept is increasingly used in research, quantitative relations that can support in determining ecological tipping points and serve as a basis for environmental standards are lacking. This study determines changes in trait abundance along a gradient of flow velocity, turbidity and elevation, and develops trait-response curves, which facilitate the identification of ecological tipping points. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and abiotic conditions were determined at 88 different locations in the streams of the Guayas basin. After trait information collection, a set of trait diversity metrics were calculated. Negative binomial regression and linear regression were applied to relate the abundance of each trait and trait diversity metrics, respectively, to flow velocity, turbidit

SUBMITTER: Forio MAE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10135673 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature