Taxonomic and functional responses of benthic and drifting macroinvertebrates to fine sediment deposition: evidence from an alpine flume-based experiment.

ABSTRACT: Excessive fine sediment deposition is a global pervasive issue in rivers and, in particular, for benthic organisms including macroinvertebrates. However, the assessment of fine sediment effects on the taxonomic and functional diversity of macroinvertebrate communities is challenging because of context-dependent confounding factors, such as river-flow conditions, land-use change, and anthropogenic pressures. By using a set of outdoor artificial flumes, this study examined the immediate (24-48 h) and two weeks post-addition response of Alpine stream macroinvertebrates to experimental deposition of fine sediment (7.5 kg m²). The taxonomic composition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities demonstrated significant differences between control and sediment-affected flumes; while tax

SUBMITTER: Doretto A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12855233 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature