Bylak Aneta, Kukuła Krzysztof
Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Poland.
Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Poland.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Aug 1;832:155079. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155079. Epub 2022 Apr 8.
Fine-grained sediments are a natural component of river systems. Human activities generate additional sources of fine sediment. In mountainous areas, the anthropogenic inputs of fine sediments are associated with forestry. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the macroinvertebrate communities between the reference and caused by forest harvesting activities increased influx of fine-sediment to mountain streams. The tested hypothesis was that the macroinvertebrate communities will differ depending on the intensity of forest harvesting practices in the stream catchment that causes excessive influx of fine sediment into the stream. The reintroduction of beavers in the study area, and the formation of in-stream beaver dams, contribute the accumulation of sediments in stream sections with slower water. Thus, it was also assumed that by capturing and storing fine sediments, may contribute to the restoration of the natural structure of the benthic communities downstream of the ponds. The study was carried out in a mountain stream catchment area (Carpathians, Poland), in which inflow of fine sediments in the stream sections varied in intensity. The study was conducted over three years (2018-2020). The extensive use of forest roads, timber skidding trails, and timber storage areas produced fine sediments that clogged the interstitial spaces between the stones in the riffles, limiting the presence of rheophilic taxa associated with coarse-grained substrates. The reduction of the number of scrapers and shredders (i.e. primary consumers) associated with the influx of fine sediments may significantly affect the entire food-web structure in stream ecosystems. The capture and deposition of fine sediments in beaver ponds may accelerate the revitalisation of the flowing sections of the stream. Beaver-induced sediment management is strongly recommended as a beneficial practice that could contribute to ecological preservation and the potential of streams, particularly in mountain areas.
细颗粒沉积物是河流系统的自然组成部分。人类活动产生了额外的细颗粒沉积物来源。在山区，细颗粒沉积物的人为输入与林业相关。本研究的目的是分析参考区域与因森林采伐活动导致山区溪流细颗粒沉积物流入增加而形成的区域之间大型无脊椎动物群落的差异。所检验的假设是，大型无脊椎动物群落将因溪流集水区森林采伐活动的强度而有所不同，这些活动导致过多的细颗粒沉积物流入溪流。在研究区域重新引入海狸以及在溪流中形成海狸坝，有助于在水流较慢的溪流段积累沉积物。因此，还假设通过捕获和储存细颗粒沉积物，可能有助于恢复池塘下游底栖生物群落的自然结构。该研究在一个山区溪流集水区（波兰喀尔巴阡山脉）进行，其中溪流段细颗粒沉积物的流入强度各不相同。研究持续了三年（2018 - 2020年）。森林道路、木材滑道和木材储存区的广泛使用产生了细颗粒沉积物，这些沉积物堵塞了浅滩中石块之间的间隙空间，限制了与粗颗粒基质相关的喜流类群的存在。与细颗粒沉积物流入相关的刮食者和碎食者（即初级消费者）数量的减少可能会显著影响溪流生态系统中的整个食物网结构。海狸池塘中细颗粒沉积物的捕获和沉积可能会加速溪流流动段的恢复。强烈建议将海狸引发的沉积物管理作为一种有益的做法，它有助于生态保护和溪流的潜力，特别是在山区。
