ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
urban runoff
;
benthic macroinvertebrates
;
species diversity
;
hierarchical diversity
;
population dissimilarity
;
pollution indicators
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Although it has been demonstrated that urban stormwater can alter the quality of receiving waters, the corresponding impact on aquatic biota remains essentially undocumented. A year-long intensive study, therefore, was implemented to monitor and describe the ecological effects exerted by urban runoff on benthic macroinvertebrates. Rock-filled, basket-type artificial substrates deployed periodically in nonurban and urban river reaches yielded collections of macroinvertebrates that furnished data for: (1) species diversity (the Brillouin index, H), (2) hierarchical diversity, (3) major taxa composition, and (4) collection dissimilarity at the species level. The overall results from these four analytical procedures strongly indicate that the macrobenthic community became progressively disrupted downstream in the urban reach. The high degree of correspondence between the known sources of urban runoff and the observed effects on the benthic community are forceful arguments that urban runoff is the causal agent of disruption. The impact is not confined to periods following heavy rains. Instead the pollutants appear to remain in the system. The stress imposed by them was most acute during the summer low flow and was probably localized in or near the stream bed. To assess the impact of urban runoff on an aquatic ecosystem, physical, chemical, and biological monitoring should routinely consider the stream bed microzone. Urban runoff pollutant loading standards must take into account the apparent long-term residence of pollutants in the substrate and the associated stress of summer low flows.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02187149
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