Application of macroinvertebrate multimetrics as a measure of the impact of anthropogenic modification of spring habitats

Springs are distinct freshwater habitats that are threatened globally by human impacts, but are not included in standard freshwater assessment tools. This study analysed how the standard macroinvertebrate metrics currently used in biomonitoring programmes for running waters perform in springs with similar ecological qualities but with a different degree of hydromorphological modification. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were analysed in 50 riparian springs along the Crvcka River in the Dinaric karst. Most metrics analysed (ASPT, EPTfam, PTHfam, BMWP, STAR_ICMi, and Spring_ICMi) showed significant differences between hydromorphologically modified and natural, i.e. unmodified, springs. A self‐organizing map (SOM), an unsupervised artificial neural network, was used for patterning and visualizing 10 environmental parameters and the metrics analysed. Most macroinvertebrate metrics, besides IBE (which did not show any pattern) and PTHfam (which showed an opposite trend), had significantly lower values in the spring group with the highest electrical conductivity and the lowest discharge. The study showed that hydromorphological modification does not necessarily lead to a loss of crenobiontic species, provided that the discharge and substrate composition remain suitable. Future coordinated conservation strategies must take into account the fact that spring species assemblages are sensitive to habitat structure and organic pollution, as has been achieved in Europe for rivers assessed under the Water Framework Directive. Using multimetric indices, such as the new Spring_ICMi, may help to provide a framework for assessing the response of macroinvertebrate assemblages to human impacts. They may also help in assessing the success of measures used for the conservation and restoration of these threatened but highly valuable habitats. Further investigations should verify the suitability of such metrics in assessing the deterioration of springs globally

Formalized classification of the class Montio-Cardaminetea in Europe: towards a consistent typology of spring vegetation|Formalizovaná klasifikace třídy Montio-Cardaminetea v Evropě: na cestě k jednotné typologii prameništní vegetace

The class Montio-Cardaminetea includes vegetation of springs with constant waterflow. These habitats, which function as islands for highly specialized and sensitive biota, are endangered by ongoing landscape and climatic changes. Although a harmonized classification into vegetation units is necessary for effective habitat conservation, there is currently no syn thetic classification of the class Montio-Cardaminetea. Here a large set of vegetation-plot records was obtained from national and private databases. The aim was to validate the EuroVegChecklist classification scheme, search for additional ecologically meaningful vegetation types and develop an automatic system for classifying new plots from Europe. We formally defined the cores of eight of the ten EuroVegChecklist alliances: Caricion remotae, Cratoneurion commutati, Lycopodo europaei-Cratoneurion commutati, Epilobio nutantis-Montion, Koenigio Microjuncion, Mniobryo-Epilobion hornemanii, Philonotidion seriatae (Cardamino-Montion) and Swertio perennis-Anisothecion squarrosi, which were also reproduced by unsupervised classifications. Both unsupervised and semi-supervised classifications further suggested two alliances not previously recognized in the EuroVegChecklist: Anthelion julaceae (liverwort dominated subalpine to alpine springs in highly oceanic regions in Britain) and Cratoneuro filicini-Calthion laetae (mesotrophic herb-rich subalpine and alpine springs). The unsupervised classifications mainly reflected the base saturation gradient, distinguishing between calcareous and non-calcareous springs. Therefore, it is suggested the order Montio-Cardaminetalia, which is broadly delimited in the EuroVegChecklist, be divided into two separate orders and the fol lowing three orders should be distinguished within the class Montio-Cardaminetea: Cardamino Chrysosplenietalia (non-calcareous forest springs; Caricion remotae), Cardamino-Cratoneure talia (calcareous springs; Cratoneurion commutati, Lycopodo europaei-Cratoneurion commutati) and Montio-Cardaminetalia (non-calcareous non-forest springs; all other alliances)