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32 results on '"Tziortzis I."'

1. Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics

Author

Sinclair, J, Welti, E, Altermatt, F, Alvarez-Cabria, M, Aroviita, J, Baker, N, Baresova, L, Barquin, J, Bonacina, L, Bonada, N, Canedo-Arguelles, M, Csabai, Z, de Eyto, E, Dohet, A, Dorflinger, G, Eriksen, T, Evtimova, V, Feio, M, Ferreol, M, Floury, M, Forio, M, Fornaroli, R, Goethals, P, Heino, J, Hering, D, Huttunen, K, Jahnig, S, Johnson, R, Kuglerova, L, Kupilas, B, L'Hoste, L, Larranaga, A, Leitner, P, Lorenz, A, Mckie, B, Muotka, T, Osadcaja, D, Paavola, R, Palinauskas, V, Paril, P, Pilotto, F, Polasek, M, Rasmussen, J, Schafer, R, Schmidt-Kloiber, A, Scotti, A, Skuja, A, Straka, M, Stubbington, R, Timm, H, Tyufekchieva, V, Tziortzis, I, Vannevel, R, Varbiro, G, Velle, G, Verdonschot, R, Vray, S, Haase, P, Sinclair J. S., Welti E. A. R., Altermatt F., Alvarez-Cabria M., Aroviita J., Baker N. J., Baresova L., Barquin J., Bonacina L., Bonada N., Canedo-Arguelles M., Csabai Z., de Eyto E., Dohet A., Dorflinger G., Eriksen T. E., Evtimova V., Feio M. J., Ferreol M., Floury M., Forio M. A. E., Fornaroli R., Goethals P. L. M., Heino J., Hering D., Huttunen K. -L., Jahnig S. C., Johnson R. K., Kuglerova L., Kupilas B., L'Hoste L., Larranaga A., Leitner P., Lorenz A. W., McKie B. G., Muotka T., Osadcaja D., Paavola R., Palinauskas V., Paril P., Pilotto F., Polasek M., Rasmussen J. J., Schafer R. B., Schmidt-Kloiber A., Scotti A., Skuja A., Straka M., Stubbington R., Timm H., Tyufekchieva V., Tziortzis I., Vannevel R., Varbiro G., Velle G., Verdonschot R. C. M., Vray S., Haase P., Sinclair, J, Welti, E, Altermatt, F, Alvarez-Cabria, M, Aroviita, J, Baker, N, Baresova, L, Barquin, J, Bonacina, L, Bonada, N, Canedo-Arguelles, M, Csabai, Z, de Eyto, E, Dohet, A, Dorflinger, G, Eriksen, T, Evtimova, V, Feio, M, Ferreol, M, Floury, M, Forio, M, Fornaroli, R, Goethals, P, Heino, J, Hering, D, Huttunen, K, Jahnig, S, Johnson, R, Kuglerova, L, Kupilas, B, L'Hoste, L, Larranaga, A, Leitner, P, Lorenz, A, Mckie, B, Muotka, T, Osadcaja, D, Paavola, R, Palinauskas, V, Paril, P, Pilotto, F, Polasek, M, Rasmussen, J, Schafer, R, Schmidt-Kloiber, A, Scotti, A, Skuja, A, Straka, M, Stubbington, R, Timm, H, Tyufekchieva, V, Tziortzis, I, Vannevel, R, Varbiro, G, Velle, G, Verdonschot, R, Vray, S, Haase, P, Sinclair J. S., Welti E. A. R., Altermatt F., Alvarez-Cabria M., Aroviita J., Baker N. J., Baresova L., Barquin J., Bonacina L., Bonada N., Canedo-Arguelles M., Csabai Z., de Eyto E., Dohet A., Dorflinger G., Eriksen T. E., Evtimova V., Feio M. J., Ferreol M., Floury M., Forio M. A. E., Fornaroli R., Goethals P. L. M., Heino J., Hering D., Huttunen K. -L., Jahnig S. C., Johnson R. K., Kuglerova L., Kupilas B., L'Hoste L., Larranaga A., Leitner P., Lorenz A. W., McKie B. G., Muotka T., Osadcaja D., Paavola R., Palinauskas V., Paril P., Pilotto F., Polasek M., Rasmussen J. J., Schafer R. B., Schmidt-Kloiber A., Scotti A., Skuja A., Straka M., Stubbington R., Timm H., Tyufekchieva V., Tziortzis I., Vannevel R., Varbiro G., Velle G., Verdonschot R. C. M., Vray S., and Haase P.

Abstract

Humans impact terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems, yet many broad-scale studies have found no systematic, negative biodiversity changes (for example, decreasing abundance or taxon richness). Here we show that mixed biodiversity responses may arise because community metrics show variable responses to anthropogenic impacts across broad spatial scales. We first quantified temporal trends in anthropogenic impacts for 1,365 riverine invertebrate communities from 23 European countries, based on similarity to least-impacted reference communities. Reference comparisons provide necessary, but often missing, baselines for evaluating whether communities are negatively impacted or have improved (less or more similar, respectively). We then determined whether changing impacts were consistently reflected in metrics of community abundance, taxon richness, evenness and composition. Invertebrate communities improved, that is, became more similar to reference conditions, from 1992 until the 2010s, after which improvements plateaued. Improvements were generally reflected by higher taxon richness, providing evidence that certain community metrics can broadly indicate anthropogenic impacts. However, richness responses were highly variable among sites, and we found no consistent responses in community abundance, evenness or composition. These findings suggest that, without sufficient data and careful metric selection, many common community metrics cannot reliably reflect anthropogenic impacts, helping explain the prevalence of mixed biodiversity trends.

Published
2024

2. Time series of freshwater macroinvertebrate abundances and site characteristics of European streams and rivers

Author

Welti, E, Bowler, D, Sinclair, J, Altermatt, F, Alvarez-Cabria, M, Amatulli, G, Angeler, D, Archambaud, G, Arrate Jorrin, I, Aspin, T, Azpiroz, I, Baker, N, Banares, I, Barquin Ortiz, J, Bodin, C, Bonacina, L, Bonada, N, Bottarin, R, Canedo-Arguelles, M, Csabai, Z, Datry, T, de Eyto, E, Dohet, A, Domisch, S, Dorflinger, G, Drohan, E, Eikland, K, England, J, Eriksen, T, Evtimova, V, Feio, M, Ferreol, M, Floury, M, Forcellini, M, Forio, M, Fornaroli, R, Friberg, N, Fruget, J, Garcia Marquez, J, Georgieva, G, Goethals, P, Graca, M, House, A, Huttunen, K, Jensen, T, Johnson, R, Jones, J, Kiesel, J, Larranaga, A, Leitner, P, L'Hoste, L, Lizee, M, Lorenz, A, Maire, A, Manzanos Arnaiz, J, Mckie, B, Millan, A, Muotka, T, Murphy, J, Ozolins, D, Paavola, R, Paril, P, Penas Silva, F, Polasek, M, Rasmussen, J, Rubio, M, Sanchez Fernandez, D, Sandin, L, Schafer, R, Schmidt-Kloiber, A, Scotti, A, Shen, L, Skuja, A, Stoll, S, Straka, M, Stubbington, R, Timm, H, Tyufekchieva, V, Tziortzis, I, Uzunov, Y, van der Lee, G, Vannevel, R, Varadinova, E, Varbiro, G, Velle, G, Verdonschot, P, Verdonschot, R, Vidinova, Y, Wiberg-Larsen, P, Haase, P, Welti E. A. R., Bowler D. E., Sinclair J. S., Altermatt F., Alvarez-Cabria M., Amatulli G., Angeler D. G., Archambaud G., Arrate Jorrin I., Aspin T., Azpiroz I., Baker N. J., Banares I., Barquin Ortiz J., Bodin C. L., Bonacina L., Bonada N., Bottarin R., Canedo-Arguelles M., Csabai Z., Datry T., de Eyto E., Dohet A., Domisch S., Dorflinger G., Drohan E., Eikland K. A., England J., Eriksen T. E., Evtimova V., Feio M. J., Ferreol M., Floury M., Forcellini M., Forio M. A. E., Fornaroli R., Friberg N., Fruget J. -F., Garcia Marquez J. R., Georgieva G., Goethals P., Graca M. A. S., House A., Huttunen K. -L., Jensen T. C., Johnson R. K., Jones J. I., Kiesel J., Larranaga A., Leitner P., L'Hoste L., Lizee M. -H., Lorenz A. W., Maire A., Manzanos Arnaiz J. A., Mckie B., Millan A., Muotka T., Murphy J. F., Ozolins D., Paavola R., Paril P., Penas Silva F. J., Polasek M., Rasmussen J., Rubio M., Sanchez Fernandez D., Sandin L., Schafer R. B., Schmidt-Kloiber A., Scotti A., Shen L. Q., Skuja A., Stoll S., Straka M., Stubbington R., Timm H., Tyufekchieva V. G., Tziortzis I., Uzunov Y., van der Lee G. H., Vannevel R., Varadinova E., Varbiro G., Velle G., Verdonschot P. F. M., Verdonschot R. C. M., Vidinova Y., Wiberg-Larsen P., Haase P., Welti, E, Bowler, D, Sinclair, J, Altermatt, F, Alvarez-Cabria, M, Amatulli, G, Angeler, D, Archambaud, G, Arrate Jorrin, I, Aspin, T, Azpiroz, I, Baker, N, Banares, I, Barquin Ortiz, J, Bodin, C, Bonacina, L, Bonada, N, Bottarin, R, Canedo-Arguelles, M, Csabai, Z, Datry, T, de Eyto, E, Dohet, A, Domisch, S, Dorflinger, G, Drohan, E, Eikland, K, England, J, Eriksen, T, Evtimova, V, Feio, M, Ferreol, M, Floury, M, Forcellini, M, Forio, M, Fornaroli, R, Friberg, N, Fruget, J, Garcia Marquez, J, Georgieva, G, Goethals, P, Graca, M, House, A, Huttunen, K, Jensen, T, Johnson, R, Jones, J, Kiesel, J, Larranaga, A, Leitner, P, L'Hoste, L, Lizee, M, Lorenz, A, Maire, A, Manzanos Arnaiz, J, Mckie, B, Millan, A, Muotka, T, Murphy, J, Ozolins, D, Paavola, R, Paril, P, Penas Silva, F, Polasek, M, Rasmussen, J, Rubio, M, Sanchez Fernandez, D, Sandin, L, Schafer, R, Schmidt-Kloiber, A, Scotti, A, Shen, L, Skuja, A, Stoll, S, Straka, M, Stubbington, R, Timm, H, Tyufekchieva, V, Tziortzis, I, Uzunov, Y, van der Lee, G, Vannevel, R, Varadinova, E, Varbiro, G, Velle, G, Verdonschot, P, Verdonschot, R, Vidinova, Y, Wiberg-Larsen, P, Haase, P, Welti E. A. R., Bowler D. E., Sinclair J. S., Altermatt F., Alvarez-Cabria M., Amatulli G., Angeler D. G., Archambaud G., Arrate Jorrin I., Aspin T., Azpiroz I., Baker N. J., Banares I., Barquin Ortiz J., Bodin C. L., Bonacina L., Bonada N., Bottarin R., Canedo-Arguelles M., Csabai Z., Datry T., de Eyto E., Dohet A., Domisch S., Dorflinger G., Drohan E., Eikland K. A., England J., Eriksen T. E., Evtimova V., Feio M. J., Ferreol M., Floury M., Forcellini M., Forio M. A. E., Fornaroli R., Friberg N., Fruget J. -F., Garcia Marquez J. R., Georgieva G., Goethals P., Graca M. A. S., House A., Huttunen K. -L., Jensen T. C., Johnson R. K., Jones J. I., Kiesel J., Larranaga A., Leitner P., L'Hoste L., Lizee M. -H., Lorenz A. W., Maire A., Manzanos Arnaiz J. A., Mckie B., Millan A., Muotka T., Murphy J. F., Ozolins D., Paavola R., Paril P., Penas Silva F. J., Polasek M., Rasmussen J., Rubio M., Sanchez Fernandez D., Sandin L., Schafer R. B., Schmidt-Kloiber A., Scotti A., Shen L. Q., Skuja A., Stoll S., Straka M., Stubbington R., Timm H., Tyufekchieva V. G., Tziortzis I., Uzunov Y., van der Lee G. H., Vannevel R., Varadinova E., Varbiro G., Velle G., Verdonschot P. F. M., Verdonschot R. C. M., Vidinova Y., Wiberg-Larsen P., and Haase P.

Abstract

Freshwater macroinvertebrates are a diverse group and play key ecological roles, including accelerating nutrient cycling, filtering water, controlling primary producers, and providing food for predators. Their differences in tolerances and short generation times manifest in rapid community responses to change. Macroinvertebrate community composition is an indicator of water quality. In Europe, efforts to improve water quality following environmental legislation, primarily starting in the 1980s, may have driven a recovery of macroinvertebrate communities. Towards understanding temporal and spatial variation of these organisms, we compiled the TREAM dataset (Time seRies of European freshwAter Macroinvertebrates), consisting of macroinvertebrate community time series from 1,816 river and stream sites (mean length of 19.2 years and 14.9 sampling years) of 22 European countries sampled between 1968 and 2020. In total, the data include >93 million sampled individuals of 2,648 taxa from 959 genera and 212 families. These data can be used to test questions ranging from identifying drivers of the population dynamics of specific taxa to assessing the success of legislative and management restoration efforts.

Published
2024

3. The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt

Author

Haase, P, Bowler, D, Baker, N, Bonada, N, Domisch, S, Garcia Marquez, J, Heino, J, Hering, D, Jahnig, S, Schmidt-Kloiber, A, Stubbington, R, Altermatt, F, Alvarez-Cabria, M, Amatulli, G, Angeler, D, Archambaud-Suard, G, Jorrin, I, Aspin, T, Azpiroz, I, Banares, I, Ortiz, J, Bodin, C, Bonacina, L, Bottarin, R, Canedo-Arguelles, M, Csabai, Z, Datry, T, de Eyto, E, Dohet, A, Dorflinger, G, Drohan, E, Eikland, K, England, J, Eriksen, T, Evtimova, V, Feio, M, Ferreol, M, Floury, M, Forcellini, M, Forio, M, Fornaroli, R, Friberg, N, Fruget, J, Georgieva, G, Goethals, P, Graca, M, Graf, W, House, A, Huttunen, K, Jensen, T, Johnson, R, Jones, J, Kiesel, J, Kuglerova, L, Larranaga, A, Leitner, P, L'Hoste, L, Lizee, M, Lorenz, A, Maire, A, Arnaiz, J, Mckie, B, Millan, A, Monteith, D, Muotka, T, Murphy, J, Ozolins, D, Paavola, R, Paril, P, Penas, F, Pilotto, F, Polasek, M, Rasmussen, J, Rubio, M, Sanchez-Fernandez, D, Sandin, L, Schafer, R, Scotti, A, Shen, L, Skuja, A, Stoll, S, Straka, M, Timm, H, Tyufekchieva, V, Tziortzis, I, Uzunov, Y, van der Lee, G, Vannevel, R, Varadinova, E, Varbiro, G, Velle, G, Verdonschot, P, Verdonschot, R, Vidinova, Y, Wiberg-Larsen, P, Welti, E, Haase P., Bowler D. E., Baker N. J., Bonada N., Domisch S., Garcia Marquez J. R., Heino J., Hering D., Jahnig S. C., Schmidt-Kloiber A., Stubbington R., Altermatt F., Alvarez-Cabria M., Amatulli G., Angeler D. G., Archambaud-Suard G., Jorrin I. A., Aspin T., Azpiroz I., Banares I., Ortiz J. B., Bodin C. L., Bonacina L., Bottarin R., Canedo-Arguelles M., Csabai Z., Datry T., de Eyto E., Dohet A., Dorflinger G., Drohan E., Eikland K. A., England J., Eriksen T. E., Evtimova V., Feio M. J., Ferreol M., Floury M., Forcellini M., Forio M. A. E., Fornaroli R., Friberg N., Fruget J. -F., Georgieva G., Goethals P., Graca M. A. S., Graf W., House A., Huttunen K. -L., Jensen T. C., Johnson R. K., Jones J. I., Kiesel J., Kuglerova L., Larranaga A., Leitner P., L'Hoste L., Lizee M. -H., Lorenz A. W., Maire A., Arnaiz J. A. M., McKie B. G., Millan A., Monteith D., Muotka T., Murphy J. F., Ozolins D., Paavola R., Paril P., Penas F. J., Pilotto F., Polasek M., Rasmussen J. J., Rubio M., Sanchez-Fernandez D., Sandin L., Schafer R. B., Scotti A., Shen L. Q., Skuja A., Stoll S., Straka M., Timm H., Tyufekchieva V. G., Tziortzis I., Uzunov Y., van der Lee G. H., Vannevel R., Varadinova E., Varbiro G., Velle G., Verdonschot P. F. M., Verdonschot R. C. M., Vidinova Y., Wiberg-Larsen P., Welti E. A. R., Haase, P, Bowler, D, Baker, N, Bonada, N, Domisch, S, Garcia Marquez, J, Heino, J, Hering, D, Jahnig, S, Schmidt-Kloiber, A, Stubbington, R, Altermatt, F, Alvarez-Cabria, M, Amatulli, G, Angeler, D, Archambaud-Suard, G, Jorrin, I, Aspin, T, Azpiroz, I, Banares, I, Ortiz, J, Bodin, C, Bonacina, L, Bottarin, R, Canedo-Arguelles, M, Csabai, Z, Datry, T, de Eyto, E, Dohet, A, Dorflinger, G, Drohan, E, Eikland, K, England, J, Eriksen, T, Evtimova, V, Feio, M, Ferreol, M, Floury, M, Forcellini, M, Forio, M, Fornaroli, R, Friberg, N, Fruget, J, Georgieva, G, Goethals, P, Graca, M, Graf, W, House, A, Huttunen, K, Jensen, T, Johnson, R, Jones, J, Kiesel, J, Kuglerova, L, Larranaga, A, Leitner, P, L'Hoste, L, Lizee, M, Lorenz, A, Maire, A, Arnaiz, J, Mckie, B, Millan, A, Monteith, D, Muotka, T, Murphy, J, Ozolins, D, Paavola, R, Paril, P, Penas, F, Pilotto, F, Polasek, M, Rasmussen, J, Rubio, M, Sanchez-Fernandez, D, Sandin, L, Schafer, R, Scotti, A, Shen, L, Skuja, A, Stoll, S, Straka, M, Timm, H, Tyufekchieva, V, Tziortzis, I, Uzunov, Y, van der Lee, G, Vannevel, R, Varadinova, E, Varbiro, G, Velle, G, Verdonschot, P, Verdonschot, R, Vidinova, Y, Wiberg-Larsen, P, Welti, E, Haase P., Bowler D. E., Baker N. J., Bonada N., Domisch S., Garcia Marquez J. R., Heino J., Hering D., Jahnig S. C., Schmidt-Kloiber A., Stubbington R., Altermatt F., Alvarez-Cabria M., Amatulli G., Angeler D. G., Archambaud-Suard G., Jorrin I. A., Aspin T., Azpiroz I., Banares I., Ortiz J. B., Bodin C. L., Bonacina L., Bottarin R., Canedo-Arguelles M., Csabai Z., Datry T., de Eyto E., Dohet A., Dorflinger G., Drohan E., Eikland K. A., England J., Eriksen T. E., Evtimova V., Feio M. J., Ferreol M., Floury M., Forcellini M., Forio M. A. E., Fornaroli R., Friberg N., Fruget J. -F., Georgieva G., Goethals P., Graca M. A. S., Graf W., House A., Huttunen K. -L., Jensen T. C., Johnson R. K., Jones J. I., Kiesel J., Kuglerova L., Larranaga A., Leitner P., L'Hoste L., Lizee M. -H., Lorenz A. W., Maire A., Arnaiz J. A. M., McKie B. G., Millan A., Monteith D., Muotka T., Murphy J. F., Ozolins D., Paavola R., Paril P., Penas F. J., Pilotto F., Polasek M., Rasmussen J. J., Rubio M., Sanchez-Fernandez D., Sandin L., Schafer R. B., Scotti A., Shen L. Q., Skuja A., Stoll S., Straka M., Timm H., Tyufekchieva V. G., Tziortzis I., Uzunov Y., van der Lee G. H., Vannevel R., Varadinova E., Varbiro G., Velle G., Verdonschot P. F. M., Verdonschot R. C. M., Vidinova Y., Wiberg-Larsen P., and Welti E. A. R.

Abstract

Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss 1. Mitigation measures, including wastewater treatment and hydromorphological restoration, have aimed to improve environmental quality and foster the recovery of freshwater biodiversity 2. Here, using 1,816 time series of freshwater invertebrate communities collected across 22 European countries between 1968 and 2020, we quantified temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and their responses to environmental pressures and gradients. We observed overall increases in taxon richness (0.73% per year), functional richness (2.4% per year) and abundance (1.17% per year). However, these increases primarily occurred before the 2010s, and have since plateaued. Freshwater communities downstream of dams, urban areas and cropland were less likely to experience recovery. Communities at sites with faster rates of warming had fewer gains in taxon richness, functional richness and abundance. Although biodiversity gains in the 1990s and 2000s probably reflect the effectiveness of water-quality improvements and restoration projects, the decelerating trajectory in the 2010s suggests that the current measures offer diminishing returns. Given new and persistent pressures on freshwater ecosystems, including emerging pollutants, climate change and the spread of invasive species, we call for additional mitigation to revive the recovery of freshwater biodiversity.

Published
2023

4. The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt

Author

Haase, P., Bowler, Diana, Baker, N.J., Bonada, N., Domisch, S., Garcia Marquez, J.R., Heino, J., Hering, D., Jähnig, S.C., Schmidt-Kloiber, A., Stubbington, R., Altermatt, F., Álvarez-Cabria, M., Amatulli, G., Angeler, D.G., Archambaud-Suard, G., Arrate Jorrín, I., Aspin, T., Azpiroz, I., Bañares, I., Barquín Ortiz, J., Bodin, C.L., Bonacina, L., Bottarin, R., Cañedo-Argüelles, M., Csabai, Z., Datry, T., de Eyto, E., Dohet, A., Dörflinger, G., Drohan, E., Eikland, K.A., England, J., Eriksen, T.E., Evtimova, V., Feio, M.J., Ferréol, M., Floury, M., Forcellini, M., Eurie Forio, M.A., Fornaroli, R., Friberg, N., Fruget, J.-F., Georgieva, G., Goethals, P., Graça, M.A.S., Graf, W., House, A., Huttunen, K.-L., Jensen, T.C., Johnson, R.K., Jones, J.I., Kiesel, J., Kuglerová, L., Larrañaga, A., Leitner, P., L’Hoste, L., Lizée, M.-H., Lorenz, A.W., Maire, A., Manzanos Arnaiz, J.A., McKie, B.G., Millán, A., Monteith, D., Muotka, T., Murphy, J.F., Ozolins, D., Paavola, R., Paril, P., Peñas, F.J., Pilotto, F., Polášek, M., Rasmussen, J.J., Rubio, M., Sánchez-Fernández, D., Sandin, L., Schäfer, R.B., Scotti, A., Shen, L.Q., Skuja, A., Stoll, S., Straka, M., Timm, H., Tyufekchieva, V.G., Tziortzis, I., Uzunov, Y., van der Lee, G.H., Vannevel, R., Varadinova, E., Várbíró, G., Velle, G., Verdonschot, P.F.M., Verdonschot, R.C.M., Vidinova, Y., Wiberg-Larsen, P., Welti, E.A.R., Haase, P., Bowler, Diana, Baker, N.J., Bonada, N., Domisch, S., Garcia Marquez, J.R., Heino, J., Hering, D., Jähnig, S.C., Schmidt-Kloiber, A., Stubbington, R., Altermatt, F., Álvarez-Cabria, M., Amatulli, G., Angeler, D.G., Archambaud-Suard, G., Arrate Jorrín, I., Aspin, T., Azpiroz, I., Bañares, I., Barquín Ortiz, J., Bodin, C.L., Bonacina, L., Bottarin, R., Cañedo-Argüelles, M., Csabai, Z., Datry, T., de Eyto, E., Dohet, A., Dörflinger, G., Drohan, E., Eikland, K.A., England, J., Eriksen, T.E., Evtimova, V., Feio, M.J., Ferréol, M., Floury, M., Forcellini, M., Eurie Forio, M.A., Fornaroli, R., Friberg, N., Fruget, J.-F., Georgieva, G., Goethals, P., Graça, M.A.S., Graf, W., House, A., Huttunen, K.-L., Jensen, T.C., Johnson, R.K., Jones, J.I., Kiesel, J., Kuglerová, L., Larrañaga, A., Leitner, P., L’Hoste, L., Lizée, M.-H., Lorenz, A.W., Maire, A., Manzanos Arnaiz, J.A., McKie, B.G., Millán, A., Monteith, D., Muotka, T., Murphy, J.F., Ozolins, D., Paavola, R., Paril, P., Peñas, F.J., Pilotto, F., Polášek, M., Rasmussen, J.J., Rubio, M., Sánchez-Fernández, D., Sandin, L., Schäfer, R.B., Scotti, A., Shen, L.Q., Skuja, A., Stoll, S., Straka, M., Timm, H., Tyufekchieva, V.G., Tziortzis, I., Uzunov, Y., van der Lee, G.H., Vannevel, R., Varadinova, E., Várbíró, G., Velle, G., Verdonschot, P.F.M., Verdonschot, R.C.M., Vidinova, Y., Wiberg-Larsen, P., and Welti, E.A.R.

Abstract

Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss1. Mitigation measures, including wastewater treatment and hydromorphological restoration, have aimed to improve environmental quality and foster the recovery of freshwater biodiversity2. Here, using 1,816 time series of freshwater invertebrate communities collected across 22 European countries between 1968 and 2020, we quantified temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and their responses to environmental pressures and gradients. We observed overall increases in taxon richness (0.73% per year), functional richness (2.4% per year) and abundance (1.17% per year). However, these increases primarily occurred before the 2010s, and have since plateaued. Freshwater communities downstream of dams, urban areas and cropland were less likely to experience recovery. Communities at sites with faster rates of warming had fewer gains in taxon richness, functional richness and abundance. Although biodiversity gains in the 1990s and 2000s probably reflect the effectiveness of water-quality improvements and restoration projects, the decelerating trajectory in the 2010s suggests that the current measures offer diminishing returns. Given new and persistent pressures on freshwater ecosystems, including emerging pollutants, climate change and the spread of invasive species, we call for additional mitigation to revive the recovery of freshwater biodiversity.

Published
2023

5. Least Disturbed Condition for European Mediterranean rivers

Author

Feio, M.J., Aguiar, F.C., Almeida, S.F.P., Ferreira, J., Ferreira, M.T., Elias, C., Serra, S.R.Q., Buffagni, A., Cambra, J., Chauvin, C., Delmas, F., Dörflinger, G., Erba, S., Flor, N., Ferréol, M., Germ, M., Mancini, L., Manolaki, P., Marcheggiani, S., Minciardi, M.R., Munné, A., Papastergiadou, E., Prat, N., Puccinelli, C., Rosebery, J., Sabater, S., Ciadamidaro, S., Tornés, E., Tziortzis, I., Urbanič, G., and Vieira, C.

Published
2014
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7. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J, Hadjistylli, M., Tziortzis, I., Erotokritou, E., Demetriou M., Samuel, Y., Anastasi, V., Fyttis, G., Hadjioannou, L., Kassinis, N., Kleitou, P., Kletou, D., Mandoulaki, A., Michailidis, N., Papatheodoulou, A., Payiattas, G., Sparrow, D., Sparrow, R., Turvey, K., Tzirkalli, E., Varnava, A.I., and Pescott, O.L.

Abstract

Biodiversity monitoring plays an essential role in tracking changes in ecosystems, species distributions and abundances across the globe. Data collected through both structured and unstructured biodiversity recording can inform conservation measures designed to reduce, prevent, and reverse declines in valued biodiversity of many types. However, given that resources for biodiversity monitoring are limited, it is important that funding bodies prioritise investments relative to the requirements in any given region. We addressed this prioritisation requirement for a biodiverse Mediterranean island (Cyprus) using a three-stage process of expert-elicitation. This resulted in a structured list of twenty biodiversity monitoring needs; specifically, a hierarchy of three groups of these needs was created using a consensus approach. The most highly prioritised biodiversity monitoring needs were those related to the development of robust survey methodologies, and those ensuring that sufficiently skilled citizens are available to contribute. We discuss ways that the results of our expert-elicitation process could be used to support current and future biodiversity monitoring in Cyprus.

Published
2022

8. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J., Hadjistylli, M., Tziortzis, I., Erotokritou, E., Demetriou, M., Samuel, Y., Anastasi, V., Fyttis, G., Hadjioannou, L., Ieronymidou, C., Kassinis, N., Kleitou, P., Kletou, D., Mandoulaki, A., Michailidis, N., Papatheodoulou, A., Payiattas, G., Sparrow, D., Sparrow, R., Turvey, K., Tzirkalli, E., Varnava, A.I., Pescott, O.L., Peyton, J., Hadjistylli, M., Tziortzis, I., Erotokritou, E., Demetriou, M., Samuel, Y., Anastasi, V., Fyttis, G., Hadjioannou, L., Ieronymidou, C., Kassinis, N., Kleitou, P., Kletou, D., Mandoulaki, A., Michailidis, N., Papatheodoulou, A., Payiattas, G., Sparrow, D., Sparrow, R., Turvey, K., Tzirkalli, E., Varnava, A.I., and Pescott, O.L.

Abstract

Biodiversity monitoring plays an essential role in tracking changes in ecosystems, species distributions and abundances across the globe. Data collected through both structured and unstructured biodiversity recording can inform conservation measures designed to reduce, prevent, and reverse declines in valued biodiversity of many types. However, given that resources for biodiversity monitoring are limited, it is important that funding bodies prioritise investments relative to the requirements in any given region. We addressed this prioritisation requirement for a biodiverse Mediterranean island (Cyprus) using a three-stage process of expert-elicitation. This resulted in a structured list of twenty biodiversity monitoring needs; specifically, a hierarchy of three groups of these needs was created using a consensus approach. The most highly prioritised biodiversity monitoring needs were those related to the development of robust survey methodologies, and those ensuring that sufficiently skilled citizens are available to contribute. We discuss ways that the results of our expert-elicitation process could be used to support current and future biodiversity monitoring in Cyprus.

Published
2022

9. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J., primary, Hadjistylli, M., additional, Tziortzis, I., additional, Erotokritou, E., additional, Demetriou, M., additional, Samuel, Y., additional, Anastasi, V., additional, Fyttis, G., additional, Hadjioannou, L., additional, Ieronymidou, C., additional, Kassinis, N., additional, Kleitou, P., additional, Kletou, D., additional, Mandoulaki, A., additional, Michailidis, N., additional, Papatheodoulou, A., additional, Payiattas, G., additional, Sparrow, D., additional, Sparrow, R., additional, Turvey, K., additional, Tzirkalli, E., additional, Varnava, A. I., additional, and Pescott, O. L., additional

Published
2022
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10. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J., Hadjistylli, M., Tziortzis, I., Erotokritou, E., Demetriou, M., Samuel, Y., Anastasi, V., Fyttis, G., Hadjioannou, L., Ieronymidou, C., Kassinis, N., Kleitou, P., Kletou, D., Mandoulaki, A., Michailidis, N., Papatheodoulou, A., Payiattas, G., Sparrow, D., Sparrow, R., Turvey, K., Tzirkalli, E., Varnava, A. I., and Pescott, O. L.

Subjects
Conservation of Natural Resources, Mediterranean Islands, Multidisciplinary, Biodiversity, Investments, Ecology and Environment, Ecosystem
Abstract

Biodiversity monitoring plays an essential role in tracking changes in ecosystems, species distributions and abundances across the globe. Data collected through both structured and unstructured biodiversity recording can inform conservation measures designed to reduce, prevent, and reverse declines in valued biodiversity of many types. However, given that resources for biodiversity monitoring are limited, it is important that funding bodies prioritise investments relative to the requirements in any given region. We addressed this prioritisation requirement for a biodiverse Mediterranean island (Cyprus) using a three-stage process of expert-elicitation. This resulted in a structured list of twenty biodiversity monitoring needs; specifically, a hierarchy of three groups of these needs was created using a consensus approach. The most highly prioritised biodiversity monitoring needs were those related to the development of robust survey methodologies, and those ensuring that sufficiently skilled citizens are available to contribute. We discuss ways that the results of our expert-elicitation process could be used to support current and future biodiversity monitoring in Cyprus.

Published
2021

11. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J., primary, Hadjistylli, M., additional, Tziortzis, I., additional, Erotokritou, E., additional, Demetriou, M., additional, Samuel-Rhoads, Y., additional, Anastasi, V., additional, Fyttis, G., additional, Hadjioannou, L., additional, Ieronymidou, C., additional, Kassinis, N., additional, Kleitou, P., additional, Kletou, D., additional, Mandoulaki, A., additional, Michailidis, N., additional, Papatheodoulou, A., additional, Payiattas, G., additional, Sparrow, D., additional, Sparrow, R., additional, Turvey, K., additional, Tzirkalli, E., additional, Varnava, A.I., additional, and Pescott, O.L., additional

Published
2021
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13. Horizon Scanning to Predict and Prioritize Invasive Alien Species With the Potential to Threaten Human Health and Economies on Cyprus

Author

Peyton, J.M. Martinou, A.F. Adriaens, T. Chartosia, N. Karachle, P.K. Rabitsch, W. Tricarico, E. Arianoutsou, M. Bacher, S. Bazos, I. Brundu, G. Bruno-McClung, E. Charalambidou, I. Demetriou, M. Galanidi, M. Galil, B. Guillem, R. Hadjiafxentis, K. Hadjioannou, L. Hadjistylli, M. Hall-Spencer, J.M. Jimenez, C. Johnstone, G. Kleitou, P. Kletou, D. Koukkoularidou, D. Leontiou, S. Maczey, N. Michailidis, N. Mountford, J.O. Papatheodoulou, A. Pescott, O.L. Phanis, C. Preda, C. Rorke, S. Shaw, R. Solarz, W. Taylor, C.D. Trajanovski, S. Tziortzis, I. Tzirkalli, E. Uludag, A. Vimercati, G. Zdraveski, K. Zenetos, A. Roy, H.E.

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) are known to be a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function and there is increasing evidence of their impacts on human health and economies globally. We undertook horizon scanning using expert-elicitation to predict arrivals of IAS that could have adverse human health or economic impacts on the island of Cyprus. Three hundred and twenty five IAS comprising 89 plants, 37 freshwater animals, 61 terrestrial invertebrates, 93 terrestrial vertebrates, and 45 marine species, were assessed during a two-day workshop involving 39 participants to derive two ranked lists: (1) IAS with potential human health impacts (20 species ranked within two bands: 1–10 species or 11–20 species); and, (2) IAS with potential economic impacts (50 species ranked in three bands of 1–10, 11–20, and 21–50). Five species of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Aedes flavopictus, Aedes japonicus, and Culex quinquefasciatus) were considered a potential threat to both human health and economies. It was evident that the IAS identified through this process could potentially arrive through many pathways (25 and 23 pathways were noted for the top 20 IAS on the human health and economic impact lists respectively). The Convention on Biological Diversity Level II (subcategory) pathways Contaminant on plants, pet/aquarium/terrarium species (including live food for such species), hitchhikers in or on aeroplanes, hitchhikers in or on ship/boats, and vehicles were the main pathways that arose across both lists. We discuss the potential of horizon scanning lists to inform biosecurity policies and communication around IAS, highlighting the importance of increasing understanding amongst all stakeholders, including the public, to reduce the risks associated with predicted IAS arrivals. © Copyright © 2020 Peyton, Martinou, Adriaens, Chartosia, Karachle, Rabitsch, Tricarico, Arianoutsou, Bacher, Bazos, Brundu, Bruno-McClung, Charalambidou, Demetriou, Galanidi, Galil, Guillem, Hadjiafxentis, Hadjioannou, Hadjistylli, Hall-Spencer, Jimenez, Johnstone, Kleitou, Kletou, Koukkoularidou, Leontiou, Maczey, Michailidis, Mountford, Papatheodoulou, Pescott, Phanis, Preda, Rorke, Shaw, Solarz, Taylor, Trajanovski, Tziortzis, Tzirkalli, Uludag, Vimercati, Zdraveski, Zenetos and Roy.

Published
2020

14. Horizon scanning for invasive alien species with the potential to threaten biodiversity and human health on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J. Martinou, A.F. Pescott, O.L. Demetriou, M. Adriaens, T. Arianoutsou, M. Bazos, I. Bean, C.W. Booy, O. Botham, M. Britton, J.R. Cervia, J.L. Charilaou, P. Chartosia, N. Dean, H.J. Delipetrou, P. Dimitriou, A.C. Dörflinger, G. Fawcett, J. Fyttis, G. Galanidis, A. Galil, B. Hadjikyriakou, T. Hadjistylli, M. Ieronymidou, C. Jimenez, C. Karachle, P. Kassinis, N. Kerametsidis, G. Kirschel, A.N.G. Kleitou, P. Kleitou, D. Manolaki, P. Michailidis, N. Mountford, J.O. Nikolaou, C. Papatheodoulou, A. Payiatas, G. Ribeiro, F. Rorke, S.L. Samuel, Y. Savvides, P. Schafer, S.M. Tarkan, A.S. Silva-Rocha, I. Top, N. Tricarico, E. Turvey, K. Tziortzis, I. Tzirkalli, E. Verreycken, H. Winfield, I.J. Zenetos, A. Roy, H.E.

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the major drivers of change that can negatively affect biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services and human health; islands are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions. Horizon scanning can lead to prioritisation of IAS to inform decision-making and action; its scale and scope can vary depending on the need. We focussed on IAS likely to arrive, establish and affect biodiversity and human health on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The scope of the horizon scanning was the entire island of Cyprus. We used a two-step consensus-building process in which experts reviewed and scored lists of alien species on their likelihood of arrival, establishment and potential to affect biodiversity, ecosystems and/or human health in the next 10 years. We reviewed 225 alien species, considered to be currently absent on Cyprus, across taxa and environments. We agreed upon 100 species that constituted very high, high or medium biodiversity risk, often arriving through multiple pathways of introduction. The remaining 125 species were ranked as low risk. The potential impacts on human health were documented for all 225 species; 82 species were considered to have a potentially negative impact on human health ranging from nuisance to disease transmission. The scope of the horizon scanning was the entire island of Cyprus, but the thematic groups also considered the relevance of the top 100 species to the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, given their differing governance. This horizon scan provides the first systematic exercise to identify invasive alien species of potential concern to biodiversity and ecosystems but also human health within the Mediterranean region. The process and outcomes should provide other islands in the region and beyond with baseline data to improve IAS prioritisation and management. © 2019, The Author(s).

Published
2019

15. Robust Linear Quadratic Regulator for Markov Jump Systems

Author

Tziortzis, I., Charalambous, Charalambos D., Hadjicostis, Christoforos, Charalambous, Charalambos D. [0000-0002-2168-0231], and Hadjicostis, Christoforos [0000-0002-1706-708X]

Abstract

Tzortzis, I. and Charalambous, C. D. and c, C. N.

Published
2019

16. Biomonitoring of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams in Europe: current practice and priorities to enhance ecological status assessments

Author

Stubbington, R, Chadd, R, Cid, N, Csabai, Z, Miliša, M, Morais, M, Munné, A, Pařil, P, Pešić, V, Tziortzis, I, Verdonschot, RCM, Datry, T, Nottingham Trent University, ENVIRONMENT AGENCY OF ENGLAND SPALDING GBR, Partenaires IRSTEA, Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), FRESHWATER ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH GROUP UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA ESP, UNIVERSITY OF PECS HUN, University of Zagreb, UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA PRT, CATALAN WATER AGENCY BARCELONA ESP, Masaryk University [Brno] (MUNI), UNIVERSITY OF MONTENEGRO SRB, WATER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT NICOSIA CYP, Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen] (WUR), RiverLy (UR Riverly), Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), ELSEVIER, and University of Montenegro (UCG)

Subjects
bioassessment, Water and Food, Temporary streams Temporary rivers Bioassessment Bioindicators Water Framework Directive River typology, Water en Voedsel, river typology, BIOINDICATORS, Water Framework Directive, TEMPORARY RIVERS, TEMPORARY STREAMS, WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE, temporary rivers, bioindicators, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, RIVER TYPOLOGY, Temporary streams, BIOASSESSMENT
Abstract

International audience; Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are common across Europe and dominate some Mediterranean river networks. In all climate zones, IRES support high biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. As dynamic ecosystems that transition between flowing, pool, and dry states, IRES are typically poorly represented in biomonitoring programmes implemented to characterize EU Water Framework Directive ecological status. We report the results of a survey completed by representatives from 20 European countries to identify current challenges to IRES status assessment, examples of best practice, and priorities for future research. We identify five major barriers to effective ecological status classification in IRES: 1. the exclusion of IRES from Water Framework Directive biomonitoring based on their small catchment size; 2. the lack of river typologies that distinguish between contrasting IRES; 3. difficulties in defining the 'reference conditions' that represent unimpacted dynamic ecosystems; 4. classification of IRES ecological status based on lotic communities sampled using methods developed for perennial rivers; and 5. a reliance on taxonomic characterization of local communities. Despite these challenges, we recognize examples of innovative practice that can inform modification of current biomonitoring activity to promote effective IRES status classification. Priorities for future research include reconceptualization of the reference condition approach to accommodate spatiotemporal fluctuations in community composition, and modification of indices of ecosystem health to recognize both taxon-specific sensitivities to intermittence and dispersal abilities, within a landscape context.

Published
2018
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17. New Mediterranean marine biodiversity records (June 2013)

Author

Siokou, I., Ates, A.S., Ayas, D., Ben Souissi, Jamila, Chatterjee, Tapas, Dimiza, M., Durgham, H., Dogrammatzi, K., Erguden, D., Gerakaris, V., Grego, Mateja, Issaris, Y., Kadis, K., Katağan, T., Kapiris, K., Katsanevakis, S., Kerkhof, F., Papastergiadou, Eva, Pešić, Vladimir, Polychronidis, L., Rifi, M., Salomidi, M., Sezgin, M., Triantaphyllou, M., Tsiamis, K., Turan, C., Tziortzis, I., Udekem d'Acoz, C. d', Yaglioglu, D., Zaouali, Jeanne, and Zenetos, Argyro

Subjects
morje, tujerodne vrste, cipelj zlatec, Lisa aurata, bentos, nove vrste, zlati cipelj, Sredozemlje, Pontarachna adriatica, pridnene vrste, Sredozemsko morje, ciplji, redke vrste, biogeografije, udc:593.9, meiofauna, bentoška favna
Published
2015

18. New Mediterranean Marine biodiversity records (June 2013)

Author

Siokou, I. Ateş, A.S. Ayas, D. Ben Souissi, J. Chatterjee, T. Dimiza, M. Durgham, H. Dogrammatzi, K. Erguden, D. Gerakaris, V. Grego, M. Issaris, Y. Kadis, K. Kataǧan, T. Kapiris, K. Katsanevakis, S. Kerkhof, F. Papastergiadou, E. Pešić, V. Polychronidis, L. Rifi, M. Salomidi, M. Sezgin, M. Triantaphyllou, M. Tsiamis, K. Turan, C. Tziortzis, I. D'Udekem D'Acoz, C. Yaglioglu, D. Zaouali, J. Zenetos, A.

Abstract

This paper concerns records of species that have extended their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. The finding of the rare brackish angiosperm Althenia filiformis in the island of Cyprus is interesting since its insertion in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus is suggested. The following species enriched the flora or fauna lists of the relevant countries: the red alga Sebdenia dichotoma (Greece), the hydrachnid mite Pontarachna adriatica (Slovenia), and the thalassinid Gebiacantha talismani (Turkey). Several alien species were recorded in new Mediterranean localities. The record of the burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina in the North Levantine Sea (Turkish coast), suggests the start of spreading of this Lessepsian immigrant in the Mediterranean Sea. The findings of the following species indicate the extension of their occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea: the foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera (island of Zakynthos, Greece), the medusa Cassiopea andromeda (Syria), the copepod Centropages furcatus (Aegean Sea), the decapod shrimp Melicertus hathor (island of Kastellorizo, Greece), the crab Menoethius monoceros (Gulf of Tunis), the barnacles Balanus trigonus, Megabalanus tintinnabulum, Megabalanus coccopoma and the bivalves Chama asperella, Cucurbitula cymbium (Saronikos Gulf, Greece).

Published
2013

19. Best available conditions within common Mediterranean stream types from 7 countries

Author

Feio, M.J., Aguiar, F.C., Almeida, S.F., Ferreira, Joël, Ferreira, M.T., Elias, C., Serra, S.R.S., Buffagni, A., Cambra, J., Chauvin, Christian, Delmas, François, Dörflinger, G., Erba, S., Flor, N., Ferreol, M., Germ, M., Mancini, L., Manolaki, P., Marcheggiani, S., Minciardi, M.R., Munne, A., Papastergiadou, E., Prat, N., Puccinelli, C., Tison-Rosebery, Juliette, Sabater, Sergi, Ciadamidaro, S., Tornes, E., Tziortzis, I., Urbani, G., Vieira, C., Réseaux épuration et qualité des eaux (UR REBX), Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), and Irstea Publications, Migration

Subjects
[SDE] Environmental Sciences, CONDITION DE REFERENCE, [SDE]Environmental Sciences
Abstract

International audience; This document is produced within the cross - GIG working group on Reference conditions and is a final report on the consistency check survey, with an assessment of implications and recommendations for the application of reference conditions during IC Phase II.

Published
2012

20. New national and regional bryophyte records, 44

Author

Ellis, L. T., primary, Alegro, A., additional, Šegota, V., additional, Bakalin, V. A., additional, Barone, R., additional, Borovichev, E. A., additional, Hugonnot, V., additional, Lebouvier, M., additional, Nobis, M., additional, Nowak, A., additional, Ochyra, R., additional, Papp, B., additional, Szurdoki, E., additional, Piwowarczyk, R., additional, Plášek, V., additional, Číhal, L., additional, Ren, Z.-J., additional, Sabovljević, M. S., additional, Sérgio, C., additional, Garcia, C. A., additional, Melo, I., additional, Sawicki, J., additional, Stebel, A., additional, Ştefaˇnuţ, S., additional, Ion, R., additional, Manole, A., additional, Tziortzis, I., additional, Xiong, Y., additional, and Zhao, Z.-T., additional

Published
2015
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21. New Mediterranean Marine biodiversity records (June 2013)

Author

SIOKOU, I., primary, ATES, A.S., additional, AYAS, D., additional, BEN SOUISSI, J., additional, CHATTERJEE, T., additional, DIMIZA, M., additional, DURGHAM, H., additional, DOGRAMMATZI, K., additional, ERGUDEN, D., additional, GERAKARIS, V., additional, GREGO, M., additional, ISSARIS, Y., additional, KADIS, K., additional, KATAGAN, T., additional, KAPIRIS, K., additional, KATSANEVAKIS, S., additional, KERCKHOF, F., additional, PAPASTERGIADOU, E., additional, PESIC, V., additional, POLYCHRONIDIS, L., additional, RIFI, M., additional, SALOMIDI, M., additional, SEZGIN, M., additional, TRIANTAPHYLLOU, M., additional, TSIAMIS, K., additional, TURAN, C., additional, TZIORTZIS, I., additional, D’UDEKEM D’ACOZ, C., additional, YAGLIOGLU, D., additional, ZAOUALI, J., additional, and ZENETOS, A., additional

Published
2013
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22. Horizon scanning for invasive alien species with the potential to threaten biodiversity and human health on a Mediterranean island

Author

Peyton, J., Martinou, A.F., Pescott, O.L., Demetriou, M., Adriaens, T., Arianoutsou, M., Bazos, I., Bean, C.W., Booy, O., Botham, M., Britton, J.R., Cervia, J.L., Charilaou, P., Chartosia, N., Dean, H.J., Delipetrou, P., Dimitriou, A.C., Dörflinger, G., Fawcett, J., Fyttis, G., Galanidis, A., Galil, B., Hadjikyriakou, T., Hadjistylli, M., Ieronymidou, C., Jimenez, C., Karachle, P., Kassinis, N., Kerametsidis, G., Kirschel, A.N.G., Kleitou, P., Kleitou, D., Manolaki, P., Michailidis, N., Mountford, J.O., Nikolaou, C., Papatheodoulou, A., Payiatas, G., Ribeiro, F., Rorke, S.L., Samuel, Y., Savvides, P., Schafer, S.M., Tarkan, A.S., Silva-Rocha, I., Top, N., Tricarico, E., Turvey, K., Tziortzis, I., Tzirkalli, E., Verreycken, H., Winfield, I.J., Zenetos, A., Roy, H.E., Peyton, J., Martinou, A.F., Pescott, O.L., Demetriou, M., Adriaens, T., Arianoutsou, M., Bazos, I., Bean, C.W., Booy, O., Botham, M., Britton, J.R., Cervia, J.L., Charilaou, P., Chartosia, N., Dean, H.J., Delipetrou, P., Dimitriou, A.C., Dörflinger, G., Fawcett, J., Fyttis, G., Galanidis, A., Galil, B., Hadjikyriakou, T., Hadjistylli, M., Ieronymidou, C., Jimenez, C., Karachle, P., Kassinis, N., Kerametsidis, G., Kirschel, A.N.G., Kleitou, P., Kleitou, D., Manolaki, P., Michailidis, N., Mountford, J.O., Nikolaou, C., Papatheodoulou, A., Payiatas, G., Ribeiro, F., Rorke, S.L., Samuel, Y., Savvides, P., Schafer, S.M., Tarkan, A.S., Silva-Rocha, I., Top, N., Tricarico, E., Turvey, K., Tziortzis, I., Tzirkalli, E., Verreycken, H., Winfield, I.J., Zenetos, A., and Roy, H.E.

Abstract

© 2019, The Author(s). Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the major drivers of change that can negatively affect biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services and human health; islands are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions. Horizon scanning can lead to prioritisation of IAS to inform decision-making and action; its scale and scope can vary depending on the need. We focussed on IAS likely to arrive, establish and affect biodiversity and human health on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The scope of the horizon scanning was the entire island of Cyprus. We used a two-step consensus-building process in which experts reviewed and scored lists of alien species on their likelihood of arrival, establishment and potential to affect biodiversity, ecosystems and/or human health in the next 10 years. We reviewed 225 alien species, considered to be currently absent on Cyprus, across taxa and environments. We agreed upon 100 species that constituted very high, high or medium biodiversity risk, often arriving through multiple pathways of introduction. The remaining 125 species were ranked as low risk. The potential impacts on human health were documented for all 225 species; 82 species were considered to have a potentially negative impact on human health ranging from nuisance to disease transmission. The scope of the horizon scanning was the entire island of Cyprus, but the thematic groups also considered the relevance of the top 100 species to the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, given their differing governance. This horizon scan provides the first systematic exercise to identify invasive alien species of potential concern to biodiversity and ecosystems but also human health within the Mediterranean region. The process and outcomes should provide other islands in the region and beyond with baseline data to improve IAS prioritisation and management.

23. Using invertebrate functional traits to improve flow variability assessment within European rivers

Author

Alex Laini, Gemma Burgazzi, Richard Chadd, Judy England, Iakovos Tziortzis, Massimo Ventrucci, Paolo Vezza, Paul J. Wood, Pierluigi Viaroli, Simone Guareschi, Laini A., Burgazzi G., Chadd R., England J., Tziortzis I., Ventrucci M., Vezza P., Wood P.J., Viaroli P., and Guareschi S.

Subjects
River ecosystems, Environmental Engineering, Hydrological alteration, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Invertebrates, Pollution, Functional ecology, Rivers, River ecosystem, Bioassessment, Flow velocity preference, Traits theory, Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Ecosystem, Environmental Chemistry, Waste Management and Disposal
Abstract

Rivers are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide and are experiencing rapid biodiversity loss. Flow alteration due to climate change, water abstraction and augmentation is a severe stressor on many aquatic communities. Macroinvertebrates are widely used for biomonitoring river ecosystems although current taxonomic approaches used to characterise ecological responses to flow have limitations in terms of generalisation across biogeographical regions. A new macroinvertebrate trait-based index, Flow-T, derived from ecological functional information (flow velocity preferences) currently available for almost 500 invertebrate taxa at the European scale is presented. The index was tested using data from rivers spanning different biogeographic and hydro-climatic regions from the UK, Cyprus and Italy. The performance of Flow-T at different spatial scales and its relationship with an established UK flow assessment tool, the Lotic-invertebrate Index for Flow Evaluation (LIFE), was assessed to determine the transferability of the approach internationally. Flow-T was strongly correlated with the LIFE index using both presence-absence and abundance weighted data from all study areas (r varying from 0.46 to 0.96). When applied at the river reach scale, Flow-T was effective in identifying communities associated with distinct mesohabitats characterised by their hydraulic characteristics (e.g., pools, riffles, glides). Flow-T can be derived using both presence/absence and abundance data and can be easily adapted to varying taxonomic resolutions. The trait-based approach facilitates research using the entire European invertebrate fauna and can potentially be applied in regions where information on taxa-specific flow velocity preferences is not currently available. The inter-regional and continental scale transferability of Flow-T may help water resource managers gauge the effects of changes in flow regime on instream communities at varying spatial scales.

Published
2022
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24. Ecosystem services and social perception

Author

Jorda-Capdevila, Dídac, Brummer, Mathias, Bruno, Daniel, Alexandre, Rui, Castanho, Antonio J. Castro, Fortuño, Pau, Jakubínský, Jiri, Kaletová, Tatiana, Kelemen, Estzer, Koundouri, Phoebe, Logar, Ivana, Loures, Louis, Mendez, Joana, Mendoza-Lera, Clara, Quintas-Soriano, Cristina, Rodríguez-Lozano, Pablo, von Schiller, Daniel, Stubbington, Rachel, Sykes, Tim, Tizzoni, Elisa, Truchy, Amélie, Tsani, Stella, Magand, C., Alves, M.H., Calleja, E., Datry, T., Dörflinger, G., England, J., Gallart, F., Gómez, R., Jorda-Capdevila, D., Marti, E., Munne, A., Pastor, V.A., Stubbington, R., Tziortzis, I., and Von Schiller, D.

Abstract

In a nutshell:▪ There is a variety of benefits that IRES provide to our societies, from the provision of materials such as water and timber, to iconic species, the regulation of biogeochemical cycles, and space for cultural manifestation and as a corridor for both wild and herded animals.▪ Drying and rewetting processes, timing and duration of different aquatic phases, have an effect on the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, as well as on the provision of ecosystem services and on the social perception of them.▪ There are intrinsic and relational values associated to IRES that are not usually recognised, including sense of place, cultural identity, social cohesion or nature stewardship.▪ There is a long list of indicators that can be used to assess the provision of ecosystem services, and different techniques of monetary and non-monetary methods can be applied to assess their value.▪ Public participation is also necessary to understand the multiple values of IRES and to improve social perception. Participatory mapping, citizen science, and scenario planning are some of the methodologies can be employed.

Published
2020

25. New national and regional bryophyte records, 44

Author

S. Ştefaˇnuţ, Marko Sabovljevic, Lukáš Číhal, César Garcia, Z.-T. Zhao, Beáta Papp, Erzsébet Szurdoki, Vincent Hugonnot, Jakub Sawicki, Renata Piwowarczyk, Z.-J. Ren, Arkadiusz Nowak, Anca Manole, Adam Stebel, Eugene A. Borovichev, Vadim A. Bakalin, R. Ion, Marc Lebouvier, Antun Alegro, Ireneia Melo, Iakovos Tziortzis, Yuanxin Xiong, Rossella Barone, Vedran Šegota, Leonard T. Ellis, Ryszard Ochyra, Marcin Nobis, Cecília Sérgio, Vítězslav Plášek, The Natural History Museum [London] (NHM), University of Zagreb, Vladivostok University, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli studi di Palermo - University of Palermo, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden Institute, Conservatoire Botanique National du Massif Central, Conservatoire Botanique National, Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution [Rennes] (ECOBIO), Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR), Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie = Jagiellonian University (UJ), University of Opole, Polish Academy of Science, Inst Bot, Polska Akademia Nauk = Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum (Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum), Department of botany, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski, Jan Kochanowski University, Dept Biol & Ecol, Techn Univ Ostrava, Technical University of Ostrava [Ostrava] (VSB), Shandong Museum, Université de Belgrade, Botanical Garden, University of Belgrade [Belgrade], Museu Nacl Hist Nat, Université de Lisbonne, University of Warmia and Mazury [Olsztyn], Med Univ Silesia, Centre of Ecology, Taxonomy and Nature Conservation (CETNC), Romanian Academy of Sciences, Enalia Physis Environmental Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ellis, L. T., Alegro, A., Šegota, V., Bakalin, V. A., Barone, R., Borovichev, E. A., Hugonnot, V., Lebouvier, M., Nobis, M., Nowak, A., Ochyra, R., Papp, B., Szurdoki, E., Piwowarczyk, R., Plášek, V., Číhal, L., Ren, Z.-J., S. Sabovljević, M. S., Sérgio, C., Garcia, C. A., Melo, I., Sawicki, J., Stebel, A., Ştefǎnuţ, S., Ion, R., Manole, A., Tziortzis, I., Xiong, Y., Zhao, Z.-T., Università di Palermo, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR)-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), and Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Population, Plant Science, 010603 evolutionary biology, 01 natural sciences, Pinus mugo, Briology, Saxifraga, Botany, education, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Poa alpina, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, education.field_of_study, biology, Ecology, Settore BIO/02 - Botanica Sistematica, Vegetation, 15. Life on land, biology.organism_classification, Moss, Geography, Conservation status, Bryophyte, [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology, 010606 plant biology & botany, Syntrichia norvegica
Abstract

Syntrichia norvegica is a circumpolar arctic- montane species (Smith, 2004), rare at lower altitudes and in southern Europe (Frey et al., 2006). It is known from several south-eastern European countries (Sabovljevic et al., 2008) and now it is recorded for the first time in Croatia. Regarding its conservation status, S. norvegica is red listed in Great Britain (EN), Czech Republic (CR), Slovakia (VU), Bulgaria (NT), Hungary (DD), Romania (VU) and Estonia (VU) (Hodgetts, 2014). It was found in the northern Velebit Mountains, in an area with the most outstanding and extreme karst relief, with steep slopes, perpendicular rocks, screes and deep dolines. The locality is situated in the Pinus mugo Turra belt, but owing to its position in the shaded bottom of a deep, funnel-shaped doline with slopes inclined at more than 70u, the zonal vegetation is replaced by frigoriphilous communities. The main community on the very bottom is Drepanoclado uncinati-Heliospermetum pusillae Surina & Vres 2004, which encompasses many species of cold habitats characterized by long-lasting snow cover, e.g. Saxifraga sedoides L. subsp. prenja (Beck) Beck (glacial relict in the Velebit), Heliosperma pusillum (Waldst. & Kit.) Rchb., Polygonum viviparum L., Myosotis alpestris F.W.Schmidt, Poa alpina L. and Festuca nitida Kit. This community was spread over ca 250 m2 and was bordered by low shrubs of Salix waldsteiniana Willd., which form another frigoriphilous community Salicetum waldsteinianae Beger 1922. In the moss flora, another arctic- montane species, Cyrtomnium hymenophylloides (Huebener) T.J.Kop., is very abundant, and this is the only known locality in Croatia (Blockeel et al., 2009c). Further bryophytes that were present include Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske, Orhothecium rufescens (Dicks. ex Brid.) Schimp., Campylium protensum (Brid.) Kindb., Campylophyllum halleri (Hedw.) M.Fleisch., Sciuro-hypnum reflexum (Starke) Ignatov & Huttunen, Platydictya jungermannioides (Brid.) H.A.Crum, Hypnum bambergeri Schimp., Plagiopus oederianus (Sw.) H.A.Crum & L.E.Anderson, and Plagiochilla porelloides (Torr. ex Nees) Lindenb. among others. The population of S. norvegica was vigorous, forming dozens of dense patches of several dm2 on rocks and among other bryophytes and herbs. Plants were typically developed, deep green, with long, reddish leaf points, but capsules were not found.

Published
2015
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26. Time series of freshwater macroinvertebrate abundances and site characteristics of European streams and rivers.

Author

Welti EAR, Bowler DE, Sinclair JS, Altermatt F, Álvarez-Cabria M, Amatulli G, Angeler DG, Archambaud G, Arrate Jorrín I, Aspin T, Azpiroz I, Baker NJ, Bañares I, Barquín Ortiz J, Bodin CL, Bonacina L, Bonada N, Bottarin R, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Csabai Z, Datry T, de Eyto E, Dohet A, Domisch S, Dörflinger G, Drohan E, Eikland KA, England J, Eriksen TE, Evtimova V, Feio MJ, Ferréol M, Floury M, Forcellini M, Forio MAE, Fornaroli R, Friberg N, Fruget JF, Garcia Marquez JR, Georgieva G, Goethals P, Graça MAS, House A, Huttunen KL, Jensen TC, Johnson RK, Jones JI, Kiesel J, Larrañaga A, Leitner P, L'Hoste L, Lizée MH, Lorenz AW, Maire A, Manzanos Arnaiz JA, Mckie B, Millán A, Muotka T, Murphy JF, Ozolins D, Paavola R, Paril P, Peñas Silva FJ, Polasek M, Rasmussen J, Rubio M, Sánchez Fernández D, Sandin L, Schäfer RB, Schmidt-Kloiber A, Scotti A, Shen LQ, Skuja A, Stoll S, Straka M, Stubbington R, Timm H, Tyufekchieva VG, Tziortzis I, Uzunov Y, van der Lee GH, Vannevel R, Varadinova E, Várbíró G, Velle G, Verdonschot PFM, Verdonschot RCM, Vidinova Y, Wiberg-Larsen P, and Haase P

Subjects
Animals, Europe, Fresh Water, Population Dynamics, Water Quality, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Invertebrates, Rivers
Abstract

Freshwater macroinvertebrates are a diverse group and play key ecological roles, including accelerating nutrient cycling, filtering water, controlling primary producers, and providing food for predators. Their differences in tolerances and short generation times manifest in rapid community responses to change. Macroinvertebrate community composition is an indicator of water quality. In Europe, efforts to improve water quality following environmental legislation, primarily starting in the 1980s, may have driven a recovery of macroinvertebrate communities. Towards understanding temporal and spatial variation of these organisms, we compiled the TREAM dataset (Time seRies of European freshwAter Macroinvertebrates), consisting of macroinvertebrate community time series from 1,816 river and stream sites (mean length of 19.2 years and 14.9 sampling years) of 22 European countries sampled between 1968 and 2020. In total, the data include >93 million sampled individuals of 2,648 taxa from 959 genera and 212 families. These data can be used to test questions ranging from identifying drivers of the population dynamics of specific taxa to assessing the success of legislative and management restoration efforts., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Published
2024
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27. Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics.

Author

Sinclair JS, Welti EAR, Altermatt F, Álvarez-Cabria M, Aroviita J, Baker NJ, Barešová L, Barquín J, Bonacina L, Bonada N, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Csabai Z, de Eyto E, Dohet A, Dörflinger G, Eriksen TE, Evtimova V, Feio MJ, Ferréol M, Floury M, Forio MAE, Fornaroli R, Goethals PLM, Heino J, Hering D, Huttunen KL, Jähnig SC, Johnson RK, Kuglerová L, Kupilas B, L'Hoste L, Larrañaga A, Leitner P, Lorenz AW, McKie BG, Muotka T, Osadčaja D, Paavola R, Palinauskas V, Pařil P, Pilotto F, Polášek M, Rasmussen JJ, Schäfer RB, Schmidt-Kloiber A, Scotti A, Skuja A, Straka M, Stubbington R, Timm H, Tyufekchieva V, Tziortzis I, Vannevel R, Várbíró G, Velle G, Verdonschot RCM, Vray S, and Haase P

Subjects
Animals, Humans, Invertebrates, Rivers, Europe, Ecosystem, Biodiversity
Abstract

Humans impact terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems, yet many broad-scale studies have found no systematic, negative biodiversity changes (for example, decreasing abundance or taxon richness). Here we show that mixed biodiversity responses may arise because community metrics show variable responses to anthropogenic impacts across broad spatial scales. We first quantified temporal trends in anthropogenic impacts for 1,365 riverine invertebrate communities from 23 European countries, based on similarity to least-impacted reference communities. Reference comparisons provide necessary, but often missing, baselines for evaluating whether communities are negatively impacted or have improved (less or more similar, respectively). We then determined whether changing impacts were consistently reflected in metrics of community abundance, taxon richness, evenness and composition. Invertebrate communities improved, that is, became more similar to reference conditions, from 1992 until the 2010s, after which improvements plateaued. Improvements were generally reflected by higher taxon richness, providing evidence that certain community metrics can broadly indicate anthropogenic impacts. However, richness responses were highly variable among sites, and we found no consistent responses in community abundance, evenness or composition. These findings suggest that, without sufficient data and careful metric selection, many common community metrics cannot reliably reflect anthropogenic impacts, helping explain the prevalence of mixed biodiversity trends., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Published
2024
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28. The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt.

Author

Haase P, Bowler DE, Baker NJ, Bonada N, Domisch S, Garcia Marquez JR, Heino J, Hering D, Jähnig SC, Schmidt-Kloiber A, Stubbington R, Altermatt F, Álvarez-Cabria M, Amatulli G, Angeler DG, Archambaud-Suard G, Jorrín IA, Aspin T, Azpiroz I, Bañares I, Ortiz JB, Bodin CL, Bonacina L, Bottarin R, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Csabai Z, Datry T, de Eyto E, Dohet A, Dörflinger G, Drohan E, Eikland KA, England J, Eriksen TE, Evtimova V, Feio MJ, Ferréol M, Floury M, Forcellini M, Forio MAE, Fornaroli R, Friberg N, Fruget JF, Georgieva G, Goethals P, Graça MAS, Graf W, House A, Huttunen KL, Jensen TC, Johnson RK, Jones JI, Kiesel J, Kuglerová L, Larrañaga A, Leitner P, L'Hoste L, Lizée MH, Lorenz AW, Maire A, Arnaiz JAM, McKie BG, Millán A, Monteith D, Muotka T, Murphy JF, Ozolins D, Paavola R, Paril P, Peñas FJ, Pilotto F, Polášek M, Rasmussen JJ, Rubio M, Sánchez-Fernández D, Sandin L, Schäfer RB, Scotti A, Shen LQ, Skuja A, Stoll S, Straka M, Timm H, Tyufekchieva VG, Tziortzis I, Uzunov Y, van der Lee GH, Vannevel R, Varadinova E, Várbíró G, Velle G, Verdonschot PFM, Verdonschot RCM, Vidinova Y, Wiberg-Larsen P, and Welti EAR

Subjects
Animals, Introduced Species trends, Europe, Human Activities, Hydrobiology, Time Factors, Crop Production, Urbanization, Global Warming, Water Pollutants analysis, Biodiversity, Fresh Water, Invertebrates classification, Invertebrates physiology, Conservation of Water Resources statistics & numerical data, Conservation of Water Resources trends, Environmental Monitoring
Abstract

Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss 1 . Mitigation measures, including wastewater treatment and hydromorphological restoration, have aimed to improve environmental quality and foster the recovery of freshwater biodiversity 2 . Here, using 1,816 time series of freshwater invertebrate communities collected across 22 European countries between 1968 and 2020, we quantified temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and their responses to environmental pressures and gradients. We observed overall increases in taxon richness (0.73% per year), functional richness (2.4% per year) and abundance (1.17% per year). However, these increases primarily occurred before the 2010s, and have since plateaued. Freshwater communities downstream of dams, urban areas and cropland were less likely to experience recovery. Communities at sites with faster rates of warming had fewer gains in taxon richness, functional richness and abundance. Although biodiversity gains in the 1990s and 2000s probably reflect the effectiveness of water-quality improvements and restoration projects, the decelerating trajectory in the 2010s suggests that the current measures offer diminishing returns. Given new and persistent pressures on freshwater ecosystems, including emerging pollutants, climate change and the spread of invasive species, we call for additional mitigation to revive the recovery of freshwater biodiversity., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Published
2023
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29. Integrating environmental DNA monitoring to inform eel ( Anguilla anguilla ) status in freshwaters at their easternmost range-A case study in Cyprus.

Author

Griffiths NP, Wright RM, Hänfling B, Bolland JD, Drakou K, Sellers GS, Zogaris S, Tziortzis I, Dörflinger G, and Vasquez MI

Abstract

Despite significant population declines and targeted European Union regulations aimed at Anguilla anguilla conservation, little attention has been given to their status at their easternmost range. This study applies wide-scale integrated monitoring to uncover the present-day eel distribution in Cyprus' inland freshwaters. These are subject to increasing pressures from water supply requirements and dam construction, as seen throughout the Mediterranean. We applied environmental DNA metabarcoding of water samples to determine A. anguilla distribution in key freshwater catchments. In addition, we present this alongside 10 years of electrofishing/netting data. Refuge traps were also deployed to establish the timing of glass eel recruitment. These outputs are used together, alongside knowledge of the overall fish community and barriers to connectivity, to provide eel conservation and policy insights. This study confirm the presence of A. anguilla in Cyprus' inland freshwaters, with recruitment occurring in March. Eel distribution is restricted to lower elevation areas, and is negatively associated with distance from coast and barriers to connectivity. Many barriers to connectivity are identified, though eels were detected in two reservoirs upstream of dams. The overall fish community varies between freshwater habitat types. Eels are much more widespread in Cyprus than previously thought, yet mostly restricted to lowland intermittent systems. These findings make a case to reconsider the requirement for eel management plans. Environmental DNA-based data collected in 2020 indicate that "present-day" eel distribution is representative of 10-year survey trends. Suggesting that inland freshwaters may act as an unrealized refuge at A. anguilla's easternmost range. Conservation efforts in Mediterranean freshwaters should focus on improving connectivity, therefore enabling eels to access inland perennial refugia. Thus, mitigating the impact of climate change and the growing number of fragmented artificially intermittent river systems., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Published
2023
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30. Cyprus' diatom diversity and the association of environmental and anthropogenic influences for ecological assessment of rivers using DNA metabarcoding.

Author

Pissaridou P, Vasselon V, Christou A, Chonova T, Papatheodoulou A, Drakou K, Tziortzis I, Dörflinger G, Rimet F, Bouchez A, and Vasquez MI

Subjects
Cyprus, DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic, Ecosystem, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Diatoms genetics, Rivers
Abstract

Human activities are the leading cause of environmental impairments. Appropriate biomonitoring of ecosystems is needed to assess these activities effectively. In freshwater ecosystems, periphytic and epilithic biofilms have diatom assemblages. These assemblages respond rapidly to environmental changes, making diatoms valuable bioindicators. For this reason, freshwater biomonitoring programs are currently using diatoms (e.g., Water Framework Directive). In the past ten years, DNA metabarcoding coupled with next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics represents a complementary approach for diatom biomonitoring. In this study, this approach is used for the first time in Cyprus by considering the association of environmental and anthropogenic pressures to diatom assemblages. Statistical analysis was then applied to identify the environmental (i.e., river types, geo-morphological) and anthropogenic (i.e., physicochemical, human land-use pressures) variables' role in the observed diatom diversity. Results indicate differences in diatom assemblages between intermittent and perennial rivers. Achnanthidium minutissimum was more abundant in intermittent rivers; whereas Amphora pediculus and Planothidium caputium in perennial ones. Additionally, we could demonstrate the correlation between nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus), stations' local characteristics (e.g., elevation), and land use activities on the observed differences in diatom diversity. Finally, we conclude that multi-stressors and anthropogenic pressures together as multiple stressors have a significant statistical relationship to the observed diatom diversity and play a pivotal role in determining Cyprus' rivers' ecological status., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Published
2021
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31. Biomonitoring of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams in Europe: Current practice and priorities to enhance ecological status assessments.

Author

Stubbington R, Chadd R, Cid N, Csabai Z, Miliša M, Morais M, Munné A, Pařil P, Pešić V, Tziortzis I, Verdonschot RCM, and Datry T

Subjects
Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecology, Europe, Ecosystem, Environmental Monitoring, Rivers
Abstract

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are common across Europe and dominate some Mediterranean river networks. In all climate zones, IRES support high biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. As dynamic ecosystems that transition between flowing, pool, and dry states, IRES are typically poorly represented in biomonitoring programmes implemented to characterize EU Water Framework Directive ecological status. We report the results of a survey completed by representatives from 20 European countries to identify current challenges to IRES status assessment, examples of best practice, and priorities for future research. We identify five major barriers to effective ecological status classification in IRES: 1. the exclusion of IRES from Water Framework Directive biomonitoring based on their small catchment size; 2. the lack of river typologies that distinguish between contrasting IRES; 3. difficulties in defining the 'reference conditions' that represent unimpacted dynamic ecosystems; 4. classification of IRES ecological status based on lotic communities sampled using methods developed for perennial rivers; and 5. a reliance on taxonomic characterization of local communities. Despite these challenges, we recognize examples of innovative practice that can inform modification of current biomonitoring activity to promote effective IRES status classification. Priorities for future research include reconceptualization of the reference condition approach to accommodate spatiotemporal fluctuations in community composition, and modification of indices of ecosystem health to recognize both taxon-specific sensitivities to intermittence and dispersal abilities, within a landscape context., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Published
2018
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32. Are saturating pulses indeed saturating? Evidence for considerable PSII yield underestimation in leaves adapted to high levels of natural light.

Author

Karageorgou P, Tziortzis I, and Manetas Y

Subjects
Adaptation, Physiological, Chlorophyll metabolism, Euphorbia radiation effects, Melissa radiation effects, Nerium radiation effects, Plant Leaves metabolism, Euphorbia metabolism, Light, Melissa metabolism, Nerium metabolism, Photosystem II Protein Complex metabolism, Plant Leaves radiation effects
Abstract

The "saturating pulse" method of in vivo Chl fluorescence measurement has been widely used by physiologists and especially ecophysiologists, as it allows a simple, rapid and non-invasive assessment of PSII function and the allocation of absorbed energy into photochemical and non-photochemical processes. It is based on the accurate determination of the so-called Fm('), i.e. the fluorescence signal emitted when a "saturating" light pulse closes all PSII centers. In this methodological investigation, we examined whether the saturating pulse intensities required to obtain maximal fluorescence yields differ between leaves of various species receiving varying actinic light irradiances. It was shown that, in leaves adapted to comparatively high (yet realistic) levels of natural irradiances, the saturating pulses usually applied are not able to close all PSII reaction centers. As a result, there is a high risk of considerable Fm(') underestimation. Accordingly, the derived values of effective PSII yields and linear electron transport rates (ETR) are also underestimated, even at the highest saturation pulse levels afforded by commercial instruments. Since the extent of underestimation increases with actinic irradiance, the ETR versus light curves are considerably distorted. The possible reasons for the apparent inability of "saturating" pulses to close all PSII centers at high actinic light and the practical implications, especially in field work, are discussed.

Published
2007
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