A5009433529- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Historical and socio-economic studies of Spain and related regions
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Forest ecology and management
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Water Quality and Pollution Assessment
- Environmental and biological studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Hydrological Forecasting Using AI
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
University of the Basque Country
2015-2024
Hospital Universitario La Paz
2019
Asociación Española de Urología
1994
Reading the Leaves Excess inputs of nutrients—a type pollution known as eutrophication—threatens biodiversity and water quality in rivers streams. Woodward et al. (p. 1438 ; see Perspective by Palmer Febria ) studied how one key ecosystem process—leaf-litter decomposition—responds to eutrophication across a large nutrient gradient 100 European Leaf breakdown was stimulated low moderate concentrations but inhibited at high rates loading.
Summary 1. Resource quality and stoichiometric imbalances in carbon : nutrient ratios between consumers resources can influence key ecosystem processes. In many streams, this has important implications for food webs that are based largely upon the utilization of terrestrial leaf‐litter, which varies widely among litter types its value as a source detritivores substrate microbial decomposers. 2. We measured breakdown rates macroinvertebrate colonization leaf‐litter from range native exotic...
To test whether afforestation with eucalyptus affects the amount, quality, and timing of litter inputs, we evaluated inputs coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) to 2 headwater streams, one flowing through a mixed deciduous forest plantation Eucalyptus globulus. Vertical lateral traps were sampled at least monthly, material collected was sorted into 4 main categories: fallen leaves (several species), fruits flowers, twigs bark, debris. The resulted in reduction 32% total 73% compared...
River ecosystems are subject to multiple stressors that affect their structure and functioning. Ecosystem refers characteristics such as channel form, water quality or the composition of biological communities, whereas ecosystem functioning processes metabolism, organic matter decomposition secondary production. Structure respond in contrasting complementary ways environmental stressors. Moreover, assessing response is critical understand effects on services produce direct benefits humans....
Despite predicted global warming, the temperature effects on headwater stream functioning are poorly understood. We studied these microbial-mediated leaf decomposition and performance of associated aquatic hyphomycete assemblages. Alder leaves were incubated in three streams differing winter water temperature. Simultaneously, laboratory, discs conditioned at 5, 10 15 °C. determined mass loss, N sporulation rate diversity communities. In field, correlated positively with Decomposition...
Running waters contribute substantially to global carbon fluxes through decomposition of terrestrial plant litter by aquatic microorganisms and detritivores. Diversity this may influence instream globally in ways that are not yet understood. We investigated latitudinal differences mixtures low high functional diversity 40 streams on 6 continents spanning 113° latitude. Despite important variability our dataset, we found the effect decomposition, which explained as evolutionary adaptations...
Vast areas of the Iberian Peninsula are covered by monocultures exotic tree Eucalyptus globulus . Given that (1) leaf litter produced in riparian is main energy source for small streams, and (2) trees differ their nutrient content, chemical defenses, physical attributes, eucalypt plantations have potential to affect biology streams. Research teams from University Coimbra Basque Country been addressing effects at several levels study. Here we review conclusions these investigations. Eucalypt...
Most methods for assessing the ecological status of streams focus on structural characteristics (water quality, community composition, riparian vegetation) but neglect functional properties ecosystem because routine to assess stream function are scarce. Metabolism, one most integrative functions, can be a good indicator it is relevant across all sizes and types streams, sensitive stressors, such as eutrophication or changes in cover, measured continuously. Environmental controls...
We tested the hypothesis that wood influences stream channel morphology, sediment composition, retention, and storage of organic matter by experimentally removing all from 2 first-order reaches (ca 90 m length) neighboring tributaries (Salderrey Cuchillo streams) in Agüera catchment (Basque Country, Spain). established control upstream these treatment reaches. completed maps substrate, fill/scour transects, surveys 1997 (prior) 1998 (after) removal. measured monthly inputs fine to In...
The replacement of diverse deciduous forests by eucalyptus plantations changes the timing, quality and quantity litter inputs to streams, which has potential affect activity decomposers thus ecosystem functioning.Here, we compared (a) decomposition rate alder oak leaves incubated in streams Spain Portugal, (b) (fungal biomass sporulation) diversity (species richness Pielou's evenness index) associated fungal communities (c) N P content leaves.Alder decomposed at similar rates both stream...
SUMMARY 1. Breakdown of wood was compared at three sites the Agüera catchment (Iberian Peninsula): two oligotrophic first‐order reaches (one under deciduous forest, other Eucalyptus globulus plantations) and one third‐order reach mixed where concentration dissolved nutrients higher. 2. Branches (diameter = 3 cm, length 10 cm) oak ( Quercus robur ), alder Alnus glutinosa pine Pinus radiata ) eucalyptus, plus prisms (2.5 × 2.5 heartwood were enclosed in mesh bags (1 cm size) placed streams....
Abstract Leaf litter breakdown is a key process, providing matter and energy to communities inhabiting many headwater streams that flow through forests. This detrital pathway affected by human landscape transformations; but it little known about the impact of small reservoirs on leaf decay in streams. Alder rates associated fauna were studied upstream downstream five water supply (surface‐release rainy autumn‐winters), Nerbioi‐Ibaizabal drainage basin (Basque Country, Spain), assess effect...
The main purpose of our work was to elucidate factors responsible for the geographical differences in leaf-litter decomposition rates Spanish oligotrophic headwater streams. Decomposition experiments with alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaf litter were carried out 22 streams 4 different climatic regions across Iberian Peninsula (Cornisa Cantábrica, Cordillera Litoral Catalana, Sierra de Guadarrama, and Nevada). Streams that similar size, flowed mainly over siliceous substrate catchments scarce...
Understanding how biodiversity loss influences plant litter decomposition-that is, the biologically mediated conversion of coarse to fine particulate organic matter-is crucial predict changes in functioning many stream ecosystems, where detrital food webs are dominant. Rates decomposition influenced by detritivore diversity, but mechanisms behind this relationship uncertain. As differences body size a major determinant interspecific interactions, they should be key for predicting effects...
Abstract Biodiversity loss is occurring globally at unprecedented rates, altering the functioning of Earth's ecosystems. Multiple processes are often key components ecosystem functioning, but it unclear how biodiversity affects multifunctionality (i.e., ability ecosystems to maintain multiple simultaneously). This particularly true for some types such as streams, which have been understudied, despite their role in global biogeochemical cycles and serious impairment by widespread riparian...