The Adige River (south Tyrol, Italy) can geomorphologically be divided into two main sections because of a knickpoint located 70 km downstream from the source. Immediately after the knickpoint the stream receives an untreated urban sewage effluent. Along the two sections different in hydrological, morphological and food resource features, five sites were investigated. Macroinvertebrate samples and environmental parameters were seasonally analysed for two years (1995-1996). Taxonomical as well as functional differences in macroinvertebrate community composition were found between the upper and lower river section. The biotic discontinuity was mainly shown by the functional distribution patterns, reflecting the differences in substrate heterogeneity and food resource features in the two sections.
Synergetic effects of organic pollution and river slope variability on the biotic continuum of the Adige River (south Tyrol, Italy)
FANO, Elisa Anna
1998
Abstract
The Adige River (south Tyrol, Italy) can geomorphologically be divided into two main sections because of a knickpoint located 70 km downstream from the source. Immediately after the knickpoint the stream receives an untreated urban sewage effluent. Along the two sections different in hydrological, morphological and food resource features, five sites were investigated. Macroinvertebrate samples and environmental parameters were seasonally analysed for two years (1995-1996). Taxonomical as well as functional differences in macroinvertebrate community composition were found between the upper and lower river section. The biotic discontinuity was mainly shown by the functional distribution patterns, reflecting the differences in substrate heterogeneity and food resource features in the two sections.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
