Ecological impacts of small dams on South African rivers Part 2: Biotic response–abundance and composition of macroinvertebrate communities

Mantel, Sukhmani K; Muller, Nikite W J; Hughes, Denis A

Title: Ecological impacts of small dams on South African rivers Part 2: Biotic response–abundance and composition of macroinvertebrate communities
Creator: Mantel, Sukhmani K
Creator: Muller, Nikite W J
Creator: Hughes, Denis A
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2010
Date: 2010
Type: text
Type: report
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/438087
Identifier: vital:73434
Identifier: ISBN 1816-7950
Identifier: https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2354.pdf
Description: This paper investigates the cumulative impacts of small dams on inver-tebrate communities in 2 regions of South Africa–the Western Cape and Mpumalanga. Previous research found reduced discharge, in-creased total dissolved salts, and a decrease in average score per tax-on (ASPT; collected using SASS4 methods) at sites with high density of small dams in their catchment. These changes in ASPT are investigat-ed using the invertebrate abundance data available in the River Health Programme. Multivariate analyses found differences in invertebrate communities in rivers with high densities of small dams in their catch-ment in foothill-gravel streams (in both Western Cape and Mpuma-langa) and in foothill-cobble streams (in Western Cape only). Opportun-istic taxa that are tolerant of pollution, and capable of exploiting various habitats, and those that prefer slower currents increased in numbers, while other taxa that are sensitive to pollution and disturbance declined in numbers. Some regional differences were noted possibly reflecting climatic differences between the regions. Since the results of this study are correlative, it highlights the need for a systematic (by sites and sea-sons) and detailed (at species level) collection of data to verify the re-sults of cumulative effects of small dams. This can further the devel-opment of a framework for small-dam construction and management that will limit their impact on river catchments.
Format: 10 pages
Format: pdf
Publisher: Water Research Commission
Language: English
Relation: Mantel, S.K., Muller, N.W. and Hughes, D.A., 2010. Ecological impacts of small dams on South African rivers Part 2: Biotic response–abundance and composition of macroinvertebrate communities. Water Sa, 36(3), pp.361-370
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Water Research Commission Terms and Conditions of Use Statement (https://www.gov.za/terms-and-conditions-use-0)

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