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Ecological responses to experimental glacier-runoff reduction in alpine rivers

Article scientifique 2016 Anglais

Résumé

Glacier retreat is a worldwide phenomenon with important consequences for the hydrological cycle and downstream ecosystem structure and functioning. To determine the effects of glacier retreat on aquatic communities, we conducted a 4-year flow manipulation in a tropical glacier-fed stream. Compared with an adjacent reference stream, meltwater flow reduction induces significant changes in benthic fauna community composition in less than 2 weeks. Also, both algal and herbivore biomass significantly increase in the manipulated stream as a response to flow reduction. After the flow reduction ceased, the system requires 14-16 months to return to its pre-perturbation state. These results are supported by a multi-stream survey of sites varying in glacial influence, showing an abrupt increase in algal and herbivore biomass below 11% glacier cover in the catchment. This study shows that flow reduction strongly affects glacier-fed stream biota, prefiguring profound ecological effects of ongoing glacier retreat on aquatic systems.

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Cauvy‐Fraunié, S., Andino, P., Espinosa, R., Calvez, R., Jacobsen, D., Dangles, O. (2016). Ecological responses to experimental glacier-runoff reduction in alpine rivers. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12025

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Auteur(s)

Sophie Cauvy‐Fraunié Patricio Andino Rodrigo Espinosa Roger Calvez Dean Jacobsen Olivier Dangles

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