Streams biodiversity

Brown LE, Hannah DM, Milner AM (2007) Vulnerability of alpine stream biodiversity to shrinking glaciers and snowpacks. Global Change Biol 13 958... 

Figure 7.4.2 Cause-effect chain illustrating the potential impact of changes in climate on stream biodiversity...

Changes to channel hydromorphology, affecting river and stream biodiversity. 

Keywords Biodiversity, Biogeochemistry, Drought, Intermittent, Stream... 

Meyer JL, Strayer DL, Wallace JB, Eggert SL, Helfman GS, Leonard NE (2007) The contribution of headwater streams to biodiversity in river networks. J Am Water Resour Assoc 43 86-103... 

Dudgeon D. 2000. The ecology of tropical Asian rivers and streams in relation to biodiversity conservation. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 31 239-263. 

Williams P, Whitfield M, Biggs J, Bray S, Fox G, Nicolet P, Sear D. 2003. Comparative biodiversity of rivers, streams, ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in southern England. Biol Conserv 115 329-341. 

Nr is responsible (together with sulfur) for the acidification and loss in biodiversity of lakes and streams in many regions of the world (Vitousek et al., 1997). 

The biggest problem is that the materials applied to the lawn do not necessarily stay there when it rains or the lawn is overwatered. They can go into groundwater or into streams. The result can be loss of aquatic vegetation and animal life in streams and lakes from the herbicides and insecticides, as well as eutrophication, which often involves growth of undesirable species, from the fertilizer. The result may well be a loss in biodiversity. Biodiversity can also be lost if native wild flowers and shrubs are replaced by lawn, as often happens. (The lawn is a biological desert of a few species of Eurasian grasses.305)... 

Environmental problems can also be present when renewable sources of energy are used. Condensed steam from geothermal plants may have to be cleaned up before it can be discharged. Reinjection into the reservoir avoids this problems. Hydropower requires dams that remove the niches in running streams that foster biodiversity. Cool, well-aerated running water favors different species more than lakes do. A shaded stream can have a different flora and fauna that may be more diverse than that in the sunny lake behind the dam. The dams also interfere with the... 

Reduction in stream flows as a result of mine dewatering could result in decreased biodiversity and biomass in these communities. If stream segments become dry as a result of reduced flows, aquatic habitat and associated biota would disappear. Increased flows to the Humboldt River would increase the habitat for fish and their food organisms. However, the possible elimination of shallow pools and channels could decrease nursery ground habitat. Increased sediment levels associated with... 

Rainwater is normally slightly acidic, but sometimes rain is very acidic and is called acid rain. Figure 3.6 shows a forest that was damaged by severe acid rain. Acid rain can erode statues and affect ecosystems, such as water environments and forests. In the 1970s, scientists found that acid rain was causing the fish populations in some lakes and streams to decline. When fish are completely eliminated from lakes and streams because of acid rain, the biodiversity of the ecosystem decreases. Because of amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1990, a limit was set on the amount of SO2 that power plants are permitted to emit. This limit has decreased but not eliminated acid rain in the United States. 

Are there also negative impacts for the technology Most likely, although these are not quantified in the analysis. If one increases the growth of soybeans for the production of the resin, then one may need to convert forested land into farmland, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. In addition, increased use of fertilizers and pesticides leads to increased eutrophication of lakes and streams. One should also evaluate the ecotoxicity of the pesticides and their impact on wildhfe. While a full environmental assessment is needed to properly evaluate this new process, even a preliminary analysis suggests the value of this particular innovation. 

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