Cascading effects of flow reduction on the benthic invertebrate community in a lowland river

摘要: Reduction of flow constitutes one the most severe human alterations to rivers, as it affects key abiotic feature these ecosystems. While there has been considerable progress in understanding effects reduced on benthic macroinvertebrates, cascading reduction dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) have not yet received much attention. We compared macroinvertebrate composition between reference conditions and a situation after several years discharge Spree River (Brandenburg, Germany). Community shifted from rheophilic species indifferent conditions. Filter feeders were partially replaced by collector/gatherers, which likely reduces retention organic matter, thus self-purification capacity river section. These shifts associated with low during summer, into daily DO concentration minima less than 5 mg l−1 prevailed 74% days summer. This depletion presumably caused observed turnover. Hence, lowland rivers may only directly impair ecological functions provided macroinvertebrates but also act indirectly depleting concentrations.