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The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 16385

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Aneta Spyra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Interests: human impact; aquatic environments; invasive species; biodiversity; forest lakes; environmental factors; aquatic pollution; environmental monitoring and assessment; benthos ecology
Dr. Anna Cieplok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Interests: river ecosystems; anthropogenic water bodies; anthropogenic impact; alien and invasive species; biomonitoring; aquatic invertebrate ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human activity involves aquatic ecosystems on a huge scale, especially in the last 50 years, in which water habitats have been altered more rapidly and extensively than in any other period in history. Rapid industrialization and economic development have led to the unprecedented transformation of different freshwater ecosystems and, consequently, to the loss of biodiversity. Urbanization, agricultural land uses, urban and industrial wastes, draining of wetlands and pollution discharges have changed the aquatic environments globally, which has affected aquatic riparian- and biodiversity. Human activities, industrial discharges, and pollution can manifest as alterations in the physical and chemical parameters of the water, and changes in the structure of biological communities. In view of the constant devastation of water ecosystems, there is a strong need to protect these environments because they constitute habitats for invertebrate fauna, as well as rare or protected species. How human activity puts strain on aquatic environments and aquatic ecological diversity is one of the most important concerns in aquatic ecology currently. In this Special Issue, entitled “The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity”, we review and contrast the various impacts of human activity on streams, rivers, water bodies, lakes, and associated systems and thus on the diversity of aquatic organisms. We welcome papers that report on these issues at local, regional, and global scales to evidence the magnitude of their effects and how these can be managed to protect the environment and limit human pressure.

Dr. Aneta Spyra
Dr. Anna Cieplok
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • water pollution
  • aquatic diversity
  • human impact
  • human pressure
  • aquatic invertebrates
  • aquatic ecology
  • biodiversity loss
  • environmental changes

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2757 KiB  
Article
Effect of Anthropogenic Pressure on the Biodiversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Some Urban Rivers (Yaoundé)
by Marie Anita Temgoua Zemo, Samuel Foto Menbohan, Bernard Tossou Atchrimi, Wilfreid Christiane Noel Betsi, Mathias Nwaha, Jean Dzavi, Célestin Adeito Mavunda and Nathaniel Lactio
Water 2023, 15(13), 2383; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132383 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1722
Abstract
In Cameroon, the environmental profile is increasingly marked by anarchic urbanisation, which is strongly illustrated by the discharge of waste into the aquatic environment, leading to pollution. Indeed, the tributaries of the Mfoundi and Mefou river basins have nowadays become dumping grounds and [...] Read more.
In Cameroon, the environmental profile is increasingly marked by anarchic urbanisation, which is strongly illustrated by the discharge of waste into the aquatic environment, leading to pollution. Indeed, the tributaries of the Mfoundi and Mefou river basins have nowadays become dumping grounds and receptacles for all kinds of waste, leading to the degradation of water quality and a reduction in biodiversity. This study aims to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic pressure on the biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in three rivers of the Mfoundi basin (Ebogo, Abiergue, and Ako’o). For this purpose, some physicochemical parameters were measured according to standard methods, and benthic macroinvertebrates were collected according to the multihabitat approach. To this end, the physicochemical analyses revealed that the waters of these different streams are slightly basic and poorly oxygenated, with a saturation rate of 9.725 ± 11.74% and significant organic pollution. Biologically, a total of 5793 benthic macroinvertebrates divided into three phyla, eight orders, and more than thirty families were collected, with a population dominated by the order of insects and a low level of diversity dominated by pollutant organisms such as the Chironomidae, Lumbriculidae, and Physidae, which are saprobionts and saprophilous organisms. A redundancy analysis indicated that the main groups of benthic macroinvertebrates obtained were related to the gradients of the physicochemical parameters measured. The Shannon–Weaver diversity and Piélou equitability indexes showed the low diversity of the organisms within the different courses and their low equipartition, mainly due to the saprobiont and saprophilous groups that dominate the population. The exogenous inputs due to the increase in the population of the city of Yaoundé, which dumps its waste into the waterways, have major repercussions on the quality of the water and the population that abounds in this environment, particularly the benthic macroinvertebrates, which are an important link in the monitoring of water quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity)
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15 pages, 15225 KiB  
Article
Control of Aquatic Weed Eichhornia crassipes Using Florpyrauxifen-benzyl Herbicide—Case Study in Cangkuang Lake (Indonesia)
by Denny Kurniadie, Nita Nur Rezkia, Dedi Widayat, Aditya Widiawan, Le Duy and Dwi Priyo Prabowo
Water 2023, 15(10), 1859; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101859 - 14 May 2023
Viewed by 2704
Abstract
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart). Solms) is a rapidly growing plant that can easily invade water bodies and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Cangkuang Lake is currently facing a major issue due to the increased proliferation of this plant species. Although herbicide can [...] Read more.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart). Solms) is a rapidly growing plant that can easily invade water bodies and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Cangkuang Lake is currently facing a major issue due to the increased proliferation of this plant species. Although herbicide can be used to manage weeds in aquatic ecosystems to save labor and time, their impact and toxicity on the environment must be considered. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Florpyrauxifen-benzyl herbicide in controlling water hyacinth in Cangkuang Lake, Garut Regency, West Java, and its impact on water quality. A randomized block design (RBD) was used with eight treatments, and each treatment was replicated four times to obtain a total of 32 experimental plots with a size of 1 m × 1 m. Each plot contained water hyacinth weeds, with a range of 8–10 leaves and a weight range of 250–300 g. The treatment consisted of herbicide with active ingredients Florpyrauxifen-benzyl (5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 g a.i./ha), 2,4-D Dimethyl Amine (DMA) (1200 g a.i./ha), Penoxsulam (25 g a.i./ha), and the control. The study also measured several water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and ammonia levels. The results showed that Florpyrauxifen-benzyl, starting at a dose of 15 g a.i./ha, was effective in controlling E.crassipes weeds with a growth reduction percentage of up to 100% and no weed regrowth at 42 DAA (day after application). However, all water quality parameters were within the standard threshold for the Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 22/2021. This study suggests that Florpyrauxifen-benzyl can be an effective herbicide for controlling water hyacinth in Cangkuang Lake, and that its use did not have a negative impact on water quality. However, this study also highlights the importance of considering the potential environmental impact and toxicity of herbicides before their use in aquatic ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity)
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15 pages, 5262 KiB  
Article
Aquaculture Production in the Midst of GHG Emissions in South Africa
by Saul Ngarava, Leocadia Zhou, Mhlangabezi Slayi, Thulani Ningi, Aphiwe Nguma and Nelisiwe Ncetani
Water 2023, 15(7), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071253 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3902
Abstract
The study ascertained the relationship between aquaculture production and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in South Africa. The study used the Autoregressive Distributed Lag—Error Correction Model (ARDL-VECM) with time series data between 1990 and 2020. The results showed that the mean annual aquaculture production, [...] Read more.
The study ascertained the relationship between aquaculture production and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in South Africa. The study used the Autoregressive Distributed Lag—Error Correction Model (ARDL-VECM) with time series data between 1990 and 2020. The results showed that the mean annual aquaculture production, GHG emissions, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the period were 5200 tonnes, 412 tonnes, and US$447 billion, respectively. There was a long-run relationship between GHG emissions and GDP. In the short run, GHG emissions had a positive relationship with GDP and a negative relationship with beef production. Furthermore, there was a bi-directional relationship between aquaculture production and GHG emissions. In addition, beef production and GDP had a bi-directional relationship. Beef production also had a positive relationship with aquaculture production. The study concludes that aquaculture production is affected and tends to affect GHG emissions. Aquaculture legislation should consider GHG emissions in South Africa and promote sustainable production techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity)
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18 pages, 3411 KiB  
Article
The “Minor Water Bodies” and Their Malacofauna: Are Freshwater Gastropod Communities Usable for Habitat Classification?
by Evgeny S. Babushkin, Svetlana I. Andreeva, Ivan O. Nekhaev and Maxim V. Vinarski
Water 2023, 15(6), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061178 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2085
Abstract
The typology of inland water bodies remains a topical issue in limnology. Numerous classifications of freshwater habitats have been proposed, but none of them has gained the universal acceptance. Current global changes and the increasing human impact on freshwater ecosystems make it important [...] Read more.
The typology of inland water bodies remains a topical issue in limnology. Numerous classifications of freshwater habitats have been proposed, but none of them has gained the universal acceptance. Current global changes and the increasing human impact on freshwater ecosystems make it important to understand the ecological relationships between freshwater animals and their environment. In this study, we tested a typology of the so-called “minor water bodies” proposed in the 1960s by the Polish ecologist Klimowicz. The term “minor water bodies” refers to a group of semi- or impermanent habitats that are prone to periodical or occasional desiccation. The division of habitat categories within this typology was based on qualitative features, and the validity of this classification has never been tested statistically. Here, we used the data on occurrences of 18 species of freshwater and semiaquatic gastropods observed in 86 minor water bodies of the Bolshoy Yugan River basin (Western Siberia, Russia) to test the hypothesis that each type of minor water body, in accordance with the aforementioned classification, maintains its own unique set of species. The statistical analysis confirmed the significant differences between the three habitat types on the basis of their gastropod communities, whereas one type (groundwater springs) appeared to be indistinguishable from the others. Our results show that freshwater gastropod communities are a suitable tool for habitat classification, and, at the same time, they highlight the need to apply statistical methods to a priori classifications based on the qualitative approach to the division of habitat types. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity)
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15 pages, 1911 KiB  
Article
The Role of Habitat Protection in Maintaining the Diversity of Aquatic Fauna in Rural and Industrial Areas
by Anna Cieplok, Mariola Krodkiewska, Izabella Franiel, Rafał Starzak, Martina Sowa and Aneta Spyra
Water 2022, 14(23), 3983; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233983 - 6 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2437
Abstract
In Natural Landscape Complexes and Ecological Sites, local environmental protection is used to cover previous industrial activities, fragments of the cultural landscape, and habitats of both vertebrates and invertebrates. In water bodies within the different types of habitat protection, aquatic invertebrate fauna was [...] Read more.
In Natural Landscape Complexes and Ecological Sites, local environmental protection is used to cover previous industrial activities, fragments of the cultural landscape, and habitats of both vertebrates and invertebrates. In water bodies within the different types of habitat protection, aquatic invertebrate fauna was studied to investigate whether it is a general rule that different forms of protection ensure the diversity of aquatic invertebrates in rural and industrial areas. The research revealed differences between invertebrate assemblages within complexes and between reservoirs. Compared with unprotected reservoirs located in the same area, in the majority of the studied water bodies, either no alien species were found or their relative abundance in assemblages was very low. Significant differences in the density, the number of taxa, the diversity, and the percentage of alien species were observed between different geographical locations. The location of water bodies within the protected area plays an important role in maintaining benthos diversity in industrial areas. These findings are useful for comparison with those of future research to document possible improvements or ongoing ecological regression in the quality of aquatic ecosystems in industrial areas. This study can help guide revisions of protected habitat networks for adequate protection of freshwater biodiversity in industrial areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity)
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26 pages, 11045 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Giant Jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai)
by Sunyoung Oh, Kyoung-Yeon Kim, Hyun-Joo Oh, Geunchang Park, Wooseok Oh and Kyounghoon Lee
Water 2022, 14(18), 2883; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182883 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2014
Abstract
In this study, the distribution of giant N. jellyfish by the echo counting method was investigated in the East China Sea, where giant N. jellyfish are known to breed and migrate to the coastal waters of Korea mainly in summer. In [...] Read more.
In this study, the distribution of giant N. jellyfish by the echo counting method was investigated in the East China Sea, where giant N. jellyfish are known to breed and migrate to the coastal waters of Korea mainly in summer. In addition, the distribution densities by the survey method were compared with the sighting and trawl surveys. In the case of the East China Sea area and the Gijang coastal area, a split beam type scientific echosounder (EK60, Simrad, Norway) and Acoustic data at 38 and 120 kHz were collected while moving at 6–7 kts. In the coastal waters of Korea, acoustics data at 38 and 120 kHz were collected with a split beam type scientific echosounder (EK80, Simrad, Norway) attached to the bottom of the R/V Tamgu No. 21. In the East China Sea, the average distribution densities of acoustic, sighting, and trawl surveys were 8355.7 (10−6 ind/m3), 162.2 (10−6 ind/m3), and 792.5 (10−6 ind/m3), respectively. The average densities in the coastal waters of Korea of acoustic, sighting, and trawl surveys were 2238.7 (10−6 ind/m3), 664.9 (10−6 ind/m3), and 432.9 (10−6 ind/m3), respectively. The average distribution density of the acoustic survey conducted on 21 July 2020 in the coastal waters of Gijang was 1024.5 (10−6 ind/m3), and the sighting survey showed 48.8 (10−6 ind/m3). The sighting surveys conducted on 22 July 2020 were 393.3 (10−6 ind/m3) and 19.6 (10−6 ind/m3). The average distribution density for the acoustic survey performed on 23 July 2020 was 99.0 (10−6 ind/m3), and for the sighting survey was 197.2 (10−6 ind/m3). When comparing the results of the acoustic survey with the results of the sighting and the trawl surveys, all surveys except for the survey conducted on 23 July 2020 showed that the acoustic survey was higher than other survey methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Environmental Changes and Human Activity on Aquatic Ecological Diversity)
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