Urban drainage systems: An undervalued habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates

Knowledge about the ecology of urban water systems is very scarce. We assessed the conservation value of urban drainage systems in lowland areas and compared these with similar watercourses in rural areas. A total of 36 water bodies in urban areas were selected to investigate the macroinvertebrate b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological conservation 2009-05, Vol.142 (5), p.1105-1115
Main Authors: Vermonden, Kim, Leuven, Rob S.E.W., van der Velde, Gerard, van Katwijk, Marieke M., Roelofs, Jan G.M., Jan Hendriks, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
aquatic invertebrates
Biodiversity values
Biological and medical sciences
Biological conservation
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
drainage systems
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
habitats
lowlands
macroinvertebrates
multivariate analysis
nitrates
nutrients
Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking
Red list species
sediments
species diversity
submerged aquatic plants
urban areas
Urban ecology
water management
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Summary:Knowledge about the ecology of urban water systems is very scarce. We assessed the conservation value of urban drainage systems in lowland areas and compared these with similar watercourses in rural areas. A total of 36 water bodies in urban areas were selected to investigate the macroinvertebrate biodiversity in relation to environmental variables. Multivariate analysis of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages was used to distinguish urban water types and to link these types to key environmental variables. Several biodiversity indices for urban water systems were compared with those for other drainage systems in The Netherlands. Four types of macroinvertebrate assemblages were distinguished in the urban water systems, differing in environmental conditions and values of ecological indicators. The variation in macroinvertebrate assemblages was significantly explained by nitrate, pH, grain size (sediment composition), transparency, nymphaeid and submerged vegetation. Urban drainage systems can sustain a macroinvertebrate biodiversity comparable to that of drainage systems in rural areas (ditches and canals) and (semi)natural watercourses (lotic waters such as small streams and rivulets) and can even be a habitat for red list species. To optimize biodiversity values, urban water management should aim at lowering nutrient levels, stimulating vegetation (diversity of habitat structure) and increasing transparency, which are key factors for macroinvertebrate diversity. We show the potential conservation benefits of water systems in urban areas, but further studies are needed to investigate the optimal design of cities to include biodiversity as an integrated part of the urban environment, thereby sustaining a higher biodiversity in an increasingly urbanizing world.
ISSN:0006-3207
1873-2917
DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.01.026