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Thresholds in ecosystem structural and functionalresponses to agricultural stressors can informlimit setting in streams
Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand.
Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden .ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1556-3861
2017 (English)In: Freshwater Science, ISSN 2161-9549, E-ISSN 2161-9565, Vol. 36, no 1, p. 178-194Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Setting numeric in-stream objectives (limits, criteria) to inform limits on catchment loads for major land-use stressors is a promising policy instrument to prevent ecosystem degradation. Management objectives can be informed by thresholds identified from stressor–response shapes of ecological indicators based on field survey data. Use of multiple structural and functional indicators and different organism groups provides multiple lines of evidence to make objectives more robust. We measured a suite of ecological indicators during a regional field survey in New Zealand. We built flexible boosted regression tree (BRT) models with a predictor set consisting of nutrient, sediment, and environmental variables and investigated the fitted functions for different types of thresholds across each stressor gradient. Congruence of impact initiation (II) thresholds for N among macroinvertebrate metrics and 2 periphyton indicators provided multiple lines of evidence for ecosystem change with small increases in N concentrations above background levels. Impact cessation (IC) on macroinvertebrate metrics at total N = ~0.5 mg/L (below N concentrations that saturate important ecosystem processes) highlighted sensitivity of macroinvertebrate communities to eutrophication. We found few stressor–response relationships for sediment. We suggest use of sediment-specific macroinvertebrate metrics and a reliable measure of deposited fine sediment in the future. Few indicators responded to phosphorus (P) concentration. Limited information for setting P objectives highlights the need to develop alternative indicators of P loading. Statistical analysis based on single-stressor inferential threshold models suggested that these models carry high risk of identifying spurious thresholds and are less suitable for setting management objectives. II and IC thresholds of multiple ecological indicators can be used to set robust objectives aimed at different levels of protection of ecosystem health.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2017. Vol. 36, no 1, p. 178-194
Keywords [en]
ecological thresholds, effects-based criteria, nutrient targets, diffuse pollution
National Category
Ecology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-33652DOI: 10.1086/690233ISI: 000394633500015Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85012895078OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-33652DiVA, id: diva2:1086136
Available from: 2017-03-31 Created: 2017-03-31 Last updated: 2018-03-23Bibliographically approved

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Liess, Antonia

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CiteExportLink to record
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  • apa
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