Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023

A special issue of Hydrobiology (ISSN 2673-9917).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 19125

Special Issue Editors

Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: freshwater ecology and ecotoxicology; biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; aquatic microbial ecology; molecular biodiversity; stress ecology; global change; multiple stressors; emerging contaminants; plant litter decomposition; aquatic fungi
Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) & Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: freshwater ecology; environmental physiology and toxicology; food web interactions; global change and stress ecology; lake and reservoir management; plankton ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are happy to announce the Special Issue "Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023". Hydrobiology is a new open access journal that offers an excellent opportunity to establish an exciting forum for the discussion and dissemination of high-quality research in freshwater and marine biology, limnology, fisheries, oceanography, and aquatic ecology. We welcome innovative, hypothesis-driven papers on current scientific challenges, as well as on new methodological tools and approaches to monitor aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems that tackle the socio-ecological complexity and the management of aquatic ecosystems.

The journal will publish regular research articles, reviews, and opinion papers. We encourage contributions from broad range of ecological interests and impacts, specialy those covering hot topics, conceptual frameworks, as well as novel approaches and applications. Results from large temporal and spatial scales are particularly welcome. We provide rapid dissemination and high visibility for your publication.

The Special Issue will contain invitation-only original research and review articles from prominent researchers in the field that cover recent advances in all fields of hydrobiology, spanning from freshwater, groundwater, estuarine, or marine habitats.

We are looking forward to receiving your contributions to Hydrobiology.

Dr. Cláudia Pascoal
Dr. Bruno B. Castro
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. Hydrobiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • aquatic biodiversity
  • anthropogenic impacts
  • multiple stressors
  • social-ecological impacts
  • science-based approaches
  • nature-based solutions
  • natural capital
  • adaptation strategies
  • case studies

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2167 KiB  
Article
From Fresh to Salt Waters: First Reports of the Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in Mediterranean Marine Waters
by Alessandro Nota, Alfredo Santovito, Raffaele Gattelli and Francesco Tiralongo
Hydrobiology 2024, 3(1), 1-10; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology3010001 - 24 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1545
Abstract
The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), native to the southern/southeastern United States and northern Mexico, has been introduced in many countries worldwide. The species has a remarkable invasiveness due to its high reproductive rate and ability to tolerate broad ranges of [...] Read more.
The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), native to the southern/southeastern United States and northern Mexico, has been introduced in many countries worldwide. The species has a remarkable invasiveness due to its high reproductive rate and ability to tolerate broad ranges of water parameters like salinity. Nevertheless, no consistent observations of P. clarkii have been reported in the marine environment until now. Data demonstrating the presence of the crayfish within marine ecosystems were collected by a personal acquaintance and two volunteers who published photos of the species on Facebook marine biology and fishing groups. The species was identified based on photos taken by these people in the described areas. P. clarkii has been spotted in three different localities, in two of which observations are recurrent. The species can survive miles from the nearest freshwater stream and could potentially colonise marine waters at depths up to 20 m. The multiple observations of P. clarkii collected in our study uncover a persistent presence of the species within some marine areas, rather than its mere sporadic occurrence. Our results highlight the need for further investigation to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the crayfish’s ability to withstand salinity and colonise the marine environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023)
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21 pages, 3795 KiB  
Article
Recurringly Hypoxic: Bottom Water Oxygen Depletion Is Linked to Temperature and Precipitation in a Great Lakes Estuary
by Nathan M. Dugener, Anthony D. Weinke, Ian P. Stone and Bopaiah A. Biddanda
Hydrobiology 2023, 2(2), 410-430; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology2020027 - 17 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1963
Abstract
Hypolimnetic hypoxia is expanding globally due to anthropogenic eutrophication and climate warming. Muskegon Lake, a Great Lakes estuary, experiences annually recurring hypoxia, impairing ecological, social, and economic benefits. Using high-frequency, time-series Muskegon Lake Observatory (MLO) data, we quantified the dynamics of hypoxia and [...] Read more.
Hypolimnetic hypoxia is expanding globally due to anthropogenic eutrophication and climate warming. Muskegon Lake, a Great Lakes estuary, experiences annually recurring hypoxia, impairing ecological, social, and economic benefits. Using high-frequency, time-series Muskegon Lake Observatory (MLO) data, we quantified the dynamics of hypoxia and developed a hypoxia severity index to estimate the spatiotemporal extent of hypoxia during 2011–2021. We also analyzed United States Geological Survey’s temperature and discharge data on the Muskegon River to explain the annual variability in the hypoxia severity index. Severe hypoxia occurred in warmer years with greater stratification, fewer wind mixing events, warmer winter river temperatures, and less winter and spring precipitation, as in 2012 and 2021. Conversely, milder hypoxia was prevalent in colder years with a later stratification onset, more mixing events, colder river temperatures, and more winter and spring precipitation, as in 2015 and 2019. Thus, knowledge of environmental conditions prior to the onset of stratification may be useful for predicting the potential severity of hypoxia for any year. While consistent multi-year trends in hypoxia were not discernible, our findings suggest that temperature and precipitation are major drivers of hypoxia and that as surface waters warm, it will lead to the further deoxygenation of Earth’s inland waters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023)
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16 pages, 2596 KiB  
Article
Functional Diversity and Primary Production Predict Future Patterns of Periphyton Productivity after Species Extinction
by Bárbara Dunck, Lucas Ferreira Colares, Liliana Rodrigues, Fernanda Cássio and Cláudia Pascoal
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(4), 483-498; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1040029 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1247
Abstract
Understanding of the trait-based ecology of the periphytic algal community has increased in the last decade. However, the relationship between their functional diversity and ecosystem functions, such as primary production, has been speculated on, but yet not proven. Human impacts promote changes in [...] Read more.
Understanding of the trait-based ecology of the periphytic algal community has increased in the last decade. However, the relationship between their functional diversity and ecosystem functions, such as primary production, has been speculated on, but yet not proven. Human impacts promote changes in biotic communities leading to a risk of extinction, with consequences for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we unraveled the associations between the taxonomic and functional components of periphytic algal diversity, stream eutrophication, and productivity patterns. Furthermore, we simulated future patterns of species extinction to predict how productivity may change when facing extinction. Primary production and taxonomic and functional diversity of the periphytic algal communities were estimated in five streams across a trophic gradient in the Ave River basin (northwest Portugal). Our results demonstrated that eutrophication led to a unimodal pattern of taxonomic diversity, while functional diversity tended to increase with increasing eutrophication. We found that only functional diversity had a positive association with primary production. The extinction estimations indicated that almost all species found in our study were at high extinction risk. When we spatially scaled our extinction simulations, we found poor-productive streams after the extirpation of a few species. However, at the regional scale, the ecosystem supports the extinction of at least 40% of species before turning into a poor-productive system. Intermediate levels of disturbance are probably beneficial for the diversity of periphytic algal communities, to a certain extent. Moreover, functionally diverse communities were more productive, and the alleged future extinction of species is likely to lead to poor-productive streams if regionally focused conservation initiatives are not implemented. We recommend that, using simulations of functional extinction, it is possible to infer how the loss of these microorganisms could alter ecosystem functioning, to better predict human impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023)
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Review

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20 pages, 1495 KiB  
Review
Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms: Going beyond the “Green” to Monitor and Predict HCBs
by Daniela R. de Figueiredo
Hydrobiology 2024, 3(1), 11-30; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology3010002 - 02 Jan 2024
Viewed by 894
Abstract
Under the Climate Change scenario, the occurrence of Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCBs) is an increasingly concerning problem. Particularly for inland freshwaters, that have human populations depending on them for consumption or recreation, HCBs can lead to serious ecological damages and socio-economic impacts, but [...] Read more.
Under the Climate Change scenario, the occurrence of Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCBs) is an increasingly concerning problem. Particularly for inland freshwaters, that have human populations depending on them for consumption or recreation, HCBs can lead to serious ecological damages and socio-economic impacts, but also to health risks for local communities. From satellite imagery to molecular data, there is an increasing number of methodological approaches that can help improve the monitoring and prediction of cyanobacterial blooms. However, although each methodology has its own strengths and limitations, generally there is a lack of data addressing specific and intraspecific information, which has implications for the modelling and prediction of the real dynamics and toxicity of HCBs. The present review intends to make a quick overview on current approaches to monitor cyanobacterial blooms and provide a tier-based integrative perspective for their application. A transversal monitoring at a wide scale should be enhanced but cannot rely only on pigment levels but rather include the specific and intraspecific diversity information that can be obtained from modern molecular tools. This is crucial to achieve the effective prediction, monitoring and management of HCBs under their increasing occurrence and severity trends in freshwaters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023)
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15 pages, 1557 KiB  
Review
Pharmaceuticals in Water: Risks to Aquatic Life and Remediation Strategies
by Aqib Hassan Ali Khan and Rocío Barros
Hydrobiology 2023, 2(2), 395-409; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology2020026 - 14 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4090
Abstract
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment presents a challenge to modern science. The most significant impact this can induce is the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which can lead to a global health emergency. It is important to note that the impact [...] Read more.
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment presents a challenge to modern science. The most significant impact this can induce is the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which can lead to a global health emergency. It is important to note that the impact of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is not limited to antibiotic resistance. Pharmaceuticals can also affect the behaviour and reproductive systems of aquatic organisms, with cascading effects on entire ecosystems. Numerous studies have reported the emergence of pharmaceuticals due to the uncontrolled disposal of polluted domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater in water bodies. This work discusses the potential of pharmaceuticals that on one hand are highly important for mankind, yet their non-judicious usage and disposal induce equally intriguing and problematic conditions to the health of aquatic systems. Pathways through which pharmaceutics can make their way into water bodies are discussed. Furthermore, the risk imposed by pharmaceuticals on aquatic life is also elaborated. The possible and pragmatic remediation methods through which pharmaceutical products can be treated are also discussed. Emphasis is placed on the potential of phytoremediation and advanced oxidative process, and the factors affecting the efficacy of these remediation methods are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023)
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22 pages, 2811 KiB  
Review
Ecosystem Services Provided by Seaweeds
by João Cotas, Louisa Gomes, Diana Pacheco and Leonel Pereira
Hydrobiology 2023, 2(1), 75-96; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology2010006 - 09 Jan 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7841
Abstract
The ecosystem services can be divided using two major classification systems, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) and the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES). In the MEA system, the ecosystem services are divided into four major service clusters: supporting, provisioning, regulating, and [...] Read more.
The ecosystem services can be divided using two major classification systems, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) and the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES). In the MEA system, the ecosystem services are divided into four major service clusters: supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural. On the other hand, the CICES system regards the “MEA supporting services” as organism natural function (and not an ecosystem service). Thus, this function is the basis for all the three CICES ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, and cultural) provided by one organism. These ecosystem services can be analyzed for the type of habitat, fauna or flora. Seaweeds, or marine macroalgae, are one of the key organisms in estuarine and seawater habitats ecosystems, which currently is of extreme importance due to the climate changes and the blue–green economy. Seaweeds and humankind have been interlinked from the beginning, mainly as a food source, fibers, biochemicals, natural medicine, ornamental resources, art inspiration, and esthetic values in several coastal communities. Moreover, currently they are being studied as green carbon, carbon sequestration, and as a possible source for the biomedical and pharmaceutical areas. This review is a concise review of all ecological services provided by seaweeds and their impact in the human life and maintenance of the ecosystem status quo. The future of seaweeds use is also approached, regarding the promotion of seaweed ecological services and its dangers in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Hydrobiology 2022–2023)
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