NETFRESH: Networking the response of freshwater ecosystems to environmental change
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Biosciences
Abstract
Biodiversity in freshwaters is declining at a rate far greater than marine or terrestrial biomes, yet we lack a mechanistic understanding. A key to elucidating the mechanisms driving these losses is the study of ecological interactions (e.g., predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism), which translate environmental change into alterations in the structure and function of biological communities. Our knowledge of ecological networks in freshwaters, however, remains limited due to technological constraints associated with identifying and quantifying ecological interactions in underwater environments.
Here, we propose an ambitious project developing our ability to quantify ecological interactions in running freshwater environments with the aim of understanding ecosystem responses to environmental change. We will combine established (gut content analysis, stable isotopes, production estimates) and novel techniques (metabarcoding, video footage combined with machine learning/artificial intelligence, macronutrients) to explore ecological interactions in real time. Using these methods, we will construct the first multilayer ecological networks (networks including multiple interaction types, e.g., competition, predation, facilitation) in running waters, and test the ability of the framework to detect changes in ecosystems using micro- and meso-cosms. For the latter, we focus on low flows as a pivotal component of environmental change in freshwater ecosystems - with existing mechanistic understanding surrounding the individual-level responses of different species (i.e., increased metabolic demand) and clear hypotheses surrounding the potential responses of ecological interactions (i.e., reduced habitat size leads to increased resource competition).
The project will support the generation of: (i) novel methods for identifying and quantifying ecological interactions in freshwaters; and (ii) fundamental knowledge on ecological interactions in running waters. Furthermore, findings from this work will also help to inform national monitoring strategies to better detect the response of ecosystems to environmental change and methods could be developed further to potentially provide an early warning system for species loss and ecosystem collapse in freshwater ecosystems.
Here, we propose an ambitious project developing our ability to quantify ecological interactions in running freshwater environments with the aim of understanding ecosystem responses to environmental change. We will combine established (gut content analysis, stable isotopes, production estimates) and novel techniques (metabarcoding, video footage combined with machine learning/artificial intelligence, macronutrients) to explore ecological interactions in real time. Using these methods, we will construct the first multilayer ecological networks (networks including multiple interaction types, e.g., competition, predation, facilitation) in running waters, and test the ability of the framework to detect changes in ecosystems using micro- and meso-cosms. For the latter, we focus on low flows as a pivotal component of environmental change in freshwater ecosystems - with existing mechanistic understanding surrounding the individual-level responses of different species (i.e., increased metabolic demand) and clear hypotheses surrounding the potential responses of ecological interactions (i.e., reduced habitat size leads to increased resource competition).
The project will support the generation of: (i) novel methods for identifying and quantifying ecological interactions in freshwaters; and (ii) fundamental knowledge on ecological interactions in running waters. Furthermore, findings from this work will also help to inform national monitoring strategies to better detect the response of ecosystems to environmental change and methods could be developed further to potentially provide an early warning system for species loss and ecosystem collapse in freshwater ecosystems.
Publications
Aspin T
(2023)
Extra terrestrials: drought creates niche space for rare invertebrates in a large-scale and long-term field experiment
in Biology Letters
Cuff JP
(2024)
Understanding trophic interactions in a warming world by bridging foraging ecology and biomechanics with network science.
in Integrative and comparative biology
Windsor FM
(2023)
Expanding network ecology in freshwater ecosystems.
in The Journal of animal ecology
Description | We have gained a better understanding of how stream ecosystems respond and recover from droughts, through both direct and indirect mechanisms (i.e., species losses and gains, as well as changes in species interactions). Specifically, we have: 1. Developed methods for identifying interactions under water (high resolution stable isotope, video and image analysis) 2. Collected data on ecosystem scale responses to droughts (currently processing - a non-cost extension granted until August 2024) |
Exploitation Route | Transferrable and translatable methods are being produced (preparing a publication for Methods in Ecology and Evolution), and these will be able to be used by others to investigate both freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem structure. |
Sectors | Environment |
Title | Extra terrestrials: experimental drought creates niche space for rare invertebrates in terrestrialising stream channels |
Description | The code and data for the paper entitled "Extra terrestrials: experimental drought creates niche space for rare invertebrates in terrestrialising stream channels" published in Biology Letters. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/8156531 |
Description | Response Diversity Network |
Organisation | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Through our experimental work along a gradient of drought stress and our work to develop new methods to measure responses of ecosystems to environmental change, FW was invited to become a member of the Response Diversity Network, organised by Sam Ross (OIST) and Owen Petchey (University of Zürich). |
Collaborator Contribution | FW is attending a workshop at OIST in March 2024 to discuss research findings and future research opportunities. |
Impact | This is an early stage collaboration and as such there are no concrete outputs or outcomes. It is multidisciplinary, with engineers, ecologists, and other STEM disciplines involved in the workshops. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Local community group talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Some ecological surveying and a subsequent talk at a public event was completed for the Bristol Feeder Canal Residency. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.feedercanalresidency.com/ |