Watershed Ecology and the Environment最新文献

{"title":"From data to decisions: Leveraging ML for improved river discharge forecasting in Bangladesh","authors":"Md. Abu Saleh,&nbsp;H.M. Rasel,&nbsp;Briti Ray","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>River discharge forecasting stands at the forefront of environmental management, contributing significantly to sustainable development through its impact on flood prevention, water resource management, ecological conservation, and energy production. This study forecasted the annual river discharge forecasting in the Nilphamari district of Bangladesh, employing random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and gradient boosting machine (GBM) techniques. Historical river discharge data spanning from 1990 to 2020, obtained from eight surface water stations, forms the basis of the analysis. The forecast was performed from 2021 to 2030. 11 statistical parameters were considered for performance evaluation. Additionally, four evaluation plots, comprising a quantile–quantile plot (QQ plot), a residual plot, a Bland Altman plot, and Theil’s U statistic, were employed for a detailed understanding of model accuracy. Results demonstrate that the random forest regression technique exhibited superior accuracy compared to SVM and GBM in training and testing stages. Notably, the coefficient of determination reached 97 % during the testing phase, emphasizing the robustness of this model. While Mean Absolute Error is lower (1085.071 cubic meter per second), in training, the model captures relative changes (Mean Absolute Percentage Error = 0.154) better during prediction. Willmott’s Index in training (0.77) and testing (0.55) suggest the model memorizes training data well and outperforms the other models in testing stage. The findings underscore the efficacy of RF regression as a superior alternative for short-term discharge forecasting, offering valuable insights for integrated water resources management, particularly in flood warning systems and the expansion of irrigation initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 209-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142426881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparing the performance variability of different eDNA primers in fish monitoring","authors":"Yan Xu ,&nbsp;Xumeng Huo ,&nbsp;Xinyue Chen ,&nbsp;Zeyang Wang ,&nbsp;Mingliang Zhou ,&nbsp;Jie Zhu ,&nbsp;Rui Yan ,&nbsp;Yanpeng Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Environmental DNA technology develops rapidly in the field of biodiversity detection. Selecting appropriate primers may be one of the key questions. However, there is currently a lack of systematic studies on differences in primer detection efficiencies. This research investigates the efficiency of six universal primers (12S, 16S, 18S, MiFish, Cytb, and COI) in detecting fish species across diverse aquatic ecosystems using an environmental DNA approach. The research spans five study areas, representing marine, river, wetland, lake, and reservoir ecosystems. Illumina MiSeq sequencing and bioinformatics tools were employed for primer performance evaluation. Results indicate that MiFish consistently outperforms other primers, detecting the highest number of fish species across all ecosystems and exhibiting superior taxonomic coverage. Furthermore, marine ecosystems consistently show higher detection numbers across all primers. The absence of commonly identified species detected by all primers emphasizes the necessity of using multiple primers for a comprehensive assessment. This study provides valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of universal primers, highlighting the importance of primer selection for accurate eDNA-based fish monitoring. The findings contribute to the scientific basis for the comprehensive management of aquatic ecosystems, assisting researchers and ecosystem managers in screening suitable fish universal primers for eDNA methods. The study also calls for further research into factors influencing primer performance and encourages the refinement of primers to enhance biodiversity monitoring precision in various ecosystems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 165-175"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000135/pdfft?md5=a8fbb323cf57517c6d1b8d4998599e24&pid=1-s2.0-S2589471424000135-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142136892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human security and mobility in the context of climate change in Africa","authors":"Daniel Chigudu","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to climate change, the decline in the African continent’s rich ecological biodiversity threatens increased food insecurity, mobility, millions of livelihoods, land conflicts, and zoonotic disease transmission that could lead to more pandemics. This climate change comes with human security and political and economic concerns. As it stands, attempts to stop all greenhouse gas emissions cannot relieve the pain inflicted by climate change. Accordingly, there is a need to direct attention to the inescapable consequences of climate change. The estimate that by 2050, about 200 million climate migrants will have been forcibly displaced worldwide, of which 86 million will be in Africa, is a cause for concern. By disconnecting security and migration, academics and peace and security practitioners must reframe their understanding of migration as a human security threat. Based on a systematic literature review, this study explores human security and mobility in Africa’s climate change context. It is argued that challenges from climate change, human activities and population pressure on land impacting land degradation are critical factors in increasing the risk of mobility and human security in Africa. These risks require anticipatory steps to overcome them. Hence, this study contributes to the risk assessment of mobility and human security by highlighting some indicators and distinguishing the incremental impacts of climate change while investigating opportunities to design adaptation actions for sustaining security and mobility. The study suggests that the human security approach should be integrated into the migration and climate migration policy frameworks, including efforts to promote a people-centred and more holistic approach to address human security. Even if climate migration presents a security issue, it does not necessarily threaten national security alone but human security. Options considering the complex and multifaceted nature of challenges to peoples’ well-being because of climate change and its related disasters across Africa are explored.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 242-251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142553948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Source, fate, toxicity, and remediation of micro-plastic in wetlands: A critical review","authors":"Naveen Chand ,&nbsp;Surindra Suthar","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.02.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsee.2024.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants due to their small size, hazardous nature, and widespread abundance in the environmental compartments. As the largest sink of MPs, oceans are currently the main focus. However, the question about MP particles applies to all environmental niches, including natural wetlands. Unfortunately, natural wetlands have been not explored much in comparison to the ocean and the terrestrial ecosystem for MP occurrence and its toxicity. Meanwhile, these natural wetlands offer important ecological services and have a high biodiversity, both of which could be compromised by the rising levels of MP contamination in such systems. However, due to limited research in natural wetlands possible ecological repercussions are still lacking. Even there are uncertainties about MPs in the wetlands regarding their distribution and fate. Since these wetlands have the potential to trap plastics and could act as a sink for MPs, it becomes essential to investigate the natural wetland for MP contamination and its possible toxicological risks in wetlands. This review summarised the source, potential sink and toxicological consequences of MPs in natural wetlands. The review also illustrated the advancements in the technologies aiming to remove plastic debris from the natural environment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 41-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000019/pdfft?md5=a00993a0509151314b01c1979a67d5a7&pid=1-s2.0-S2589471424000019-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140051524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Asymmetric impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors on wetland landscape evolution in Fenhe River Basin, China","authors":"Chengjie Xie ,&nbsp;Yingzheng Zeng ,&nbsp;Xiaoyang Hao ,&nbsp;Zhonghua Ning ,&nbsp;Tian Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In recent years, Fenhe River Basin (FRB) wetlands have been facing severe challenges due to climate change and human activities. It was of great significance to understand the dynamic changes of FRB wetlands and their driving factors for ecological protection. Based on the land use data, runoff, rainfall and GDP data of FRB from 1980 to 2020, the evolution characteristics and driving factors of wetland pattern in FRB were analyzed. The results showed that the wetland types in FRB mainly included paddy, reservoir, river, beach and marsh. Among them, natural wetlands accounted for 72.46 %, and constructed wetlands accounted for 27.53 %. The main types of wetlands in FRB were river, reservoirs and beach, which account for 92.26 % of the whole wetland area. However, the dominant position of reservoir patch was more obvious than the others during 1980–2020. Landscape index showed that the shape of landscape tended to be regular and became more fragmentation. The transfer between wetlands and other land use types mainly occurred in the northern and southern parts of the FRB, and the main conversion types were occurred between dry land and wetlands, grassland and wetlands. Both natural and human factors drove the evolution pattern of wetlands, but the emphases were different. Runoff had a significant effect on wetland pattern at landscape level, while rainfall had a more significant effect on wetland evolution at class level. Urbanization rate and GDP had important effects on the evolution of wetland pattern at both class and landscape levels.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 176-186"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000147/pdfft?md5=21688c8eeb2f9127fa7dae6b5c6b22c1&pid=1-s2.0-S2589471424000147-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142148576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Poisoned for gold: Assessing the spatial extent of heavy metal contamination within the Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt Forest Reserve in Ghana","authors":"Jeff Dacosta Osei ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Arhin ,&nbsp;Yaw A. Twumasi ,&nbsp;Lily Lisa Yevugah ,&nbsp;Louvis Boakye ,&nbsp;Peter Damoah-Afari ,&nbsp;Doris Saah ,&nbsp;Priscilla Badaweh Coffie","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt project in Ghana, aimed at combating desertification and land degradation, faces an unexpected threat from heavy metal contamination. This study investigates the levels and spatial distribution of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) within the forest reserve, focusing on the implications for environmental health and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), 195 soil samples from the forest reserve were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations. The results reveal significant contamination, with arsenic levels ranging from 3.19 to 138.63 ppm, and an alarming 26 % of the reserve exceeding the 20 ppm threshold for arsenic. Copper, lead, and zinc showed lower contamination levels, with mean concentrations of 13.83 ppm, 7.63 ppm, and 27.53 ppm, respectively. Spatial interpolation using kriging in ArcGIS highlighted localized hotspots of arsenic contamination, primarily influenced by nearby Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted environmental management strategies, including stricter waste management protocols, sustainable mining practices, and community engagement to mitigate the contamination risks and preserve the ecological integrity of the Tutua-Bura-Angoben Shelter Belt.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 146-154"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000111/pdfft?md5=782b47549ba131ee2acb01eb6f86cc21&pid=1-s2.0-S2589471424000111-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142088790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the diets of Eurasian Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit through droppings analysis on the west coast of India","authors":"T.R. Athira ,&nbsp;K.A. Rubeena ,&nbsp;K. Jishnu ,&nbsp;C.T. Shifa ,&nbsp;Omer R. Reshi ,&nbsp;A.P. Rashiba ,&nbsp;T. Jobiraj ,&nbsp;P. Thejass","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the population dynamics and dietary patterns of the near-threatened Eurasian Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit along west coast of India, underscoring critical conservation issues. From 2010 to 2023, both species experienced significant declines, with peak abundances observed on sandy beaches, deviating from their usual mudflat and mangrove habitats. Analysing 231 droppings identified seven key prey types, with polychaetes and small crabs being most common in mangroves and mudflats, while Cosmonotus crabs were predominantly found on sand beaches. Species-specific prey preferences were evident, with Bar-tailed Godwits showing a significant association with polychaetes and medium crabs. The findings highlight the urgent need for habitat restoration, pollution reduction, and focused conservation efforts to ensure the resilience and survival of these critical shorebird species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 187-194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000159/pdfft?md5=e7991eda44987a8d9d9713d6fd2f0b5f&pid=1-s2.0-S2589471424000159-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142312560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of burnt tire-ash (water-soluble fraction) on blood and histopathological markers in Clarias gariepinus","authors":"Adewale Adeolu ,&nbsp;Roseline Nwose ,&nbsp;Joshua Ekpenyong ,&nbsp;Md. Simul Bhuyan ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Tabi ,&nbsp;Stanley Iheanacho ,&nbsp;Johnny Ogunji","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Aquatic habitats serve as pollutant reservoirs and experience massive pollution disasters due to anthropogenic pressure. The effect of the Water-Soluble Fraction (WSF) of burnt tire ash (BTA) was investigated on <em>Clarias gariepinus</em> juvenile using blood biomarkers as well as liver and gill histology. The model fish were exposed to 5 % (0.56 g/L), 10 % (1.12 g/L) and 20 % (2.24 g/L) of 96-hr LC₅₀ (11.2 g/L) value of BTA sub-chronic doses during the experiment. Hematological indices, the liver, and gill histology were studied throughout the 28-day exposure study, which was followed by a 14-day post-exposure trial. The studies revealed that BTA-exposed fish had reduced red blood cells, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin levels with time, whereas white blood cells and leukocyte numbers increased. Concentration-dependent histopathologic abnormalities such as hyperplasia, telangiectasis, hemorrhage, desquamation, lamellar edema, and vacuolation were observed in the gill of the affected fish, in contrast to the control. Likewise, the presence of histopathologic abnormalities in the liver of BTA-exposed fish, such as vacuolar degeneration, hyperplasia, dilated portal vein, pyknotic nucleus formations, hypertrophy hepatocytes, and aggregated macrophages, was concentration-dependent. Following apparent histologic deformities that persisted in the tissues after recovery, healing from BTA exposure was only partial. <em>C. gariepinus</em> is an essential bioindicator of burnt tire ash’s ecotoxicological impact. Point and non-point traces of burnt-tire ash to the aquatic systems may harm aquatic animal species, thus necessitating preventative actions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 155-164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589471424000123/pdfft?md5=1b2d5c6f1785148f0c73b1aeffef31ef&pid=1-s2.0-S2589471424000123-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142122451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecotoxicological status, source apportionment and human health risk assessment of potential toxic element in surface water and sediments of creeks along Bonny River, Nigeria","authors":"Omobolaji O. Afolabi ,&nbsp;Peter B. Okwori ,&nbsp;Olushola I.T. Yemi-Jonathan ,&nbsp;Elekwachi Wali ,&nbsp;Maureen C. Ugwu ,&nbsp;Chimzurum D. Ugwa ,&nbsp;Victoria O. Emelu ,&nbsp;Toochukwu T. Ugwuechendu ,&nbsp;Lilian C. Bosco-Abiahu ,&nbsp;Sunny O. Asomaku","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.06.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsee.2024.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are naturally available in the environment; however, anthropogenic activities encourage their high concentration, posing environmental and human health risks. The ecotoxicological status, source apportionment and health risk assessment of PTEs (Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr) and Copper (Cu)) in creeks (Fibiri and Iwoama) along Bonny River were examined through laboratory analysis (American Public Health Association standard), indicators and statistical techniques. The PTEs concentration of surface water and sediment for both creeks exceeded the WHO allowable limit, and the surface water trended as Cr &gt; Pb &gt; Fe &gt; Ni &gt; Cd &gt; Zn &gt; Cu &gt; Se for Fibiri creeks, Fe &gt; Cr &gt; Pb &gt; Ni &gt; Cd &gt; Zn &gt; Cu &gt; Se for Iwoama creek while the sediment trended as Fe &gt; Pb &gt; Ni &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Cd &gt; Cu &gt; Se for both creeks. The contamination factor (CF) of the creek’s sediment showed low CF (Zn and Cu), moderate CF (Ni, Pb and Cr) and very high CF (Fe and Cd), while risk index status ranged from low risk (Ni, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cu), moderate risk (Fe) and significantly high risk (Cd). The human health risk revealed that children could be exposed to potential non-carcinogenic effect (HI &gt; 1) with Zn (1.64 and 2.03), and the Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) for children indicated high carcinogenic risk (TCR &gt; 1 × 10⁻⁴) for Ni, Pb, Cr and Cd of the creeks’ environmental mediums. The similarity in the trend and status of the creeks suggested that both environments are exposed to similar anthropogenic activities impact.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 105-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258947142400007X/pdfft?md5=1be187ecb2b3452261247180a8ad87b8&pid=1-s2.0-S258947142400007X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141481034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small scale wastewater treatment plant effluent influences on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblage, functional feeding groups, and productivity","authors":"Kelli Alexandra Park Burnett ,&nbsp;William McMahan ,&nbsp;Shea Tuberty","doi":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.10.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wsee.2024.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this stream-scale study is to evaluate the impacts of minor wastewater treatment plant effluents (&lt;1 MGD) on low order headwater systems in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Benthic macroinvertebrates, common cations and elements, and stream physicochemical parameters were measured in 5 reference and 3 effluent-impacted streams in western North Carolina. Aquatic invertebrates were collected using a modified North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality macroinvertebrate sampling protocol and keyed to the lowest possible taxonomic level and used to compute community biological index scores, diversity indices, and the percentage of trophic feeding guilds. Unlike those of reference sites, benthic communities in impacted streams did not strictly follow the River Continuum Concept predicted feeding group distributions or trends. Overall trends among impacted sites were variable and correlated to increased ion concentrations as well as increased nutrients and levels of primary production. Increased abundance and richness of collector-gatherers, decreased abundance of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, an increase in Trichoptera and Diptera taxa, and lower water quality as indicated by higher stream biological index scores downstream from effluent outfalls were found when compared to upstream control sites. Regression analyses found that temperature, discharge, conductivity, pH, and elevation variables best predicted shifts in several macroinvertebrate taxa metrics in reference verses impacted streams. Non-metric dimensional scaling plots showed that temperature, conductivity, and multiple dissolved ions significantly differentiate these sites. The results of this study are significant as they provide insight into how small-scale wastewater treatment plant effluents impact aquatic assemblages, ecosystem function, and health at the stream-scale. These findings promote why thorough consideration should be given to wastewater treatment plant design, location in the watershed headwaters, and legal regulation as anthropomorphic impact to the environment continues to expand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101280,"journal":{"name":"Watershed Ecology and the Environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 234-241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142528024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}