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Applied Sciences
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Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status
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Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 12050

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Francesco Nonnis Marzano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Interests: molecular genetics; animal biology; conservation biology; evolution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Freshwater ecosystems are facing major threats connected to water depletion, river pollution, habitat modifications and introduction of alien species. Additional problems are driven at global scale by climate changes and related environmental consequences. Therefore, the adaptability of living organisms to sudden physico-chemical and biological changes is strongly affected by short-scale river conditions and management policies applied by local institutions. A deep scientific knowledge of environmental and ecological processes is fundamental for the restoration of appropriate river conditions necessary for the conservation of natural resources in application of the Water Framework Directive and IUCN guidelines.

This special issue focuses on the most recent multidisciplinary researches carried out with the aim of understanding environmental processes and ecological aspects fundamental for the conservation of threatened animal and plant species. In particular, results originated from basic science and transferred to applied management programs are presented with special attention to innovative technologies and regulations helpful to better highlight the state of river biodiversity and connected ecosystem services.

Prof. Francesco Nonnis Marzano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • Fish fauna
  • Ecosystem services
  • River management
  • River restoration
  • Biodiversity

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5620 KiB  
Article
Influence of Climate Change and Land-Use Alteration on Water Resources in Multan, Pakistan
by Mohsin Abbas, Pierre Guy Atangana Njock and Yanning Wang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5210; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12105210 - 21 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2372
Abstract
This study presents an evaluation of climate and land-use changes induced impacts on water resources of Multan City, Pakistan. Statistical Down Scaling Model (SDSM) and Geographical Information System (GIS) are used for climate change scenario and spatial analyses. Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydraulic Modeling [...] Read more.
This study presents an evaluation of climate and land-use changes induced impacts on water resources of Multan City, Pakistan. Statistical Down Scaling Model (SDSM) and Geographical Information System (GIS) are used for climate change scenario and spatial analyses. Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydraulic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model is used for rainfall-runoff simulation. The investigated results show significant changes in climatological parameters, i.e., an increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation over the last 40 years, and a significant urban expansion is also observed from 2000 to 2020. The increase in temperature and urbanization has reduced the infiltration rate into the soil and increased the runoff flows. The HEC-HMS results indicate that surface runoff gradually increased over the last two decades. Consequently, the depth of the water table in the shallow aquifer has declined by about 0.3 m/year. Projected climate indices stipulate that groundwater depletion will occur in the future. Arsenic levels have exceeded the permissible limit owing to unplanned urban expansion and open dumping of industrial effluents. The results can help an efficient water resources management in Multan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status)
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9 pages, 2460 KiB  
Article
Euryhaline Aliens Invading Italian Inland Waters: The Case of the Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896
by Massimiliano Scalici, Stefania Chiesa, Giorgio Mancinelli, Pietro Maria Rontani, Andrea Voccia and Francesco Nonnis Marzano
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4666; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094666 - 06 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2089
Abstract
Alien invasive species represent a major threat in Italian freshwaters. Despite national and European regulations aimed at the control and prevention of new invasive species, the number of allochthonous species is increasing and so is the rate of spread. One of the most [...] Read more.
Alien invasive species represent a major threat in Italian freshwaters. Despite national and European regulations aimed at the control and prevention of new invasive species, the number of allochthonous species is increasing and so is the rate of spread. One of the most widespread invasive animals in coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea is the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, a native of the Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Argentina. The species is euryhaline, and besides coastal waters, it is also commonly recorded in upper estuaries and lower reaches of rivers. Considering its fast adaptability and invasiveness, the main purpose of this work is to assess whether its biological plasticity and invasive capability may represent, in addition to marine and coastal habitats, also a potential threat for inland waters. Samples were collected in seven sites distributed between Southern and Central Italy. The new records are herein presented, starting from the original introduction by ballast waters and the actual westward migration in inland waters of Latium and Tuscany. In addition, the threat to biodiversity is also discussed, considering the blue crab aggressiveness toward both vertebrates and invertebrates, which may limit the distribution of native freshwater fish and macrofauna. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status)
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13 pages, 4365 KiB  
Article
Gonadal Development in European Eel Populations of North Adriatic Lagoons at Different Silvering Stages
by Laura Gentile, Antonio Casalini, Pietro Emmanuele, Riccardo Brusa, Annalisa Zaccaroni and Oliviero Mordenti
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(6), 2820; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12062820 - 09 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2183
Abstract
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758) is a catadromous fish with significant cultural, scientific, and commercial value. The protection of this species is particularly difficult because the biology of the eel life cycle remains unknown in many aspects. The European [...] Read more.
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758) is a catadromous fish with significant cultural, scientific, and commercial value. The protection of this species is particularly difficult because the biology of the eel life cycle remains unknown in many aspects. The European eel (A. anguilla) population has declined alarmingly over the past 30 years; this condition has led to questions about the long-term welfare of this species. This work aims to perform a histological analysis on gonad samples from European eels coming from four different lagoons of the North Adriatic at different stages of silvering, and to evaluate the maturation of the gonads. For this study, a total of 859 wild eels were captured from four different lagoons using the “lavoriero”. Subsequently, the biometric parameters were collected. Seventy-nine female eels were randomly selected, dissected, and the gonads were removed for histological analysis. Sections of 4 µm were cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Histological observations of germ cells at the light microscopy level allowed for the characterization of six steps of oocyte maturation. Valle di Comacchio had the highest levels of oocyte maturation, while Valle Ca’ Pasta had the lowest. Eels with silver index III had an oocyte maturation nearly equal to that of eels at stages IV and V of silvering. Considering the results, we can affirm that eels from North Adriatic lagoons have high oocyte maturation levels and high GSI value indices at silvering stage III. The following experimental work shows that the levels of oocyte maturation are higher even at lower silver index levels. It can be hypothesized that in these eels, the transition from yellow to silver eel occurs faster in relation to the high trophic availability in North Adriatic lagoons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status)
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22 pages, 2134 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Macrophyte Community Dynamics (2015–2020) in Southern Lake Garda (Italy) from Sentinel-2 Data
by Nicola Ghirardi, Mariano Bresciani, Gary Free, Monica Pinardi, Rossano Bolpagni and Claudia Giardino
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2693; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12052693 - 04 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2566
Abstract
Macrophytes are of fundamental importance to the functioning of lake ecosystems. They provide structure, habitat, and a food source and are a required component in monitoring programs of lake ecological quality. The key aim of this study is to document the variation in [...] Read more.
Macrophytes are of fundamental importance to the functioning of lake ecosystems. They provide structure, habitat, and a food source and are a required component in monitoring programs of lake ecological quality. The key aim of this study is to document the variation in spatial extent and density of macrophytes seasonally between 2015 and 2020 of the Sirmione Peninsula (Lake Garda, Italy), using Sentinel-2 imagery. In addition to this, our results were compared to previous data from imaging spectrometry; individual parameters affecting macrophyte communities were tested, and the possible effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on macrophyte colonization was evaluated. Satellite images allowed the mapping of the spatiotemporal dynamics of submerged rooted macrophytes in order to support monitoring of the shallow water ecosystem under study. Substantial changes were found in both spatial extent and density over the period from 2015 to 2020, particularly in 2019 when there was almost a complete absence of dense macrophytes. Variables found to influence the amount of macrophytes included transparency, chlorophyll–a, water level, winter wave height, and grazing by herbivores. A separate analysis focusing on areas associated with boat transit found a recovery in macrophyte coverage during the period of COVID-19 lockdown. The outcome of the study highlights a decline in the density of the macrophytes and a shift towards deeper areas compared to the situation in 1997. The area examined is part of an internationally important site containing the highest abundance and diversity of overwintering water birds in Italy. Exploiting satellite data at high frequency provided an insight to understand the dynamic changes and interactions with herbivorous birds, environmental factors, and anthropogenic pressures, revealing a delicately balanced and threatened ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status)
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12 pages, 3464 KiB  
Article
First Perceptions of Hydroperiod Mapping and Assessment of Shallow Waters in Coastal Landscapes by Drone-Based Monitoring Activities: A Remote-Sensing and GIS Approach
by Massimiliano Scalici, Michela Perrone, Jacopo Battisti, Livia Benedini and Marco Malavasi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9773; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11209773 - 19 Oct 2021
Viewed by 1955
Abstract
Beyond the importance of ponds for aquatic and terrestrial life, pond networks seem to be crucial to providing a vital spatial resource in response to global climate change for all migrating and spreading taxa. Additionally, ponds offer sustainable solutions to issues of concern [...] Read more.
Beyond the importance of ponds for aquatic and terrestrial life, pond networks seem to be crucial to providing a vital spatial resource in response to global climate change for all migrating and spreading taxa. Additionally, ponds offer sustainable solutions to issues of concern in water management, such as nutrient retention, rainfall interception, or carbon sequestration. Although the ecological role of shallow waters seems clear, significant work must be performed to set future guidelines and actions towards their conservation. The main aims of the present study are to (i) georeference all small temporary wetlands within the Tyrrhenian central Italy coastal area, (ii) evaluate their hydroperiod, and (iii) calculate their surface size variability. We found 137 wetlands, 53 of which were temporary and contained listed habitats. Each wetland’s status was assessed in relation to land use and proximity to stressors (e.g., urban centres, railways, roads) while observing the relationship between pond occurrence, lithology, and permeability. Amongst the detected wetlands, we selected and monitored 21 temporary ponds (homogeneously distributed within the study area) for 12 months using images collected by the non-professional drone Parrot Bebop 2. All images were then acquired in ArcGIS to georeference all temporary ponds. The analysis confirmed that the majority of the surveyed ponds are in close proximity to roads and tracks, which might have significant impacts on the preservation of such fragile habitats. Moreover, despite the wide variability of hydroperiod duration, the greater part of the pools fill with water in autumn and dry in summer, in alignment with the Mediterranean climate. This preliminary study allowed for the creation of the first temporary ponds’ database, which is useful for monitoring their status in central Italy and planning further studies to assess eventual detrimental effects caused by human-mediated activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecological and Environmental Status)
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