The Multitrophic Effects of Climate Change and Glacier Retreat in Mountain Rivers. (20th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fell, Sarah C.; Carrivick, Jonathan L.; Brown, Lee E.
• Is Part Of: BioScience. Volume 67:Number 10(2017:Oct.)
• Page Start: 897
• Page End: 911
• Publication Date: 2017-09-20
• Subjects: river ecosystem -- food web -- ecological network -- alpine -- biotic response; Life sciences -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- United States -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Government policy -- United States -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology industries -- Periodicals; 570
• DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3568

Abstract

Abstract: Climate change is driving the thinning and retreat of many glaciers globally. Reductions of ice-melt inputs to mountain rivers are changing their physicochemical characteristics and, in turn, aquatic communities. Glacier-fed rivers can serve as model systems for investigations of climate-change effects on ecosystems because of their strong atmospheric–cryospheric links, high biodiversity of multiple taxonomic groups, and significant conservation interest concerning endemic species. From a synthesis of existing knowledge, we develop a new conceptual understanding of how reducing glacier cover affects organisms spanning multiple trophic groups. Although the response of macroinvertebrates to glacier retreat has been well described, we show that there remains a relative paucity of information for biofilm, microinvertebrate, and vertebrate taxa. Enhanced understanding of whole river food webs will improve the prediction of river-ecosystem responses to deglaciation while offering the potential to identify and protect a wider range of sensitive and threatened species.