Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DRYvER (Securing biodiversity, functional integrity and ecosystem services in DRYing rivER networks)
Reporting period: 2022-03-01 to 2023-08-31
River networks are among Earth’s most threatened hot-spots of biodiversity. They act as ecological corridors for species and safeguard biodiversity by linking terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems down to the sea. River networks also contribute substantially to the carbon cycle and provide key ecosystem services (e.g. drinking water and food, climate regulation).
Over 60% of the global river network include channels prone to drying and this is dramatically increasing worldwide. Shifts from permanent to intermittent flow regimes represent major tipping points for rivers, but drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention from scientists and policy makers, and the public is unaware of their importance. There is no effective integrated biodiversity conservation or ecosystem management strategy of DRNs facing climate change.
The objective of DRYvER is to investigate how biodiversity, ecosystem functions, ecosystem services and their values in DRNs are altered by climate change through empirical and modelling work at relevant spatial and temporal scales. DRYvER will provide knowledge-based strategies and tools for cost-effective adaptive management of DRNs.
Over 60% of the global river network include channels prone to drying and this is dramatically increasing worldwide. Shifts from permanent to intermittent flow regimes represent major tipping points for rivers, but drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention from scientists and policy makers, and the public is unaware of their importance. There is no effective integrated biodiversity conservation or ecosystem management strategy of DRNs facing climate change.
The objective of DRYvER is to investigate how biodiversity, ecosystem functions, ecosystem services and their values in DRNs are altered by climate change through empirical and modelling work at relevant spatial and temporal scales. DRYvER will provide knowledge-based strategies and tools for cost-effective adaptive management of DRNs.
WP1 Hydrological trajectories of DRNs under climate change
• Hydrological trajectories in the 6 European DRNs considered in DRYvER (Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Spain) and in Brazil have been modelled. Monitoring networks were implemented in the DRNs in Ecuador and Bolivia.
• A global model was calibrated to quantify the current amount of flow intermittence across river networks.
• For the continental scale, based on WaterGAP historical outputs and ISMIP framework, models were set-up and future hydrological projections were run over the period 1985-2100
WP2 Predicting biodiversity changes in DRNs
• Based empirical data collected in each European DRN, a dynamic metacommunity model was developed and calibrated to investigate biodiversity changes.
• Trait related to resistance and resilience abilities to drying were quantified for several freshwater organisms (i.e. bacteria, fungus, diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fish) and assigned to taxa list from each DRN
• The identification of microbes and macroinvertebrates and the description of their environments led to the generation of two large databases (for European DRNs and for CELAC DRNs)
• The responses of metacommunities to drying was modelled and quantified for the six European DRNs using methods that will further be applied to CELAC DRNs.
• Upscaling methodologies were discussed to have a common strategy in predicting and upscaling biodiversity patterns from focal DRNs to Europe under current and future drying scenarios.
WP3 Predicting changes of ecosystem functions in DRNs
• The 6 DRNs in Europe were sampled to measure stream metabolism, green-house gas emissions and organic matter dynamics and decomposition. CELAC partners carried out particulate organic matter decomposition experiments. Laboratory and data analysis were implemented.
• The effect of drying on ecosystem functions and the effect of climate change scenarios on these responses were modelled at the DRN scale.
• A meta-ecosystem model (“I-Flume”) was created to analyse the influence of flow intermittence on interactions between stream biota and resources in digital river networks.
• The strategy to upscale the results of DRYvER at the European scale has been identified.
WP4 Ecosystem services of DRN and their values networks
• A conceptual model of ecosystem services provision in DRNs based on drying patterns in space and time was generated, along with a high-level conceptual framework for valuation of ecosystem services in DRNs. The provision of six key ecosystem services (water provisioning; flood regulation; erosion regulation; drought mitigation; thermal regulation; and carbon emissions) was modelled at each EU DRNs for the current drying situation. The provision of these services for future drying scenario has been discussed.
• This model was applied at the DRN level through interdisciplinary workshops held in Spain, Finland and Hungary and the creation of a valuation survey will be launched in autumn 2023.
• The implementation of the conceptual valuation framework for CELAC DRNs was discussed.
• The upscaling of the model from DRN to European scale was discussed.
WP5 Adaptive Management of DRNs
• A catalogue of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) was created, including other potential technological mitigation and adaptation measures to allow for development of innovative solutions focused on DRNs rather than perennial rivers and floodplains. Systematic literature review has been done to harvest data pertaining to the effectiveness of NBS in mitigating DRNs facing climate change.
• The potential legislative and policy barriers and opportunities in each European DRN were analyzed, indicating a broad range of drivers, pressures and impacts.
• Stakeholder mapping was used to support co-creation activities. During three co-creation workshops (Spain, Finland and Hungary), the Nature Futures Framework of the IPBES has been operationalized using a future forward-thinking approach.
• The Stakeholder Committee composed by one or two members representatives of each European DRN countries was initiated
• A citizen science network was created through the promotion of the DRYRivERS mobile application. This app was successfully used to collect data on DRN for scientists and water managers.
• The tool for adaptive management of DRNs (Bayesian Belief network) was created.
WP6 Communication, dissemination, and capacity building
• The Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Results and communication materials (including templates, flyer, communication kit, website, social media…) was created and monitored.
• Four calls for Short-Term Scientific Missions were organised supporting the mobility of six young researchers. The Forum of Young Researchers (FYR) includes 76 members to promote the carriers of young researchers.
• One joint meeting was organised with the RCN Dry River group in the USA, and one meeting with PonderFul (H2020 under the same program).
• Hydrological trajectories in the 6 European DRNs considered in DRYvER (Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Spain) and in Brazil have been modelled. Monitoring networks were implemented in the DRNs in Ecuador and Bolivia.
• A global model was calibrated to quantify the current amount of flow intermittence across river networks.
• For the continental scale, based on WaterGAP historical outputs and ISMIP framework, models were set-up and future hydrological projections were run over the period 1985-2100
WP2 Predicting biodiversity changes in DRNs
• Based empirical data collected in each European DRN, a dynamic metacommunity model was developed and calibrated to investigate biodiversity changes.
• Trait related to resistance and resilience abilities to drying were quantified for several freshwater organisms (i.e. bacteria, fungus, diatoms, macroinvertebrates and fish) and assigned to taxa list from each DRN
• The identification of microbes and macroinvertebrates and the description of their environments led to the generation of two large databases (for European DRNs and for CELAC DRNs)
• The responses of metacommunities to drying was modelled and quantified for the six European DRNs using methods that will further be applied to CELAC DRNs.
• Upscaling methodologies were discussed to have a common strategy in predicting and upscaling biodiversity patterns from focal DRNs to Europe under current and future drying scenarios.
WP3 Predicting changes of ecosystem functions in DRNs
• The 6 DRNs in Europe were sampled to measure stream metabolism, green-house gas emissions and organic matter dynamics and decomposition. CELAC partners carried out particulate organic matter decomposition experiments. Laboratory and data analysis were implemented.
• The effect of drying on ecosystem functions and the effect of climate change scenarios on these responses were modelled at the DRN scale.
• A meta-ecosystem model (“I-Flume”) was created to analyse the influence of flow intermittence on interactions between stream biota and resources in digital river networks.
• The strategy to upscale the results of DRYvER at the European scale has been identified.
WP4 Ecosystem services of DRN and their values networks
• A conceptual model of ecosystem services provision in DRNs based on drying patterns in space and time was generated, along with a high-level conceptual framework for valuation of ecosystem services in DRNs. The provision of six key ecosystem services (water provisioning; flood regulation; erosion regulation; drought mitigation; thermal regulation; and carbon emissions) was modelled at each EU DRNs for the current drying situation. The provision of these services for future drying scenario has been discussed.
• This model was applied at the DRN level through interdisciplinary workshops held in Spain, Finland and Hungary and the creation of a valuation survey will be launched in autumn 2023.
• The implementation of the conceptual valuation framework for CELAC DRNs was discussed.
• The upscaling of the model from DRN to European scale was discussed.
WP5 Adaptive Management of DRNs
• A catalogue of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) was created, including other potential technological mitigation and adaptation measures to allow for development of innovative solutions focused on DRNs rather than perennial rivers and floodplains. Systematic literature review has been done to harvest data pertaining to the effectiveness of NBS in mitigating DRNs facing climate change.
• The potential legislative and policy barriers and opportunities in each European DRN were analyzed, indicating a broad range of drivers, pressures and impacts.
• Stakeholder mapping was used to support co-creation activities. During three co-creation workshops (Spain, Finland and Hungary), the Nature Futures Framework of the IPBES has been operationalized using a future forward-thinking approach.
• The Stakeholder Committee composed by one or two members representatives of each European DRN countries was initiated
• A citizen science network was created through the promotion of the DRYRivERS mobile application. This app was successfully used to collect data on DRN for scientists and water managers.
• The tool for adaptive management of DRNs (Bayesian Belief network) was created.
WP6 Communication, dissemination, and capacity building
• The Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Results and communication materials (including templates, flyer, communication kit, website, social media…) was created and monitored.
• Four calls for Short-Term Scientific Missions were organised supporting the mobility of six young researchers. The Forum of Young Researchers (FYR) includes 76 members to promote the carriers of young researchers.
• One joint meeting was organised with the RCN Dry River group in the USA, and one meeting with PonderFul (H2020 under the same program).
DRYvER builds on EU efforts to investigate how climate change has cascading impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services (and their values) of DRNs. The main progress beyond the state of the art and impact include:
• collection, analysis and modelling of data from nine DRNs in Europe and South America to create a novel global meta-system approach that incorporates hydrology, socio-economics, ecology and biogeochemistry in order to craft strategies, tools and recommendations for adaptive management of river networks.
• Working in collaboration with water resource managers and citizens to co-develop new strategies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change on DRNs by integrating quantitative and qualitative perspectives, including nature-based solutions with a strong socio-economic and legislative component. DRYvER will provide knowledge-based strategies and tools for cost-effective adaptive management of DRNs in the EU and worldwide.
Ultimately, DRYvER should contribute to the 2015 Paris Agreement objectives, which stress the need to protect biodiversity and secure the functional integrity of ecosystems, while fighting against climate change and adapting to its impacts.
• collection, analysis and modelling of data from nine DRNs in Europe and South America to create a novel global meta-system approach that incorporates hydrology, socio-economics, ecology and biogeochemistry in order to craft strategies, tools and recommendations for adaptive management of river networks.
• Working in collaboration with water resource managers and citizens to co-develop new strategies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change on DRNs by integrating quantitative and qualitative perspectives, including nature-based solutions with a strong socio-economic and legislative component. DRYvER will provide knowledge-based strategies and tools for cost-effective adaptive management of DRNs in the EU and worldwide.
Ultimately, DRYvER should contribute to the 2015 Paris Agreement objectives, which stress the need to protect biodiversity and secure the functional integrity of ecosystems, while fighting against climate change and adapting to its impacts.