Ecology

Data on Urban Ecosystems Described by Researchers at King's College

  2012 JUN 22 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- A new study on Urban Ecosystems is now available. According to news reporting out of London, United Kingdom, by VerticalNews editors, researchers stated "The effects of urbanization on hydrology, water quality and macroinvertebrates were examined in 7 headwater tributaries of the St. Johns River in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of northeast Florida."

  Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research by the authors from King's College, "All streams had sandy substrata and drained small catchments (24-231 ha) that ranged from 0 to 51% total impervious area (TIA). Streams unaffected by urbanization had intermittent stream flow and completely dry channels for several weeks in autumn and spring. Urbanized streams always possessed channel water, but 2 streams ceased flowing and became stagnant in autumn and spring. Principle components analysis of chemical and physical measures (i.e. conductivity, nutrients, pH, metals, and stream flow) produced one axis (PCA1) that explained 54% of the total variation among the streams. The variables that loaded negatively on this axis were associated with low flows, while the variables that loaded positively were associated with urban land-use. PCA1 was also positively associated with %TIA. Macroinvertebrate richness ranged from 27 to 45 taxa and was positively associated with %TIA. Macroinvertebrate biomass ranged from 3 to 45 g AFDM/m(2) and showed a significant, exponential relationship with PCA1 (r (2) = 0.93) with greatest biomass occurring at intermediate %TIA. Invertebrate community structure in the urbanized streams appeared to be mainly influenced by hydrologic factors (perennial vs. intermittent flow regimes)."

  According to the news editors, the researchers concluded: "The effects of urbanization on both hydrological and biological variables among the study streams were apparent, but also influenced by site-specific conditions."

  For more information on this research see: Effects of urbanization on macroinvertebrates in tributaries of the St. Johns River, Florida, USA. Urban Ecosystems, 2012;15(2):347-365. Urban Ecosystems can be contacted at: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. (Springer - www.springer.com; Urban Ecosystems - www.springerlink.com/content/1083-8155/)

  Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M.A. Chadwick, Kings Coll London, Dept. of Geog, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom.

  Keywords for this news article include: London, Europe, United Kingdom, Urban Ecosystems

  Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2012, NewsRx LLC