Vývoj biodiverzity vysychavých toků do roku 2100: predikce projektu DRYvER
| Title in English | Biodiversity trajectories in intermittent streams |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Between 2021 and 2025, the international H2020 DRYvER project (869226) brought together 25 partners from four continents to study the impacts of climate change and human activity on the drying of river networks. The study took place in the model catchment of the Velička River (177 km2) in the White Carpathians. The project's goal was to map trends affecting the hydrology, biodiversity, biochemistry, ecosystem services, and socioeconomic relationships within the basin. This was done to 1) create predictions for future development based on climate scenarios and 2) identify potential solutions for species protection and overall regional adaptation. Future projections were based on hydrological models calibrated to three primary emission scenarios: a sustainable, a realistic, and a fossil-fuel scenario. These models projected trends in temperature increase, precipitation, evaporation, and streamflow. Under the pessimistic fossil-fuel scenario, the Velička basin would experience a 50% reduction in flow and the drying up of all smaller tributaries (a third more length than today). As a result, only the main stream in the upper part of the basin within the Protected Landscape Area would remain permanent. With more extensive drying, persisting until the beginning of winter, fish would likely disappear from a large part of the basin. In addition to a decline in the taxonomic and functional diversity of the invertebrate community, a significant shift is expected from sensitive EPT taxa to more resilient OCH standing-water species that can survive in residual pools. According to current results, streams with more frequent short dry episodes will be colonized by drought-resistant K-strategists, while those with prolonged drying periods will likely be colonized by r-strategists with good dispersal capabilities. Spatio-temporal hydrological connectivity will play a key role in recolonization, enabling effective re-establishment. This connectivity should be supported by removing migration barriers and revitalizing regulated channels. |
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