水位洪枯变化对菜子湖江湖过渡带鱼类物种和功能多样性的影响

水位的洪枯变化通过江湖连通影响泛滥平原湖泊鱼类的组成和分布,因而江湖过渡带是反映泛滥平原生态系统鱼类交流和多样性变动的关键区域.尽管如此,针对江湖过渡带鱼类群落随水位洪枯变化的研究十分匮乏.本研究以菜子湖江湖过渡带为例,分别在洪水和枯水期选取包括静水和流水生境的样点对鱼类群落进行系统的调查采样,探讨水位洪枯变化对菜子湖江湖过渡带鱼类物种和功能多样性的影响.共采集到鱼类6目12科37属52种,其中,洪水期和枯水期物种数差异显著,分别采集到鱼类50和42种,而静水生境和流水生境物种数差异不明显,分别采集到鱼类47和48种.与洪水期相比,枯水期山溪河流性鱼类的物种数、重量、尾数和优势度百分比分别减少了7.3%、6.3%、14.4%和12.0%;与静水生境相比,流水生境山溪河流性鱼类的物种数、重量、尾数和优势度百分比分别增加了5.3%、14.6%、18.0%和22.3%.SIMPER分析结果显示,麦穗鱼（Pseudorasbora parva）、蛇鮈（Saurogobio dabryi）、（Hemiculter leucisculus）、鲤（Cyprinus carpio）、鲫（Carassius auratus）、短颌鲚（Coilia brachygnathus）、似鳊（Pseudobrama simoni）、翘嘴鲌（Culter ilishaeformis）、达氏鲌（Culter dabryi）、光唇蛇鮈（Saurogobio gymnocheilus）和无须鱊（Acheilognathus gracilis）是引起水位洪枯变化以及不同生境类型鱼类群落结构差异的主要物种.优势度分析结果表明枯水期和静水生境的优势种鱼类相似,重要值较高的优势种鱼类为鲤、鲫、和似鳊;而洪水期和流水生境的优势种鱼类同样相似,重要值较高的优势种鱼类为麦穗鱼、蛇鮈、光唇蛇鮈和短颌鲚.通过双因素方差分析解析了水位洪枯变化和不同生境类型对鱼类物种和功能多样性的影响.发现洪枯水位变化仅对物种多样性指数中的物种数（Richness）产生显著差异,而对功能多样性的3个指数（功能丰富度指数（FRic）、功能离散指数（FDiv）和功能分散指数（FDis））均有显著影响.洪水期鱼类的Richness、FRic、FDiv和FDis指数均显著高于枯水期.同时,静水生境条件下的FRic指数要显著高于流水生境.本研究发现,与传统的物种多样性相比,基于功能性状的功能多样性对水位的洪枯变动更为敏感,河流周期性洪泛是泛滥平原生态系统中鱼类功能补充的重要方式.     

Diet of two invading gobiid species (Proterorhinus semilunaris and Neogobius melanostomus) during the breeding and hatching season: No field evidence of extensive predation on fish eggs and fry

One of the potential impacts of invasive gobies on native fish fauna is predation on eggs and fry. Therefore, the diet composition of two invading gobiid species, the tubenose goby Proterorhinus semilunaris and round goby Neogobius melanostomus, was examined in the Dyje river system (Danube basin, Central Europe) during the 2011 reproductive season to ascertain the extent of gobiid predation on heterospecific and conspecific eggs and juveniles. Consumption of fish eggs and juveniles by invading gobies was very low. The diets of both species consisted largely of benthic macroinvertebrates, and particularly insect larvae. These results indicate that invading gobies in the Dyje river system are likely to impact native fish fauna more through competitive effects than through direct predation on eggs and juveniles.     

How do early successional patterns in man-made wetlands differ between cold temperate and Mediterranean regions?

The early stages of succession in newly created wetlands should be impacted by the region in which the wetland is located, since climate may have filtered the dominant biological strategies of the taxa leading this process and may condition their dynamics. We studied the early successional patterns of macroinvertebrates within man made ponds, located in cold temperate (Scandinavian Peninsula) and Mediterranean regions (Iberian Peninsula), during the first three years following their creation. We predicted (1) non random subsets of the regional species pool (deterministic assembly) guiding the successional process in cold temperate wetlands, and random (stochastic) assembly in the Mediterranean region; (2) higher successional rates in Mediterranean ponds than in the cold temperate ponds, with contrary episodes of highest and lowest change throughout the year; and (3) a significant difference in the composition of biological traits between regions, due to the dominance of traits adapted to hydrological variability in the Mediterranean region. Hypotheses on community structure (1) and the composition of dominant biological traits (3) were mostly supported – deterministic assembly mechanisms in the cold temperate ponds and stochastic assembly in the Mediterranean ponds; and a dominance of different biological traits between regions, explained by the need to overcome hydrological disturbances in the Mediterranean ponds. The dynamics of succession (2) were explained by climatic factors in the cold temperate region but not in the Mediterranean ponds. We suggest that the intrinsic hydrological variability of Mediterranean lentic systems may be a major factor driving community changes in man-made wetlands in this region. In order to generalize the observed patterns, we performed a meta-analysis of the temporal trends of taxonomic distinctness parameters of other successional studies across a latitudinal gradient in Europe, which supported the differences we had observed between latitudinal extremes.     

The ichthyoplankton assemblage and the environmental variables off the NW and N Iberian Peninsula coasts,in early spring

Ichthyoplankton and mesozooplankton were sampled and fluorescence and physical environmental variables were measured off the NW and N Iberian Peninsula coasts, during April 2005. A total of 51 species of fish larvae, belonging to 26 families, were recorded. Sardina pilchardus, with 43.8% and 58.7% of the total fish egg and larval catches, respectively, dominated the ichthyoplankton assemblage. The study area was divided by a cross-shelf frontal structure into two hydrographic regions that coincided with the Atlantic and Cantabrian geographic regions. Ichthyoplankton abundance was higher in the Cantabrian region while larval diversity was higher in the Atlantic region. This was the main alongshore variability in the structure of the larval fish assemblage. Nevertheless, the stronger variability, related with the presence of a shelf-slope front, was found in the central-eastern Cantabrian region where two major larval fish assemblages, an “outer” and a “coastal”, were distinguished. The Atlantic region, where the shelf-slope front was not found, was inhabited by a single larval fish assemblage. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that, off the NW and N Iberian Peninsula coasts, the horizontal distribution of larval fish species in early spring may be explained by a limited number of environmental variables. Of these, the most important were the physical variables depth and sea surface temperature.     

Habitat use and preference of adult pike (Esox lucius L.) in an anthropogenically impacted lowland river

To efficiently manage northern pike (Esox lucius), information is needed on its habitat use and preference. However, knowledge gaps still exist, especially on pike habitat use and preference in rivers characterised by artificial environments. We investigated the use of the main river, tributaries and side arms at the macro-scale, and the use and preference of riparian habitats by adult pike at the meso-scale in an anthropogenically impacted river basin. Adult pike were followed in winter and spring by radio telemetry. At the macro-scale pike intensively used the main river in winter and spring, but also frequented specific side arms in winter and specific tributaries in spring, which may indicate the importance of these habitats to adult pike. At the meso-scale, reedy semi-natural banks were used the most, irrespective of any assumption on habitat availability or use. The findings underline the value of protecting the least impacted, (semi)natural habitats for adult pike in an anthropogenically impacted river system. The large behavioural differences in habitat use between individuals at both habitat scales further underline the importance of habitat heterogeneity. The results also provide insight into the impact of riparian habitat restoration on adult pike and may be used to more efficiently manage pike rivers, e.g. by enhancing the lateral connectivity with river side arms or by reconstructing natural riparian habitats.     

Nutrient dynamics in Mediterranean temporary streams: A case study in Pardiela catchment (Degebe River, Portugal)

Most of the streams in the Mediterranean region are temporary, following predictable seasonal of flooding and drying, with a transition from lotic conditions to shallow lentic conditions. The goal of our study was to assess the nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in channel-bed processes of temporary streams between floods. Results show that, during winter, temperatures ranged between 9.5 and 11.2 °C and oxygen concentration ranged from 8.0 to 9.5 mg L⁻¹, whereas, during summer, temperatures varied between 21.2 and 26.8 °C and oxygen between 1.2 and 5.3 mg L⁻¹, with oxygen depletion in the pools during the night. The nitrate concentrations were far more abundant during winter (February), while ammonium concentration increased after stream fragmentation into pools (especially in July when oxygen depletion conditions favoured ammonification). Results on sediment profiles showed that the most active sediment layers for NH₄-N are the top 2–3 cm, corresponding to the sediment depositional sites of the stream. Phosphate concentrations had larger variability, yet concentrations decreased from winter to spring and increased again in summer, when the shallow water pools were formed. Sediment profiles at the sediment depositional sites showed that PO₄-P was more dynamic in the first 6 cm.

In Mediterranean temporary streams, nutrient dynamics vary seasonally, as the system transits from lotic conditions to shallow lentic conditions, evidencing the regeneration of nutrients from organic and inorganic matter during the flow cessation period.     

Living a century in warm thermal conditions: introduced populations of Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) inhabiting the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) show reduced adaptation to North American winter conditions

In this study, we demonstrate that non-native Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) introduced into Spanish water-bodies almost 100 years ago have a reduced capacity to tolerate winter conditions typically experienced by northern native populations. Overwinter survival and changes in lean weight and lipid content of Pumpkinseed from artificial colonies established from two Canadian and two Iberian source populations were compared under winter conditions typically experienced in the northern native range. Adult survival in outdoor ponds was higher in Canadian populations (68 and 78 %) than Iberian populations (31 and 49 %). Under simulated winter conditions in the laboratory, juvenile Iberian Pumpkinseed experienced higher mortality earlier in the winter period than Canadian populations. Lipid content of Iberian juveniles decreased on average by 49 % during the first half of the winter, while that of Canadian populations decreased by only 12–20 %. These results indicate that Iberian Pumpkinseed have lower tolerance of winter conditions relative to native Canadian populations, and suggest that relatively short exposure to warm climates can result in adaptive change in the physiology and bioenergetics of wild fish populations.     

三峡库区汉丰湖鱼类群落结构的季节变化

为了解汉丰湖鱼类群落结构的季节变化特征,以便为汉丰湖鱼类资源的合理利用及保护提供理论依据,于2014年12月、2015年4、7和10月按季度共4次对汉丰湖鱼类群落结构进行调查与分析.结果表明:共采集到鱼类8538尾,38种,隶属于5目9科32属;其中,鲤形目鱼类有28种,占总物种数的73.68%.鱼类组成以湖泊定居性种类为主,瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)、蛇鮈(Saurogobio dabryi)、银鮈(Squalidus argentatus)、鲫(Carassius auratus)、光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus nitidus)、鲤(Cyprinus carpio)和贝氏(Hemiculter bleekeri)为汉丰湖的重要优势种,占总尾数的67.45%.汉丰湖鱼类群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielous均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数在冬季最高,而Pielous均匀度指数在不同季节相对稳定.Jaccard群落相似性指数较高,季节间种类相似度较高.鱼类群落稳定性分析表明,冬季稳定性最高,其次为春季,夏季稳定性最低.湖泊生境尤其是水位的变化对汉丰湖鱼类群落结构影响明显.     

Influence of cage farming and environmental parameters on spatio-temporal variability of fish assemblage structure in a tropical reservoir of Peninsular India

Fish assemblage structure in Palair reservoir, a medium tropical reservoir along the river Paleru, a tributary of river Krishna in Southern India, was studied along the spatial gradient of the impoundment. The abundance and assemblage structure of wild fish aggregated around the fish cage units installed in the reservoir were assessed and compared with other sites. Seasonal sampling was carried out and fish community structure in terms of species composition and abundance, trophic guild, niche, tolerance, resilience and conservation status were analyzed. A total of 38 fish species were recorded wherein the family Cyprinidae dominated in the number of species (15) followed by Cichlidae and Channidae (3 each). Margalef richness index (d), Pielou’s evenness index (J’), Simpson’s index (1-λ) and Shannon index (H’) revealed significant variation across different zones. Species richness was maximum in the Site1 (d = 4.44–5.12), whereas the abundance of individuals was maximum at Site4 (H’ = 2.65–2.86) i.e. near cage in the lacustrine zone. The important species contributing to the dissimilarities among the zones were identified and percentage of their contribution was estimated using SIMPER analysis. Trophic guild of fishes indicated the dominance of omnivorous species followed by carnivores, indicating the heterotrophic phase of the reservoir. The spatial and seasonal variations in the fish assemblage structure were tested applying statistical analyses such as PERMANOVA and nMDS. The results indicated a positive impact of cage farming in supporting the wild fish fauna, influencing the large aggregations of fishes around the cages. The temporal variability in the cage-associated fish assemblage was related to recruitment periods of juveniles (e.g. E. maculates and E. suratensis in summer, and S. seenghala in monsoon seasons). The links between fish assemblages and environmental parameters were explored through DISTILM and the deterministic factors for fish abundance in the reservoir were phosphate, pH, dissolved Oxygen, total hardness and depth. The study also indicated the impacts of cage culture with record of accidental escapes of farmed fish to the reservoir system. The baseline information generated and recommendations formulated in the study are crucial for the conservation of fish diversity, fisheries enhancement and management planning of tropical peninsular reservoirs.     

Past and present state of the ichthyofauna of Lake Lugano

The evolution of the ichthyofauna of Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) during the past 120 years is characterized by the introduction of eight new fish species and by the possibly natural addition of the blenny (Blennius fluviatilis) in recent years. Introduced Salmonids such as charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and whitefish (Coregonus sp.) have established strong populations during the first half of this century, but have declined drastically thereafter. Likewise, the population of the native shad (Alosa fallax lacustris) has diminished significantly. A hydroacoustic survey of the pelagic fish stock of Lake Lugano in 1989 revealed the presence of a dense bleak (Alburnus albidus) population at 0 to 14 m depth. No other fish were found to be present in the pelagic zone. Oxygen and temperature distributions seem to confine the bleak to the uppermost layer in summer. In winter, very few fish were located by echosounding. Growth of bleak and roach (Rutilus rubilio) was difficult to interpret since data for comparison are lacking. Growth of perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the littoral zone was found to be slower than in other eutrophic lakes, for no obvious reason. Possible ways of restructuring the pelagic fish community are discussed.     

Interspecific competition for a shelter between non-native racer goby and native European bullhead under experimental conditions – Effects of season,fish size and light conditions

Under laboratory conditions, we assessed by video-recorder whether or not the interference competition of invading racer goby Babka gymnotrachelus affects the habitat (refuge) use and behaviour of European bullhead Cottus gobio, a native nest-guarding species, during and after the spawning season, spring and autumn respectively, when available refuge (nesting) habitat is limited. A bullhead was placed in a tank for 24 h and then an intruder, either a goby or another bullhead was added for the next 24 h. We assessed: (1) the time spent by the two fish in the shelter; and (2) acts of aggression and attempts to enter the shelter. In spring, the amount of time spent in the shelter by the bullhead was considerably lower in the presence of a racer goby of larger or equal size than when the bullhead was alone. In autumn, bullheads occupied shelters at a similar frequency with and without a goby present. Smaller gobies were not able to replace bullhead residents in the shelter. Racer gobies were much more aggressive than bullheads of equal or smaller size, particularly in spring. Bullheads kept outside of the shelter by a resident goby made more attempts to enter the refuge during spring. In summary, under experimental conditions, racer gobies modified the typical behaviour of bullheads by reducing the use of shelter and potential nesting places.     

Abundance distribution and seasonal variations of Calanus sinicus (Copepoda: Calanoida) in the northwest continental shelf of South China Sea

The effect of monsoon, coastal current and temperature on the distribution and seasonal variations of Calanus sinicus abundance were studied. The samples from the northwest continental shelf of South China Sea were collected with 505 μm planktonic nets from July 2006 to October 2007. The abundance of C. sinicus made up 34.28% and 12.34% of all copepods in spring and summer, respectively. The distribution of C. sinicus varied seasonally and regionally. The distribution of C. sinicus ranged between east inshore and offshore waters from the Leizhou Peninsula to Hainan Island, with a mean of 23.00 (±77.78) ind. m⁻³ in spring. In summer it had a mean of 13.74 (±45.10) ind. m⁻³ occurring only in the east inshore waters from Leizhou Peninsula to Hainan Island. C. sinicus was not abundant during autumn and winter seasons. The surveyed area was divided into three sub-regions based on topographical analysis and water mass, region I (included the east inshore waters of Leizhou Peninsula), region II (included the east inshore waters of Hainan Island) and region III (included the offshore waters from Leizhou Peninsula to Hainan Island). The average abundance of C. sinicus within region I was determined to be 115.63 (±145.93) and 68.12 (±84.00) ind. m⁻³ in spring and summer, respectively, values higher than those of regions II and III. Our findings suggested that C. sinicus was transported from the East China Sea to the northwest continental shelf of South China Sea by the Guangdong Coastal Current, which was driven by the northeast monsoon in spring. The presence of a cold eddy, in addition to coastal upwelling driven by the southwest monsoon, provided suitable survival conditions for C. sinicus in summer. This species disappeared in autumn due to high temperatures (>27 °C) and did not begin to enter into the northwest continental shelf of South China Sea from the East China Sea during the period of investigation in winter. The frequency of C. sinicus was low in region III during the year as a result of the South China Sea Warm Current and pelagic waters with high temperature during the spring and summer months.     

The role of the stratosphere in Iberian Peninsula rainfall: A preliminary approach in February

This paper attempts to establish a connection between stratospheric anomalies in the North Pole and rainfall on the Iberian Peninsula through the occurrence of major midwinter warmings (MMWs) and cold events (CEs), taking February as a preliminary approach. We define the MMWs as the warmings which break down the polar vortex, whereas the CEs are the episodes in which the polar vortex remains cold and undisturbed. Both anomalies lead to a wind anomaly around the north polar stratosphere, which is connected with a shortly lagged tropospheric anomaly through a stratosphere–troposphere coupling in winter. A T-mode principal component analysis (PCA) was used as an objective pattern classification method for identifying the main daily surface-level pressure (SLP) patterns for February for the 1961–1990 reference period. Subsequently, those February months with an MMW or a CE influence in the troposphere are identified in the whole study period (1958–2000) by means of the Arctic Oscillation Index (AOI). Thus, performing the same analysis for the selected February months, new principal patterns for detecting changes in surface circulation structure and morphology are obtained. The results show a significant decrease in the westerlies and a southward shift of the storm tracks in Western Europe some weeks after an MMW occurrence, leading to an increase in precipitation in western Iberia and a slight decrease on the eastern Mediterranean fringe. The results are quite the opposite under a CE influence: the westerlies are strengthened and shifted northwards due to the displacement of the Atlantic anticyclone towards Central Europe; dry conditions are established throughout Iberia, except for the Mediterranean fringe, where precipitation shows a considerable increase due to the greater frequency of the northeasterly winds. Finally, an 11-year sunspot cycle–quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) modulation might be demonstrated in Iberian rainfall in February through the occurrence of these stratospheric anomalies.     

The anomalous variation of the lightning activity in southern China during the 1997/98 El Niño event

This paper presents the EOF analysis results of the lightning density (LD) anomalies for the different seasons in southeastern China and Indochina Peninsula by using the OTD/LIS database (June 1995 to Feb. 2003) of the global LD with 2.5Ü×2.5× resolution offered by Global Hydrology Resource Center. It is shown that the LD positive anomalies in the region occurred at the same time of NINO3 SSTA steep increase in the spring of 1997 and remained to be a higher level till the next spring, as well the corresponding anomaly percent maximum in different seasons was 89%, 30%, 45%, 498% and 55% successively from the beginning to the end of the 1997/98 El Niño event (ENSO). The centre of the LD positive anomalies for the spring or winter season is located at southeastern China and the adjacent coastal areas, but it for the summer or autumn season is located at the southern Indochina Peninsula and Gulf of Thailand, whose position for each season in the ENSO as contrasted with the normal years has a westward shift, and especially for winter or spring season a northward shift at the same time. In addition, an analysis of the interannual variations in the LD anomaly percent, convective precipitation and H-CAPE days in southern China shows that each among the three anomaly percents is correlative with the other for the positive anomaly zone and Kuroshio area. The relative variation of LD during the El Niño period is the highest among the three rates and is larger than that during the non-El Niño period, meaning that the response of lightning activities to the ENSO is the most sensitive in both areas. But the response of lightning activities and precipitation to the ENSO appears to be more complex and diversified either in Kuroshio area or in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and northwestern and northeastern China.     

Effects of the Black River (Cape,South Africa) on the distribution and survival of marine psammofauna

The physicochemistry of the Black River and adjacent marine beach, in terms of tidal, daily and seasonal fluctuations of temperature and salinity, presents a highly stressed environment exacerbated by canalization of the river mouth. Riverine pollution further stresses this environment, producing low densities and diversities of marine infauna adjacent to the river. No fauna were found in the river mouth where typical estuarine conditions exist only during high tide. Tolerance of the dominant marine species, Cerebratulus fuscus, to temperature, salinity and river water combinations showed that mortality was more rapid after exposure to river water dilutions than after exposure to distilled water dilutions. Computer-generated models suggested that this species should survive conditions closer to the river than were observed. This confirmed additional stress due to pollution carried in the river from urban and industrial drainage. Lower river water temperatures during winter appear to ameliorate pollution stress, enhancing survivability of the infauna.     

WRF-chem sensitivity to vertical resolution during a saharan dust event

The Saharan dust event that occurred between the 22nd and 30th of June 2012 influenced the atmospheric radiative properties over North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, the Western Mediterranean basin, extending its effects to France and Southern England. This event is well documented in satellite imagery, as well as on the air quality stations over the Iberian Peninsula and the AERONET NASA network. In order to assess the effect of the model vertical resolution on the extinction coefficient fields, as a proxy to the particulate matter concentrations in the atmosphere, the WRF-Chem model was applied during this period over a mother domain with a resolution of 18 km, covering Europe and North Africa. To this end five model setups differing in the number of vertical levels were tested. Model skills were evaluated by comparing the model results with CALIPSO and EARLINET LIDAR data. Results show that the model is able to simulate the higher level aerosol transport but it is susceptible to the vertical resolution used. This is due to the thickness of the transport layers which is, eventually, thinner than the vertical resolution of the model. When comparing model results to the observed vertical profiles, it becomes evident that the broad features of the extinction coefficient profile are generally reproduced in all model configurations, but finer details are captured only by the higher resolution simulations.     

Seasonal and vertical distributional patterns of siphonophores and medusae in the Chiloé Interior Sea,Chile

The horizontal and vertical distribution of jellyfish was assessed in the Chiloé Inland sea, in the northern area of the Chilean Patagonia. A total of 41 species of cnidarians (8 siphonophores, 31 hydromedusae, 2 scyphomedusae) were collected. Eleven jellyfish species were recorded for the first time in the area. Species richness was higher in spring than in winter (37 vs. 25 species, respectively). Species such as Muggiaea atlantica, Solmundella bitentaculata, and Clytia simplex were extremely abundant in spring. The total abundance (408,157 ind 1000 m^?3) was 18 times higher in spring than in winter (22,406 ind 1000 m^?3).The horizontal distribution of the most abundant species (four in winter, five in spring) showed decreasing abundances in the north–south direction in winter and spring. Peak abundances occurred in the northern microbasins (Reloncaví Fjord, Reloncaví and Ancud gulfs), where the water column stability, phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance were higher, compared with the southern microbasins (Corcovado Gulf, Boca del Guafo). During the spring higher jellyfish abundance season, the vertical distribution of the dominant species (except M. atlantica) showed peak values at mid-depth (30–50 m) and in the deepest sampled layer (50–200 m). This vertical distribution pattern reduced seaward transport in the shallowest layer through estuarine circulation and also limited mortality by predation in the more illuminated shallow layers. Thus, jellyfish were able to remain in the interior waters during the season of maximum biological production.     

Assessment of a Mediterranean shallow lentic ecosystem (Lake Pamvotis, Greece) using benthic community diversity: Response to environmental parameters

Macroinvertebrates play a key role in freshwater lentic and lotic ecosystems. The macroinvertebrate benthic community of a shallow Mediterranean lake (Lake Pamvotis, NW Greece) was studied. The benthic assemblage was sampled monthly at five sites during a period of 1 year (Apr. 1998–Mar. 1999). In addition hypolimnetic water quality variables were monitored over the same period at each site.

The aim of the study was (a) to describe the intra-annual and spatial variability in benthic communities, (b) to relate possible community changes to environmental conditions and (c) to evaluate the responses of the lake's ecological status on community indices.

The benthic fauna of Lake Pamvotis was found to be very limited with a total of 10 species belonging to five taxonomic groups. The oligochaete community comprised 80% of the total benthic fauna with Potamothrix bavaricus as a new record for the Lake Pamvotis and Potamothrix hammoniensis, being the dominant benthic species represented more than 61% of the total benthic fauna. Chironomus plumosus was the most abundant chironomid species contributing with about 6% of the total benthic fauna, and Chaoborus flavicans with 19% was the important dipteran. Almost all benthic species showed the same intra-annual seasonal pattern, with peak population densities during spring and early summer except P. hammoniensis which predominated during the whole sampling period. Dissolved oxygen and temperature seemed to be the main environmental factors affecting community indices.

Benthic communities are affected by human disturbances in Lake Pamvotis shifting their composition to more tolerant taxa, reflecting also the eutrophic to hypertophic character of the lake.     

First considerations on the structure and development of the Iberian thermal low-pressure system

During the summer a thermal low-pressure system is locked over the Iberian Peninsula. We present a first analysis of such a system using the potential vorticity approach. Our results show that its main characteristic is the existence of a negative potential vorticity (PV) dome and a funnel-like structure for potential temperature, both located at the centre of the low. The build-up and evolution of this PV dome can be understood in terms of the dot products of the absolute vorticity and the gradient of diabetic heating vectors and the curl of the friction forces and the gradient of potential temperature vectors. The inhibition of the Algerian Mediterranean cyclogenesis during the summer seems to bear some relation to the existence of this kind of low-pressure disturbance over the Iberian Peninsula.A part of this paper was presented as a poster at Session OA11 on “Cyclone Structure and Development”, EGS General Assembly in Wiesbaden, 3 - 7 May, 1993     

Modeling the effects of climate change projections on streamflow in the Nooksack River basin,Northwest Washington

The Nooksack River has its headwaters in the North Cascade Mountains and drains an approximately 2000 km² watershed in northwestern Washington State. The timing and magnitude of streamflow in a snowpack‐dominated drainage basin such as the Nooksack River basin are strongly influenced by temperature and precipitation. Projections of future climate made by general circulation models (GCMs) indicate increases in temperature and variable changes in precipitation for the Nooksack River basin. Understanding the response of the river to climate change is crucial for regional water resources planning because municipalities, tribes, and industry depend on the river for water use and for fish habitat. We combine three different climate scenarios downscaled from GCMs and the Distributed‐Hydrology‐Soil‐Vegetation Model to simulate future changes to timing and magnitude of streamflow in the higher elevations of the Nooksack River. Simulations of future streamflow and snowpack in the basin project a range of magnitudes, which reflects the variable meteorological changes indicated by the three GCM scenarios and the local natural variability employed in the modeling. Simulation results project increased winter flows, decreased summer flows, decreased snowpack, and a shift in timing of the spring melt peak and maximum snow water equivalent. These results are consistent with previous regional studies, but the magnitude of increased winter flows and total annual runoff is higher. Increases in temperature dominate snowpack declines and changes to spring and summer streamflow, whereas a combination of increases in temperature and precipitation control increased winter streamflow. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.