• Energy Research

Stream benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected for a period of 7 consecutive years (2016-2022, from April/May to September/October, during the glacial melting season) along a longitudinal transect of the Saldur stream, a near pristine glacier-fed stream located in South Tyrol, Italy (46°N, 10° E), part of the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network (site code: LTER_EU_IT_100). From year 2016 on, a small run-of-river (ROR) hydropower plant (max. 3,200 kW/year) started to operate on the stream, located in close proximity to site Saldur_2A. The potential impact on the riverine ecosystem was largely investigated, and resulted to be negligible. Extensive details on this topic can be found reading the scientific publications: Scotti et al. (2022; doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.902603) and Scotti et al. (2022; doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.904547).Organisms were collected through Surber samplings (0.0506 squared metres, mesh size 500 µm) in 3 sites at different elevation and distance from the glacial source: Saldur 1 (2,030 m a.s.l.; 4.962 km), Saldur 2A (2,016 m a.s.l.; 5.325 km), Saldur 3 (1,645 m a.s.l.; 11.123 km). In all sites, three different sub-samples were collected, and the main substrates present at each site were sampled (macrolithal - rocks of 20-40 cm, and mesolithal - rocks of 6-20 cm). Faunal nomenclature fully complies with Fauna Europaea standard (https://fauna-eu.org).More methodological details can be found in Scotti & Bottarin (2021; doi:10.1038/s41597-021-00887-x) and Scotti et al. (2019; doi:10.3897/BDJ.7.e33576). A similar dataset , with coarser taxonomic resolution, is available on PANGAEA covering the sampling on the same sites during years 2010-2015: Bottarin & Scotti (2019; doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.897915). Together with the present dataset, the time series now covers 13 years.

Stream benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected for a period of 7 consecutive years (2016-2022, from April/May to September/October, during the glacial melting season) along a longitudinal transect of the Saldur stream, a near pristine glacier-fed stream located in South Tyrol, Italy (46°N, 10° E), part of the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network (site code: LTER_EU_IT_100). From year 2016 on, a small run-of-river (ROR) hydropower plant (max. 3,200 kW/year) started to operate on the stream, located in close proximity to site Saldur_2A. The potential impact on the riverine ecosystem was largely investigated, and resulted to be negligible. Extensive details on this topic can be found reading the scientific publications: Scotti et al. (2022; doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.902603) and Scotti et al. (2022; doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.904547).Organisms were collected through Surber samplings (0.0506 squared metres, mesh size 500 µm) in 3 sites at different elevation and distance from the glacial source: Saldur 1 (2,030 m a.s.l.; 4.962 km), Saldur 2A (2,016 m a.s.l.; 5.325 km), Saldur 3 (1,645 m a.s.l.; 11.123 km). In all sites, three different sub-samples were collected, and the main substrates present at each site were sampled (macrolithal - rocks of 20-40 cm, and mesolithal - rocks of 6-20 cm). Faunal nomenclature fully complies with Fauna Europaea standard (https://fauna-eu.org).More methodological details can be found in Scotti & Bottarin (2021; doi:10.1038/s41597-021-00887-x) and Scotti et al. (2019; doi:10.3897/BDJ.7.e33576). A similar dataset , with coarser taxonomic resolution, is available on PANGAEA covering the sampling on the same sites during years 2010-2015: Bottarin & Scotti (2019; doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.897915). Together with the present dataset, the time series now covers 13 years.

Stream benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected for a period of 5 consecutive years, twice a year (2015-2019, in April/May and in September/October), along a longitudinal transect of the Saldur stream, a near pristine glacier-fed stream located in South Tyrol, Italy (46°N, 10° E), part of the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network (site code: IT-25, LTER_EU_IT_100).From year 2016 on, a small "run-of-river" (ROR) hydropower plant (max. 3,200 kW/year) started to operate on the stream, and the sampling sites were chosen accordingly, to examine its potential impact on the riverine ecosystem.Organisms were collected through Surber samplings (0.0506 squared metres, mesh size 500 µm) in 6 sites at different elevation and distance from the glacial source and from the weir of the hydropower plant:Saldur_1 (2,030 m a.s.l.; 4.962 km from glacial source; ~1 km upstream of the weir ),Saldur_2A (2,016 m a.s.l.; 5.225 km from glacial source; ~100 m upstream of the weir),Saldur_2B (2,006 m a.s.l.; 5.325 km from glacial source; located in the river stretch between the weir and the outlet pipe of the two sediment traps of the ROR hydropower plant, so ~ 100 m downstream of the weir);Saldur_2C (1,997 m a.s.l.; 5.486 km from the glacial source; ~50 m downstream of the above mentioned outlet pipe and ~ 150 m downstream of site 2B);Saldur_2D (1,779 m a.s.l.; 8.217 km from the glacial source; ~ 3,000 m downstream of the weir);Saldur_3 (1,645 m a.s.l.; 11.123 km from the glacial source; ~ 6,000 m downstream of the weir).In all sites, three different sub-samples were collected, and the main substrates present at each site were sampled (macrolithal - rocks of 20-40 cm, and mesolithal - rocks of 6-20 cm).Faunal nomenclature fully complies with "Fauna Europaea" standard (https://fauna-eu.org).Contextually, a set of environmental variables was measured (as spot-measurement) during the macroinvertebrate samplings: suspended solids (mL/L); specific conductance at 25° C (mS/cm), water temperature (°C), calculation of the bottom component of the Pfankuch index.Whilst only in 2018 turbidity (NFU) was measured instead of suspended solids, and all the measurements were conducted using a multiparameter meter (HI9829, Hanna Instruments), for all the remaining years suspended solids were measured after 30 minutes of water sedimentation in a Imhoff cone, and specific conductance through a portable conductimeter (Cond 7, XS Instruments).

Stream benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected for a period of 5 consecutive years, twice a year (2015-2019, in April/May and in September/October), along a longitudinal transect of the Saldur stream, a near pristine glacier-fed stream located in South Tyrol, Italy (46°N, 10° E), part of the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network (site code: IT-25, LTER_EU_IT_100).From year 2016 on, a small "run-of-river" (ROR) hydropower plant (max. 3,200 kW/year) started to operate on the stream, and the sampling sites were chosen accordingly, to examine its potential impact on the riverine ecosystem.Organisms were collected through Surber samplings (0.0506 squared metres, mesh size 500 µm) in 6 sites at different elevation and distance from the glacial source and from the weir of the hydropower plant:Saldur_1 (2,030 m a.s.l.; 4.962 km from glacial source; ~1 km upstream of the weir ),Saldur_2A (2,016 m a.s.l.; 5.225 km from glacial source; ~100 m upstream of the weir),Saldur_2B (2,006 m a.s.l.; 5.325 km from glacial source; located in the river stretch between the weir and the outlet pipe of the two sediment traps of the ROR hydropower plant, so ~ 100 m downstream of the weir);Saldur_2C (1,997 m a.s.l.; 5.486 km from the glacial source; ~50 m downstream of the above mentioned outlet pipe and ~ 150 m downstream of site 2B);Saldur_2D (1,779 m a.s.l.; 8.217 km from the glacial source; ~ 3,000 m downstream of the weir);Saldur_3 (1,645 m a.s.l.; 11.123 km from the glacial source; ~ 6,000 m downstream of the weir).In all sites, three different sub-samples were collected, and the main substrates present at each site were sampled (macrolithal - rocks of 20-40 cm, and mesolithal - rocks of 6-20 cm).Faunal nomenclature fully complies with "Fauna Europaea" standard (https://fauna-eu.org).Contextually, a set of environmental variables was measured (as spot-measurement) during the macroinvertebrate samplings: suspended solids (mL/L); specific conductance at 25° C (mS/cm), water temperature (°C), calculation of the bottom component of the Pfankuch index.Whilst only in 2018 turbidity (NFU) was measured instead of suspended solids, and all the measurements were conducted using a multiparameter meter (HI9829, Hanna Instruments), for all the remaining years suspended solids were measured after 30 minutes of water sedimentation in a Imhoff cone, and specific conductance through a portable conductimeter (Cond 7, XS Instruments).

AbstractThe present dataset contains information about aquatic macroinvertebrates and environmental variables collected before and after the implementation of a small “run-of-river” hydropower plant on the Saldur stream, a glacier-fed stream located in the Italian Central-Eastern Alps. Between 2015 and 2019, with two sampling events per year, we collected and identified 34,836 organisms in 6 sampling sites located within a 6 km stretch of the stream. Given the current boom of the hydropower sector worldwide, and the growing contribution of small hydropower plants to energy production, data here included may represent an important – and long advocated – baseline to assess the effects that these kinds of powerplants have on the riverine ecosystem. Moreover, since the Saldur stream is part of the International Long Term Ecological Research network, this dataset also constitutes part of the data gathered within this research programme. All samples are preserved at Eurac Research facilities.

AbstractThe present dataset contains information about aquatic macroinvertebrates and environmental variables collected before and after the implementation of a small “run-of-river” hydropower plant on the Saldur stream, a glacier-fed stream located in the Italian Central-Eastern Alps. Between 2015 and 2019, with two sampling events per year, we collected and identified 34,836 organisms in 6 sampling sites located within a 6 km stretch of the stream. Given the current boom of the hydropower sector worldwide, and the growing contribution of small hydropower plants to energy production, data here included may represent an important – and long advocated – baseline to assess the effects that these kinds of powerplants have on the riverine ecosystem. Moreover, since the Saldur stream is part of the International Long Term Ecological Research network, this dataset also constitutes part of the data gathered within this research programme. All samples are preserved at Eurac Research facilities.

Fish are some of the most threatened vertebrates in the world due to their often-sensitive response to environmental changes. Major land-use changes in the European Alps have direct and indirect impacts on fish communities, and these impacts are expected to increase in the future. Therefore, the identification of factors that are associated with the distribution of fish communities is of great importance to develop guidelines for management, precautions and sustainable use of running waters. In this study, the relationship of various factors - landscape structure and land use, topography, morphology, hydrology, physical and chemical water characteristics, hormonally active substances, pesticides, food availability, fisheries and piscivores birds - with fish assemblages are analysed. Field data from 81 stream sections from 2001 metres above sea level (m.a.s.l.) down to 219 m.a.s.l. are used in the study. The results reveal that the number of fish species has a strong association with topographic characteristics in the catchment area as well as with landscape configuration. Fish abundance and biomass are associated mostly with land-use type, hydrology, morphology as well as topography. In addition, there are indirect connections between fish abundance and biomass through land-use type, topography, water properties and hydromorphology. The results clearly indicate that not a single factor, but a multitude of factors are associated with the fish communities in the Eastern European Alps.