Conservation and Management of Isolated Pools in Temporary Rivers
Núria Bonada,
Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles,
Francesc Gallart,
Daniel von Schiller,
Pau Fortuño,
Jérôme Latron,
Pilar Llorens,
Cesc Múrria,
Maria Soria,
Dolors Vinyoles,
Núria Cid
Affiliations
Núria Bonada
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Francesc Gallart
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Daniel von Schiller
Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de l’Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Pau Fortuño
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Jérôme Latron
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Pilar Llorens
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Cesc Múrria
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Maria Soria
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Dolors Vinyoles
Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Núria Cid
Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM) Research Group, UB-CSIC, Barcelona, 08016 Catalonia, Spain
Temporary rivers are characterized by shifting habitats between flowing, isolated pools, and dry phases. Despite the fact that temporary rivers are currently receiving increasing attention by researchers and managers, the isolated pools phase has been largely disregarded. However, isolated pools in temporary rivers are transitional habitats of major ecological relevance as they support aquatic ecosystems during no-flow periods, and can act as refugees for maintaining local and regional freshwater biodiversity. Pool characteristics such as surface water permanence and size, presence of predators, local physicochemical conditions, time since disconnection from the river flow, or distance to other freshwater habitats challenge a comprehensive understanding of the ecology of these habitats, and challenge ecological quality assessments and conservation practices in temporary rivers. In this paper, we aim at providing a characterization of isolated pools from a hydrological, geomorphological, physicochemical, biogeochemical, and biological point of view as a framework to better conceptualize, conserve, and manage these habitats.