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Aquatic Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Climate Change in the Riparian Environments of the Mediterranean Region

Author

Listed:
  • Samanta Espinar-Herranz

    (Tragsatec, Plaza España, nº 13-3ºB, 47002 Valladolid, Spain
    Campus de los Canteros, Catholic University of Ávila, Calle Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain)

  • Javier Velázquez

    (Campus de los Canteros, Catholic University of Ávila, Calle Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain
    VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Guillermo Pérez-Andueza

    (Campus de los Canteros, Catholic University of Ávila, Calle Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain)

  • Kerim Çiçek

    (Campus de los Canteros, Catholic University of Ávila, Calle Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain
    Section of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Türkiye
    Natural History Application and Research Centre, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Türkiye)

  • Víctor Rincón

    (Campus de los Canteros, Catholic University of Ávila, Calle Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain
    Tragsatec, Calle Julián Camarillo, 6A, 28037 Madrid, Spain
    Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The Mediterranean region is one of the 36 hotspots of the world that will be most affected by climate change, with river ecosystems being among the most sensitive to these effects. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and monitor the effects that are occurring through the use of aquatic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of climate change. To study the use of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators, a systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA method. The obtained bibliography was analyzed alongside other known studies to determine the response of these organisms to temperature increases and decreases and alterations in precipitation, as well as their reaction to extreme drought and flood events. The results show that different taxa of macroinvertebrates respond differently to the effects of climate change, always leading to a community alteration with changes in the abundance, richness, phenology, and composition. Therefore, aquatic macroinvertebrates are good bioindicators of the changes caused by climate change, as they respond clearly to the alterations induced by climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Samanta Espinar-Herranz & Javier Velázquez & Guillermo Pérez-Andueza & Kerim Çiçek & Víctor Rincón, 2025. "Aquatic Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Climate Change in the Riparian Environments of the Mediterranean Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:3:p:521-:d:1603628
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kirk R Klausmeyer & M Rebecca Shaw, 2009. "Climate Change, Habitat Loss, Protected Areas and the Climate Adaptation Potential of Species in Mediterranean Ecosystems Worldwide," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(7), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Thibault Datry & Gabriel Singer & Eric Sauquet & Didac Jorda-Capdevila & Daniel von Schiller & Rachel Stubbington & Claire Magand & Petr Paril & Marko Milisa & Vicenc Acuna & Maria Helena Alves & Bene, 2017. "Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams (SMIRES)," DEOS Working Papers 1719, Athens University of Economics and Business.
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