Water temperature and riverine ecosystems: An overview of knowledge and approaches for assessing biotic responses, with special reference to South Africa

Abstract

Available information pertaining to water temperature in riverine ecosystems is examined and consolidated into an overview that describes the spatial and temporal variation in water temperature, the importance of water temperature in lotic ecosys tems, the measurement and modelling of water temperature, anthropogenic factors that modify water temperature, the effects of temperature changes on the physical and chemical characteristics of water; and on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Methods for assessing the effects of temperature changes on aquatic organisms are discussed and current water temperature guidelines for the protection of aquatic ecosystems are outlined. This paper highlights the complexity of water temperature in the aquatic environment and the importance of understanding the spatio-temporal variability in water temperature and the variable responses of aquatic organisms to thermal stress.

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