Thermal-ecology thresholds of benthic macroinvertebrate genera and communities in rivers of the Canadian Maritimes
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Date
2025-10
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
Aquatic invertebrates face multiple environmental pressures that threaten community diversity and freshwater ecosystem health. As key components of freshwater biodiversity, understanding challenges to their persistence is critical. Natural and anthropogenic influences (e.g. dams, forestry, agriculture) degrade benthic macroinvertebrate habitats, climate change buffering, ecosystem services, and disrupt food webs. Under climate change, altered thermal regimes are expected to shift community composition, with sensitive taxa at risk of decline or extirpation. This thesis examines temperature effects on common benthic macroinvertebrate taxa in lotic systems across the Canadian Maritimes. Using 2002–2022 Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network data, genus-specific temperature change points were identified and used to develop the River Invertebrate Thermal Index (RITI). RITI quantifies site-level community thermal tolerance, providing insight into benthic community and food web resilience. Understanding these tolerances supports management and informs predictions of benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity responses to climate-driven warming and land-use impacts.