Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) may represent over half the global stream network, but their contribution to respiration and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is largely undetermined. In particular, little is known about the variability and drivers of respiration in IRES sediments upon rewetting, which could result in large pulses of CO₂. We present a global study examining sediments from 200 dry IRES reaches spanning multiple biomes. Results from standardized assays show that mean respiration increased 32‐fold to 66‐fold upon sediment rewetting. Structural equation modeling indicates that this response was driven by sediment texture and organic matter quantity and quality, which, in turn, were influenced by climate, land use, and riparian plant cover. Our estimates suggest that respiration pulses resulting from rewetting of IRES sediments could contribute significantly to annual CO₂ emissions from the global stream network, with a single respiration pulse potentially increasing emission by 0.2–0.7%. As the spatial and temporal extent of IRES increases globally, our results highlight the importance of recognizing the influence of wetting‐drying cycles on respiration and CO₂ emissions in stream networks.

La Cuenca Hidrográfica del Río Damas (40°39' S, 72°23' O), presenta una intensa actividad agrícola y ganadera en un 78,2 % de su superficie, lo cual se ha traducido en importantes aportes de nutrientes al ecosistema acuático. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: (a) analizar la distribución espacial de la macrofauna bentónica en la cuenca y (b) determinar la viabilidad de utilizar el Índice Biótico de Familias (IBF) para evaluación de la calidad de las aguas. Los muestreos se realizaron en enero de 1998 con una red Surber (0,09 m²), en 15 sitios distribuidos en el curso principal y sus tributarios. Se registró un total de 77 taxa, siendo los grupos más diversos Plecoptera (16 %), Trichoptera (16 %), Diptera (14 %) y Ephemeroptera (12 %). Se observó una marcada tendencia a la disminución de riqueza específica desde la cabecera de la cuenca hacia aguas abajo. Las abundancias, biomasas y el IBF, presentaron una tendencia inversa a la riqueza específica. IBF se correlacionó significativa y positivamente con el fósforo total (r² = 0,71), temperatura (r² = 0,66), nitrito (r² = 0,56), conductividad eléctrica (r² = 0,50), demanda biológica de oxígeno (r² = 0,46) y nitrógeno total (r² = 0,46), y negativamente con oxígeno disuelto (r² = 0,53), variables estrechamente asociadas al uso intensivo de fertilizantes en la cuenca. Los resultados sugieren que el IBF es un buen indicador de la calidad de las aguas de los ríos de cuencas agrícolas y ganaderas del sur de Chile

The relationship between detritivore diversity and decomposition can provide information on how biogeochemical cycles are affected by ongoing rates of extinction, but such evidence has come mostly from local studies and microcosm experiments. We conducted a globally distributed experiment (38 streams across 23 countries in 6 continents) using standardised methods to test the hypothesis that detritivore diversity enhances litter decomposition in streams, to establish the role of other characteristics of detritivore assemblages (abundance, biomass and body size), and to determine how patterns vary across realms, biomes and climates. We observed a positive relationship between diversity and decomposition, strongest in tropical areas, and a key role of abundance and biomass at higher latitudes. Our results suggest that litter decomposition might be altered by detritivore extinctions, particularly in tropical areas, where detritivore diversity is already relatively low and some environmental stressors particularly prevalent.

In Chile, mediterranean climate conditions only occur in the Central Zone (ChMZ). Despite its small area, this mediterranean climate region (med-region) has been recognised as a hotspot for biodiversity. However, in contrast to the rivers of other med-regions, the rivers in the ChMZ have been studied infrequently, and knowledge of their freshwater biodiversity is scarce and fragmented. We gathered information on the freshwater biodiversity of ChMZ, and present a review of the current knowledge of the principal floral and faunal groups. Existing knowledge indicates that the ChMZ has high levels of endemism, with many primitive species being of Gondwanan origin. Although detailed information is available on most floral groups, most faunal groups remain poorly known. In addition, numerous rivers in the ChMZ remain completely unexplored. Taxonomic specialists are scarce, and the information available on freshwater biodiversity has resulted from studies with objectives that did not directly address biodiversity issues. Research funding in this med-region has a strong applied character and is not focused on the knowledge of natural systems and their biodiversity. Species conservation policies are urgently required in this highly diverse med-region, which is also the most severely impacted and most populated region of the country.

Plant litter functional diversity effects on instream decomposition change across latitudes.