The role of organisms in hyporheic processes: gaps in current knowledge, needs for future research and applications

¹ Université de Lyon, Université de Lyon 1, UMR-CNRS 5023 LEHNA, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
² Cemagref Aix-en-Provence, Hydrobiologie-EEC, 13182 Aix-en-Provence Cedex 5, France
³ Département de biologie et environnement, Université de Tlemcen, DZ-13000 Tlemcen, Algeria
⁴ Cemagref Lyon, UR MALY, 3bis quai Chauveau, 69336 Lyon Cedex 09, France
⁵ Cemagref Lyon – UR Hydrologie Hydraulique, 3bis quai Chauveau, 69336 Lyon Cedex 09, France
⁶ Université de Toulouse, UPS, INPT, EcoLab (Laboratoire d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), Bât. 4R1, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
⁷ CNRS, Ecolab, 31055 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
⁸ Institut Méditerranéen d'Écologie et de Paléoécologie IMEP, UMR-CNRS 6116, Université Paul-Cézanne Aix-Marseille 3, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France
⁹ École des Mines de Paris, Géoscience Départment, Fontainebleau Cedex, France
¹⁰ INR-Agrocampus-Ouest, UMR 985 Écologie et Santé des Ecosystèmes, 65 rue de St Brieuc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
¹¹ INRA, UMR CARTEL, Route de Corzent, BP 511, 74203 Thonon-les-Bains, France
¹² Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Institut des Sciences Analytiques, UMR 5280, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
¹³ Ministère de l'Environnement, Agence de l'Eau Rhône-Méditerrannée and Corse, 2-4 Allée de Lodz, 69363 Lyon Cedex 07, France
¹⁴ Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
¹⁵ Department of Life Sciences – Roehampton University, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, UK
¹⁶ Université de Tours, UMR 6173 CITERES, Département IMACOF, 33 allée F. de Lesseps, 37204 Tours Cedex 03, France
¹⁷ Acceptables Avenirs Prologue, La Pyrénéenne, BP 27201, 31672 Labège Cedex, France

^* Corresponding author: pierre.marmonier@univ-lyon1.fr

Received: 23 April 2011
Accepted: 10 October 2011

Abstract

Fifty years after the hyporheic zone was first defined (Orghidan, 1959), there are still gaps in the knowledge regarding the role of biodiversity in hyporheic processes. First, some methodological questions remained unanswered regarding the interactions between biodiversity and physical processes, both for the study of habitat characteristics and interactions at different scales. Furthermore, many questions remain to be addressed to help inform our understanding of invertebrate community dynamics, especially regarding the trophic niches of organisms, the functional groups present within sediment, and their temporal changes. Understanding microbial community dynamics would require investigations about their relationship with the physical characteristics of the sediment, their diversity, their relationship with metabolic pathways, their interactions with invertebrates, and their response to environmental stress. Another fundamental research question is that of the importance of the hyporheic zone in the global metabolism of the river, which must be explored in relation to organic matter recycling, the effects of disturbances, and the degradation of contaminants. Finally, the application of this knowledge requires the development of methods for the estimation of hydrological exchanges, especially for the management of sediment clogging, the optimization of self-purification, and the integration of climate change in environmental policies. The development of descriptors of hyporheic zone health and of new metrology is also crucial to include specific targets in water policies for the long-term management of the system and a clear evaluation of restoration strategies.