Messa a punto di un metodo di valutazione dello stato dei piccoli corsi d'acqua urbani del Lazio centrale basato sui macroinvertebrati bentonici

The process of urbanization in the central portion of Latium, tied to the development of the city of Rome, is rapidly modifying the territory and its use. Subsequently natural environments and agricultural landscapes are constantly being replaced by areas characterized by great anthropization. Studies undertaken in different urban areas have demonstrated that these very changes lead to a multitude of alteration factors which, in turn, have a profound and varied impact on the ecosystems connected to small watercourses and, in particular, their biological components. The recent enacting of the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60 has established that biological communities must be considered the very fulcrum on which tutelage and management strategies of aquatic ecosystems must be centered. To this day, the communities most frequently adopted as ecological indicators for the assessment of watercourses are certainly benthic macroinvertebrates. These organisms have therefore been extensively investigated and there are studies centered on the overall community as well as on specific taxa such as Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera and Simuliidae. The present study wishes to develop a status assessment method, based on benthic macroinvertebrates, for the urban streams of central Latium; more specifically, the different tasks of study were to: characterize the abiotic conditions of the territory’s streams; quantify the macrobenthonic communities’ reactions to the changes determined by the urbanization gradient; test two different methodological approaches based on macroinvertebrates, which respectively adopt multimetric analyses and self organizing neural nets, so as to develop a methodology for the assessment of the watercourses of the area addressed; test the efficacy of the preimmaginal stages of the Simuliidae family as environmental indicators of the roman territory’s streams. First of all, 105 sites were characterized using cartographic analysis, on site observations, chemical and physico-chemical analyses of water samples, and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling. Black fly larvae and pupae were selectively collected in all 105 watercourses; in a chosen group of these, sampling was repeated every two months for an entire year. The data thus collected enabled a pre-classification of the sites, 15 of which were chosen so as to cover a wide array of conditions along the urbanization gradient present in the area considered by this study. These 15 sites were then investigated further through three seasonal sampling campaigns (conducted respectively in autumn 2007, winter 2007-2008 and spring 2008) which enabled the collection of ulterior water samples for chemical analyses and of macroinvertebrates for a quantitative evaluation of the communities (proportional multihabitat method). Chemical, physico-chemical and microbiological analyses indicate the presence of diffused watercourse pollution in areas with altitudes below 200 meters a.s.l.. It especially manifests itself with high concentrations of nutrients (nitrates: 7,71±3,59 mg/L; phosphates:1,27±1,20 mg/L in average). In accord with previous studies, the present results indicates that, in urban areas, the concentrations of phosphate ions and nitrates may be even higher than those typically found in the water sources of agricultural areas (in average respectively 8,9 mg/L and 7,5 mg/L). The extremely high concentrations may supposedly be consequence of the introduction into the water system of untreated domestic wastewaters from a multitude of sources. The amount of phosphates may, moreover, be caused by the mobilization of sediments deriving from the transformation of agricultural areas into building lands. The use of the IFF index also indicates that the functionality (self-depurant capacity) of the small watercourses of Rome’s urban area has been strongly impaired: 78% of the sites show values below the minimum threshold for mediocrity) by different factors: the removal of trees in the surrounding territory; the management of the river-side vegetation which solely wished to guarantee the hydraulic functionality of the draining system; the trivialization of the micro-habitats due to the input of fine sediments deriving from the scouring of waterproof grounds; the repercussions of different contributory factors on the biological communities. The most evident consequence, on the existing macroinvertebrate communities, of the urbanization of the territory was the loss of taxonomic variety. While, on average, 29 taxa were found in natural environments, the average was of only 4 in areas with urbanization above 40%. In such areas the communities are characterized especially by Chironomidae and Oligochaeta, the first of which, abundance wise, constitute approximately 90% of the overall communities. Plecoptera seem to be particularly sensitive and they disappear almost completely in sites with urbanization above 10% whereas the number of taxa and the relative abundances of both Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera show drastic reductions. Multivariate analysis (Principal Components) was conducted so as to identify the axes along which the community data showed greatest variation. The first axis, by definition the one capable of explaining the greatest variation, resulted highly correlated to ecological quality. An ulterior multivariate analysis (two way indicator species analysis-TWINSPAN) was conducted to group the samples on the basis of both the composition and the abundance of determined indicator taxa. These analyses enabled the identification of the descriptive metrics that could best simulate the gradient along the first axis and best discriminate among the different groups. The integration of the selected metrics enabled the formulation of a multimetric index. The data was also used to implement a self-organizing neural net (SOM), which is a classification technique, based on unsupervised learning, capable of reducing the number of dimensions of the overall data and of giving a visual representation of the results by plotting them onto a map. A U matrix was used to estimate the distances between the different neurons on the map. The inclusion of the TWINSPAN-indicator taxa in the map enabled the assessment of each group’s specific level of “environmental quality”. Ulterior data, not included in the development of the two methods, was adopted to test classification efficacy. The results indicate black flies may indeed be efficaciously adopted, in the area object of the present study, as environmental indicators to evaluate the ecological conditions of the watercourses. The comparison of species sampled and those attested in literature enabled to note the absence, in the samples collected, of certain species (Simulium reptans, S. vernum, S. liriense), perhaps due to both pollution of the watercourses and changes in use of the surrounding land. Correspondence analysis enabled the identification of altitude as the main factor influencing species’ distribution in the different sites considered. However, quality becomes the main factor when taking into account exclusively the sites in the plains: S. ornatum s.l. and the “equinum” species (S. equinum, S. pseudequinum, S. lineatum) are the ones that show the greatest tolerance to chemical water pollution. Furthermore, when urbanization alters both the chemistry of the waters and the condition of the surrounding territory, S. ornatum s.l. is the sole of these species still present in the streams; it too, however, is incapable of enduring toxic pollution and suspended solids. The mid-high course of the Aniene river and its tributaries were sampled every two months, enabling the confirmation of the spatial-temporal black fly successions observed in the central Apennine region (area belonging to the “hirtipes” group, to the “variegatum” group and to a mixed one with more species) and reported in literature. The results also indicate the larvae of S. ornatum may supplant the other species of black flies in the periods in which there is greater pressure on watercourses. This study made it possible to test three different approaches to stream assessment in the roman territory. The consistence of the two community based methodologies provides higher validity to the obtained classification. Furthermore, the black fly study results, through preliminary, open up to the use of this organisms in the development of metrics useful in the analyses of watercourses’ quality. The enhancement of study and monitoring activities, propedeutic to the beginning of biological restoration measures, can represent the basis for the tutelage and future recovery of the urban streams

Black flies (Diptera, Simuliidae) as ecological indicators of stream ecosystem health in an urbanizing area (Rome, Italy)

Introduction. The effectiveness of Simuliidae (Diptera, Nematocera) as indicators of stream health was tested in the urbanizing area of Rome, Central Italy. Methods. 108 sampling sites were investigated in the spring to acquire data on environmental variables and black fly species.Results and discussion.The comparison of sampling and literature data highlighted the disappearance of some species (Simulium reptans, S. vernum, S. liriense), possibly due to water pollution and land use changes. Correspondence analysis confirms altitude as the main factor influencing black fly species’ distribution. However, water quality becomes predominant when considering exclusively plain sites: “ornatum” and “equinum” species groups show the greatest tolerance to chemical pollution. The high course of the Aniene river and its tributaries were sampled bimonthly, confirming the spatial-temporal black fly successions previously observed in central Apennines. The results also indicate that S. ornatum may supplant all other species in areas where the rural use is substituted by urban landscape.Conclusion. In conclusion, black flies can be considered good environmental indicators to assess ecological health of both watercourses and surrounding landscapes

Marginal agricultural land low-input systems for biomass production

This study deals with approaches for a social-ecological friendly European bioeconomy based on biomass from industrial crops cultivated on marginal agricultural land. The selected crops to be investigated are: Biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus, pennycress, poplar, reed canary grass, safflower, Siberian elm, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, wild sugarcane, and willow. The research question focused on the overall crop growth suitability under low-input management. The study assessed: (i) How the growth suitability of industrial crops can be defined under the given natural constraints of European marginal agricultural lands; and (ii) which agricultural practices are required for marginal agricultural land low-input systems (MALLIS). For the growth-suitability analysis, available thresholds and growth requirements of the selected industrial crops were defined. The marginal agricultural land was categorized according to the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) concept in combination with the marginality constraints, so-called 'marginal agro-ecological zones' (M-AEZ). It was found that both large marginal agricultural areas and numerous agricultural practices are available for industrial crop cultivation on European marginal agricultural lands. These results help to further describe the suitability of industrial crops for the development of social-ecologically friendly MALLIS in Europe

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities and their functional traits mediate plant–soil interactions in trace element contaminated soils

There is an increasing consensus that microbial communities have an important role in mediating ecosystem processes. Trait-based ecology predicts that the impact of the microbial communities on ecosystem functions will be mediated by the expression of their traits at community level. The link between the response of microbial community traits to environmental conditions and its effect on plant functioning is a gap in most current microbial ecology studies. In this study, we analyzed functional traits of ectomycorrhizal fungal species in order to understand the importance of their community assembly for the soil–plant relationships in holm oak trees (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) growing in a gradient of exposure to anthropogenic trace element (TE) contamination after a metalliferous tailings spill. Particularly, we addressed how the ectomycorrhizal composition and morphological traits at community level mediate plant response to TE contamination and its capacity for phytoremediation. Ectomycorrhizal fungal taxonomy and functional diversity explained a high proportion of variance of tree functional traits, both in roots and leaves. Trees where ectomycorrhizal fungal communities were dominated by the abundant taxa Hebeloma cavipes and Thelephora terrestris showed a conservative root economics spectrum, while trees colonized by rare taxa presented a resource acquisition strategy. Conservative roots presented ectomycorrhizal functional traits characterized by high rhizomorphs formation and low melanization which may be driven by resource limitation. Soil-to-root transfer of TEs was explained substantially by the ectomycorrhizal fungal species composition, with the highest transfer found in trees whose roots were colonized by Hebeloma cavipes. Leaf phosphorus was related to ectomycorrhizal species composition, specifically higher leaf phosphorus was related to the root colonization by Thelephora terrestris. These findings support that ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition and their functional traits mediate plant performance in metal-contaminated soils, and have a high influence on plant capacity for phytoremediation of contaminants. The study also corroborates the overall effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on ecosystem functioning through their mediation over the plant economics spectrum

Marginal Agricultural Land Low-Input Systems for Biomass Production

This study deals with approaches for a social-ecological friendly European bioeconomy based on biomass from industrial crops cultivated on marginal agricultural land. The selected crops to be investigated are: Biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus, pennycress, poplar, reed canary grass, safflower, Siberian elm, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, wild sugarcane, and willow. The research question focused on the overall crop growth suitability under low-input management. The study assessed: (i) How the growth suitability of industrial crops can be defined under the given natural constraints of European marginal agricultural lands; and (ii) which agricultural practices are required for marginal agricultural land low-input systems (MALLIS). For the growth-suitability analysis, available thresholds and growth requirements of the selected industrial crops were defined. The marginal agricultural land was categorized according to the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) concept in combination with the marginality constraints, so-called ‘marginal agro-ecological zones’ (M-AEZ). It was found that both large marginal agricultural areas and numerous agricultural practices are available for industrial crop cultivation on European marginal agricultural lands. These results help to further describe the suitability of industrial crops for the development of social-ecologically friendly MALLIS in Europe

Soil chemical and biochemical properties under Populus albagrowing: Three years study in trace element contaminated soils

8 pages, 6 figures, 6 tables, 42 references.Certain plant species have the ability to grow in trace element-polluted soils without showing any negative symptoms. These species could be considered for phytoremediation techniques and their presence might influence the abundance, activity and composition of soil microbial communities. In this work we investigated the root-induced changes in chemical (pH, soluble trace element concentrations, total organic C, water-soluble C, and nitrogen concentrations) and biochemical (microbial biomass C, β-glucosidase activity and protease activity) properties caused by Populus alba on two contaminated soils (one with neutral pH (AZ) and other with acid pH (DO)) for a period of over 36 months. The results were compared to those obtained with a non-contaminated soil. The experiment was carried out in containers. At the end of the experiment, samples of the soil directly adhered to the root and that located more than 5 cm from the root were also studied. The results showed that, in neutral soils, poplar did not influence soil pH; the greatest effect on pH due to plant growth was found in acid soil. Poplar presence increased C sources, through root exudates, in all soils. In AZ soil, poplar maintained chemical and biochemical properties, whereas an important decrease in soil quality was observed in the same bare soils. The effect of poplar development on soil quality was even more appreciable in acid contaminated soil (DO), in which the tree also produced a strong increment of soil pH, a decrease in trace element concentrations and an improvement of chemical and biochemical properties. We concluded that P. alba is a suitable plant for the phytoremediation of trace element contaminated soils. Moreover, root exudates of this species may be responsible for the improvement of soil quality in trace element contaminated soils.AGL2008-00985 supported by the CICYT of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain and FEDER (EU). L. Ciadamidaro thanks to CSIC for funding her grant (JAE-PreDoc).Peer reviewe

Dinámica de la materia orgánica y de los elementos traza en suelos contaminados reforestados con Salicáceas

Tesis leída el 2014/02/26, en el Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla.-- Calificación obtenida: Sobresaliente cum laude.-- [email protected][EN]: The use of plants in the recovery of trace elements in contaminated soils has been shown to stabilize the soil and prevent physical dispersion of pollutants, improving soil quality. Trees in the family Salicaceae are often used in phytoremediation because they have the capacity to accumulate trace elements (especially Cd and Zn) in their above-ground biomass. Moreover, seasonal litter fall from these deciduous species enriches the organic layer with Cd and Zn. This Thesis focuses on the influence of white poplar (Populus alba) on soil processes and the biochemical properties that influence organic matter content and nutrient dynamics in these contaminated systems. In order to evaluate the effects of litter decomposition and plant growth, three studies were performed: an incubation experiment in controlled conditions, an experiment in containers in semi-field conditions and a monitoring study in field conditions. All experiments were carried out with soils from “ribera del río Guadiamar,” near Seville. This region was contaminated by a mine spill in 1998, and a large-scale restoration project has since been established. The central body of the Thesis consists of five peer-reviewed publications that investigated the effects of litter addition and root exudates in the rhizosphere of P. alba and the parameters related to carbon and nitrogen cycles in soil.[ES]: La utilización de plantas en la recuperación de suelos contaminados por ET tiene como finalidad estabilizar el suelo para evitar una dispersión física de contaminantes y mejorar la calidad del mismo. Los árboles de la familia de las Salicáceas se han usado como opción para la fitorrecuperación de suelos contaminados con ET. Estas plantas tienen gran capacidad para acumular ET (especialmente Cd y Zn) en su parte aérea y al ser plantas caducifolias, la caída estacional de sus hojas da lugar a una alfombra de hojarasca rica en Cd y Zn. La presente Tesis Doctoral está centrada en estudiar la influencia de un árbol de la familia de las Salicáceas (Populus alba L., álamo blanco) sobre las propiedades del suelo, en especial sobre las propiedades bioquímicas, que participan activamente en la dinámica de la materia orgánica y de nutrientes del mismo. Con el fin de evaluar los efectos de la hojarasca y del crecimiento de las plantas se han planteado tres estudios: un experimento de incubación en condiciones controladas, un experimento en contenedores en condiciones semi controladas y un estudio de monitorización en condiciones de campo. Los tres experimentos se llevaron a cabo en suelos procedentes de la Cuenca del río Guadiamar (Sevilla), zona contaminada por un vertido minero en 1998, tras el cual se implementó un proyecto de restauración a gran escala. Los resultados conseguidos en estos tres ensayos han dado lugar cinco publicaciones científicas que constituyen el núcleo de esta Tesis. En ellas se describen los efectos de la hojarasca y de la rizosfera del Populus alba sobre la dinámica de los ET en el suelo y sobre los parámetros relacionados con el ciclo del carbono y del nitrógeno del suelo.El presente trabajo de investigación se ha realizado gracias a una beca predoctoral JAE-PREDOC de la Junta de Ampliación de Estudios del Consejo Superior de Investigaciónes Cientificas-CSIC, adscrita al Proyecto AGL2008-00985Trace element-rich litter in soils: influence on biochemical properties related to the carbon cycle.-- DOI 10.1007/s11368-012-0493-1White poplar (Populus alba L.) litter impact on chemical and biochemical parameters related to nitrogen cycle in contaminated soilsGrowth of Populus alba and its influence on soil trace element availability.-- DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.032Soil chemical and biochemical properties under Populus alba growing: Three years study in trace element contaminated soils.-- DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2013.08.003Soil plant interactions of Populus alba in contrasting environments.-- DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.010Peer reviewe

White popular (Populus alba L.) - Litter impact on chemical and biochemical parameters related to nitrogen cycle in contamined soils

12 páginas.-- 6 figuras.-- 4 tablas.-- 62 referencias.-- Forest Systems is an Open Access JournalAim of study: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of litter from Populus alba on chemical and biochemical properties related to the N cycle in soils with different pH values and trace element contents. We hypothesized that this litter would influence several parameters related to the N cycle and consequently to soil health. Area of study: we collected two reforested contaminated soils of different pH values (AZ pH 7.23 and DO pH = 2.66) and a non-contaminated soil (RHU pH 7.19). Materials and methods: Soil samples were placed in 2,000 cm3 microcosms and were incubated for 40 weeks in controlled conditions. Each soil was mixed with its corresponding litter, and soils without litter were also tested for comparison. Ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3–-N) content, potential nitrification rate (PNR), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), protease activity, and several chemical properties such as pH, available trace element concentrations (extracted with 0.01 M CaCl2) were determined at different times of incubation. Main results: Values of available trace elements did not vary during the incubation and were always higher in acid soil. In neutral soils litter presence increased values of Kjeldahl-N, NO3–-N content, potential nitrification rate (PNR), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and protease activity. Presence of trace elements in neutral soils did not alter the parameters studied. However, acidic pH and high content of available trace elements strongly affected NH4+-N and NO3–-N, microbial biomass N and protease activity. Research highlights: Our results showed the negative effect of the acidity and trace element availability in parameters related with the N-cycle.AGL2008-00985 supported by the CICYT of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain and FEDER (EU). L. Ciadamidaro thanks to CSIC for funding her grant (JAE-PreDoc).Peer reviewe

Development of a status assessment method, based on benthic macroinvertebrates, for the urban streams of central Latium (Italy)

The process of urbanization in the central portion of Latium, tied to the development of the city of Rome, is rapidly modifying the territory and its use. Subsequently natural environments and agricultural landscapes are constantly being replaced by areas characterized by great anthropization. Studies undertaken in different urban areas have demonstrated that these very changes lead to a multitude of alteration factors which, in turn, have a profound and varied impact on the ecosystems connected to small watercourses and, in particular, their biological components. The recent enacting of the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60 has established that biological communities must be considered the very fulcrum on which tutelage and management strategies of aquatic ecosystems must be centered. To this day, the communities most frequently adopted as ecological indicators for the assessment of watercourses are certainly benthic macroinvertebrates. These organisms have therefore been extensively investigated and there are studies centered on the overall community as well as on specific taxa such as Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera and Simuliidae. The present study wishes to develop a status assessment method, based on benthic macroinvertebrates, for the urban streams of central Latium; more specifically, the different tasks of study were to: characterize the abiotic conditions of the territory’s streams; quantify the macrobenthonic communities’ reactions to the changes determined by the urbanization gradient; test two different methodological approaches based on macroinvertebrates, which respectively adopt multimetric analyses and self organizing neural nets, so as to develop a methodology for the assessment of the watercourses of the area addressed; test the efficacy of the preimmaginal stages of the Simuliidae family as environmental indicators of the roman territory’s streams. First of all, 105 sites were characterized using cartographic analysis, on site observations, chemical and physico-chemical analyses of water samples, and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling. Black fly larvae and pupae were selectively collected in all 105 watercourses; in a chosen group of these, sampling was repeated every two months for an entire year. The data thus collected enabled a pre-classification of the sites, 15 of which were chosen so as to cover a wide array of conditions along the urbanization gradient present in the area considered by this study. These 15 sites were then investigated further through three seasonal sampling campaigns (conducted respectively in autumn 2007, winter 2007-2008 and spring 2008) which enabled the collection of ulterior water samples for chemical analyses and of macroinvertebrates for a quantitative evaluation of the communities (proportional multihabitat method). Chemical, physico-chemical and microbiological analyses indicate the presence of diffused watercourse pollution in areas with altitudes below 200 meters a.s.l.. It especially manifests itself with high concentrations of nutrients (nitrates: 7,71±3,59 mg/L; phosphates:1,27±1,20 mg/L in average). In accord with previous studies, the present results indicates that, in urban areas, the concentrations of phosphate ions and nitrates may be even higher than those typically found in the water sources of agricultural areas (in average respectively 8,9 mg/L and 7,5 mg/L). The extremely high concentrations may supposedly be consequence of the introduction into the water system of untreated domestic wastewaters from a multitude of sources. The amount of phosphates may, moreover, be caused by the mobilization of sediments deriving from the transformation of agricultural areas into building lands. The use of the IFF index also indicates that the functionality (self-depurant capacity) of the small watercourses of Rome’s urban area has been strongly impaired: 78% of the sites show values below the minimum threshold for mediocrity) by different factors: the removal of trees in the surrounding territory; the management of the river-side vegetation which solely wished to guarantee the hydraulic functionality of the draining system; the trivialization of the micro-habitats due to the input of fine sediments deriving from the scouring of waterproof grounds; the repercussions of different contributory factors on the biological communities. The most evident consequence, on the existing macroinvertebrate communities, of the urbanization of the territory was the loss of taxonomic variety. While, on average, 29 taxa were found in natural environments, the average was of only 4 in areas with urbanization above 40%. In such areas the communities are characterized especially by Chironomidae and Oligochaeta, the first of which, abundance wise, constitute approximately 90% of the overall communities. Plecoptera seem to be particularly sensitive and they disappear almost completely in sites with urbanization above 10% whereas the number of taxa and the relative abundances of both Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera show drastic reductions. Multivariate analysis (Principal Components) was conducted so as to identify the axes along which the community data showed greatest variation. The first axis, by definition the one capable of explaining the greatest variation, resulted highly correlated to ecological quality. An ulterior multivariate analysis (two way indicator species analysis-TWINSPAN) was conducted to group the samples on the basis of both the composition and the abundance of determined indicator taxa. These analyses enabled the identification of the descriptive metrics that could best simulate the gradient along the first axis and best discriminate among the different groups. The integration of the selected metrics enabled the formulation of a multimetric index. The data was also used to implement a self-organizing neural net (SOM), which is a classification technique, based on unsupervised learning, capable of reducing the number of dimensions of the overall data and of giving a visual representation of the results by plotting them onto a map. A U matrix was used to estimate the distances between the different neurons on the map. The inclusion of the TWINSPAN-indicator taxa in the map enabled the assessment of each group’s specific level of “environmental quality”. Ulterior data, not included in the development of the two methods, was adopted to test classification efficacy. The results indicate black flies may indeed be efficaciously adopted, in the area object of the present study, as environmental indicators to evaluate the ecological conditions of the watercourses. The comparison of species sampled and those attested in literature enabled to note the absence, in the samples collected, of certain species (Simulium reptans, S. vernum, S. liriense), perhaps due to both pollution of the watercourses and changes in use of the surrounding land. Correspondence analysis enabled the identification of altitude as the main factor influencing species’ distribution in the different sites considered. However, quality becomes the main factor when taking into account exclusively the sites in the plains: S. ornatum s.l. and the “equinum” species (S. equinum, S. pseudequinum, S. lineatum) are the ones that show the greatest tolerance to chemical water pollution. Furthermore, when urbanization alters both the chemistry of the waters and the condition of the surrounding territory, S. ornatum s.l. is the sole of these species still present in the streams; it too, however, is incapable of enduring toxic pollution and suspended solids. The mid-high course of the Aniene river and its tributaries were sampled every two months, enabling the confirmation of the spatial-temporal black fly successions observed in the central Apennine region (area belonging to the “hirtipes” group, to the “variegatum” group and to a mixed one with more species) and reported in literature. The results also indicate the larvae of S. ornatum may supplant the other species of black flies in the periods in which there is greater pressure on watercourses. This study made it possible to test three different approaches to stream assessment in the roman territory. The consistence of the two community based methodologies provides higher validity to the obtained classification. Furthermore, the black fly study results, through preliminary, open up to the use of this organisms in the development of metrics useful in the analyses of watercourses’ quality. The enhancement of study and monitoring activities, propedeutic to the beginning of biological restoration measures, can represent the basis for the tutelage and future recovery of the urban streams.Provincia di Rom