EcoFonts

Objective

The objective of this long-term project is to monitor spring-fed ecosystems throughout Catalan territory to understand the state of spring-fed ecosystems and study changes in their biodiversity and water chemistry. EcoFonts aims to evaluate water quality and the state of bryophyte communities (mosses and liverworts), ferns and other spring plants, as well as associated fauna (macroarthropods, amphibians), and detect variations linked to environmental changes (seasonality, droughts, possible aquifer contamination). The project also includes outreach actions to raise public awareness about the importance of these ecosystems.

Background

Mediterranean spring ecosystems are refuges for a wide range of organisms, hosting high biodiversity of aquatic and terrestrial species. This is due to the mosaic of microhabitats present, which facilitates interactions between different species and increases the trophic complexity of the community. The high thermal and chemical stability of the waters, as well as the availability of permanent water, constitute a refuge for a unique biota, giving these ecosystems high conservation value. Particularly, petrifying springs that form travertine or tufa, often dominated by the moss Palustriella commutata, are considered priority habitats of community interest (HIC 7140, Cratoneurion commutati; Directive 97/62/EU). Spring ecosystems are also crucial for monitoring fresh water quality, since their high sensitivity to environmental changes allows assessment of the impact of stress and diffuse pollution on aquifers. These ecosystems are increasingly threatened by global change due to the increase in frequency and intensity of droughts, rising temperatures, and aquifer contamination.

EcoFonts has the support of the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the collaboration of the Central Coastal Mountain Range Delegation (ICHN), the Catalan Institution of Natural History and the Institute of Catalan Studies.

Methodology and Results

EcoFonts conducts extensive monitoring and evaluation of springs throughout Catalonia, including and water discharge and quality assessments, and biodiversity measurements. Each year, biodiversity monitoring and water quality assessment is carried out in ~50 springs. In spring, 32 annual monitoring springs are analysed, and in autumn, around twenty tri-annual monitoring springs are visited, distributed across various mountainous areas of the four provinces of Catalonia. Additionally, among the 32 springs monitored annually, 11 springs undergo monthly monitoring of water discharge and chemistry. This type of monitoring is key to understanding how aquifers and their associated spring ecosystems respond to climatic variations such as changes in precipitation regimes, droughts or snowmelt.

In each spring, water discharge, pH and electrical conductivity are measured in situ. Water samples are also obtained, filtered and frozen for subsequent determination of cations (potassium-K⁺, calcium-Ca²⁺, sodium-Na⁺, magnesium-Mg²⁺), anions (nitrate-NO₃⁻, sulfate-SO₄²⁻, chloride-Cl⁻) and heavy metals (arsenic-As, chromium-Cr, nickel-Ni, cobalt-Co, etc.) in the laboratory. For biodiversity assessment, we determine the abundance of plant and animal species, mainly bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), ferns, seed plants, macroinvertebrates and amphibians in the wet area of the spring (that in contact with water and in the splash zone).

Monitoring is ongoing and results are available from 2024. Details are provided at https://ecofonts.creaf.cat/.