Organism groups

Organism groups

RESIST addresses components of the entire riverine food web:

Viruses

Aquatic prokaryotes and eukaryotes are infected by a large diversity of viruses

Bacteria

Bacteria are the main players for important ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and DOC degradation in aquatic ecosystems

Fungal heterotrophs & bacteria

Fungal heterotrophs, together with bacteria, dominate microbial decomposer communities, which degrade coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM)

Protists

Protists include autotrophic organisms such as diatoms, which are essential components of the biofilm and the main primary producers in streams, and heterotrophic organisms, which feed mainly on bacteri

Invertebrates

Benthic invertebrates are a large and diverse organism group colonising all riverine bottom habitats and feeding on a great variety of food sources

Fish

Freshwater fish, as large organisms and top predators of riverine food webs, integrate larger spatial and temporal scales. They are particularly sensitive to habitat degradation

Parasites

Parasites are a diverse and widespread group occurring in many aquatic hosts. They can have single and multiple host life cycles (monoxenous and heteroxenous parasites)