S2. Relationships between hydrological alterations, components of nature and benefits Table S2.1 Relationships between hydrological alterations and elements of the river ecosystem Hydrological alterations Sign of Affected components of Interviewees that originating an impact the effect the river ecosystem identified such link Reduction of the current flow Status of native fishes I-03, I-09, I-13 magnitude Reduction of the current flow Status of native eels I-20 magnitude Reduction of the current flow Water quality I-09, I-14, I-20, I-17 magnitude Reduction of the current flow Aesthetics of the I-13, I-14, I-16, I-01, magnitude landscape I-02 Reduction of the annual flow Biodiversity in terms of I-14 magnitude species and habitats Reduction of the annual flow Structure and quality of I-03 magnitude riparian vegetation Reduction of the annual flow + Sea water invasion I-20 magnitude Reduction of the annual flow Aquifer level I-12 magnitude Higher flows in summer Structure and quality of I-11 riparian vegetation Higher flows in summer Status of native fishes I-13 Higher flows in summer + Spread of exotic species I-11, I-13 Flow stabilization Structure and quality of I-13 riparian vegetation Flow stabilization Status of native fishes I-11, I-03 References used for cross-checking (Jowett and Richardson 1995; Næsje et al. 1995; Whiting 2002; Benejam et al. 2010) (Jowett and Richardson 1995) (Poff et al. 1997) (Brown and Daniel 1991; Pflüger et al. 2010) (Whiting 2002) (Johnson et al. 1976; Whiting 2002; Richardson et al. 2007) (Glover 1959) (Glover 1959; Whiting 2002) (Poff et al. 1997; Richardson et al. 2007) (Næsje et al. 1995; Whiting 2002) (Aparicio et al. 2000) (Poff et al. 1997; Richardson et al. 2007) I-02, I-01 (Næsje et al. 1995; Whiting 2002; Bunn and Arthington 2002) (Aparicio et al. 2000; Lake 2003; Prats et al. 2009; Boix et al. 2010) (Poff et al. 1997) (Busch and Smith 1995; Poff et al. 1997; Richardson et al. 2007) (Ballinger and Lake 2006) I-01 (Cushman 1985; Poff et al. 1997) I-11, I-10, I-03 (Cushman 1985; Næsje et al. 1995; Poff et al. 1997; Whiting 2002; Lake 2003; Benejam et al. 2010; Boix et al. 2010) (Closs and Lake 1996; Scott and Helfman 2001; Boix et al. 2010) (Glover 1959; Lake 2003) (Closs and Lake 1996; Scott and Helfman 2001; Boix et al. 2010) (Pflüger et al. 2010) Flow stabilization + Spread of exotic species I-09, I-11, I-13, I-03 Flow stabilization Prolonged low flows - I-13 I-02 Prolonged low flows - Prolonged low flows - Prolonged low flows - Water quality Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Status of native terrestrial fauna Status of native aquatic birds Status of native fishes Prolonged low flows - Spread of exotic species I-11, I-03 Prolonged low flows Prolonged low flows +/- I-12 I-10, I-04, I-01 Prolonged low flows - Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency - Aquifer level Biodiversity in terms of species and habitats Aesthetics of the landscape Diversity of river morphology Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency Lower flow velocity of water upstream Lower flow velocity of water upstream Lower flow velocity of water upstream Lower flow velocity of water upstream Capture sediment moving downstream - Aquifer level I-12, I-04 - I-13 - Biodiversity in terms of species and habitats Status of native fishes I-03 (Kingsford and Thomas 1995; Kondolf and Wilcock 1996; Bunn and Arthington 2002) (Jowett and Richardson 1995) + Spread of exotic species I-14, I-15, I-03 (Janes et al. 1996; Geiger et al. 2005; Boix et al. 2010) - Water quality I-15, I-03 (Friedl and Wüest 2002) - Aesthetics of the landscape Diversity of river morphology I-06 (Pflüger et al. 2010) I-11, I-08, I-12 (Ligon et al. 1995; Poff et al. 1997; Kondolf 1997) - - I-13, I-02 I-11, I-13 I-13 (Jackson and Beschta 1992; Ligon et al. 1995; Kondolf and Wilcock 1996; Whiting 2002) (McBride and Strahan 1984; Kondolf and Wilcock 1996; Poff et al. 1997; Whiting 2002; Richardson et al. 2007) (Glover 1959; Whiting 2002) 1 Table S2.2 Relationship between hydrological alterations and benefits for the human well-being Hydrological alterations originating an impact Effect Affected benefits Interviewees that identified such link* Reduction of the current flow magnitude Preservation of historical canals I-16, I-19, I-15 Reduction of the current flow magnitude Hydropower I-09, I-07 Reduction of the annual flow magnitude Preservation of wetlands I-14 Reduction of the annual flow magnitude Preservation of coastal ecosystems I-17, I-11, I-16 Reduction of the annual flow magnitude Drinking water supply I-10 Reduction of the annual flow magnitude Irrigation I-19 Reduction of the annual flow magnitude Inter-basin water transfer I-13, I-15 Higher flows in summer + Irrigation I-11, I-15 Flow stabilization + Hydropower I-11 Prolonged low flows + Preservation of historical canals I-16, I-19, I-15 Prolonged low flows Swimming I-01 Prolonged low flows Grazing I-04, I-01 Prolonged low flows Hydropower I-07 Prolonged low flows Industry water supply I-05 Prolonged low flows Intensive farming I-08 Prolonged low flows Irrigation I-16, I-15 Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency Preservation of wetlands I-17, I-11, I-12 Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency Preservation of coastal ecosystems I-17 Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency + Hydropower I-11, I-07 Reduced high flows in terms of magnitude and frequency + Security against floods I-13, I-02, I-05 Rapid changes in river stage Riverbank activities I-13 Rapid changes in river stage Swimming I-13 Rapid changes in river stage Washing clothes I-13 Rapid changes in river stage Angling I-13 Rapid changes in river stage Boating I-13 Rapid changes in river stage Hydropower I-09 Lower flow velocity of water upstream Boating I-11 Lower flow velocity of water upstream Relaxing sound of the flowing stream I-06, I-07 Lower flow velocity of water upstream Dumping debris I-06 Capture sediment moving downstream Preservation of coastal ecosystems I-11, I-16, I-12 *As we rely on the stakeholders’ opinion on how the ecosystem generates benefits for the human well-being, we didn’t need to cross-check with the literature. 2 Table S2.3 Relationship among components of the river ecosystem Components of the rivers whose Sign of Affected components of maintenance has an effect the effect the river ecosystem Aquifer level + Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Aquifer level Sea water invasion Aquifer level + Water quality of aquifers Biodiversity in terms of species + Aesthetics of the and habitats landscape Diversity of river morphology + Biodiversity in terms of species and habitats Diversity of river morphology + Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Diversity of river morphology + Status of native fishes Diversity of river morphology Spread of exotic species Spread of exotic species + - Status of native amphibians + Status of native fishes Status of native fishes + + Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Structure and quality of riparian vegetation Water quality + Water quality Water quality Water quality + + Interviewees that identified such link I-11 I-12, I-04 I-12 I-01 References used for cross-checking (Johnson et al. 1976; Whiting 2002; Richardson et al. 2007) (Glover 1959) (Glover 1959) (Montgomery 2002) I-13 (Aparicio et al. 2000) I-13 (Richardson et al. 2007) I-09 I-02 (Meffe and Sheldon 1988; Pusey et al. 1993; Aparicio et al. 2000; Bunn and Arthington 2002) (Kondolf 1997) (Roberts et al. 1995) (Stanford et al. 1996; Poff et al. 1997; Aparicio et al. 2000; Bunn and Arthington 2002) * I-01 I-02 (Ruiz-Olmo et al. 2001) (Lake 2003) I-13, I-03 (Whiting 2002) I-02 (Ballinger and Lake 2006) I-11, I-08, I-12 I-14 I-13 + Aquifer level Water quality Biodiversity in terms of species and habitats Status of native aquatic birds Status of native otters Status of native aquatic birds Biodiversity in terms of species and habitats Status of native terrestrial fauna Status of native fishes I-03 (Baltz and Moyle 1984; Whiting 2002) + Water quality I-08, I-03 + Aesthetics of the landscape Status of native fishes I-13, I-01, I-02 (Baltz and Moyle 1984; Knight and Bottorff 1984; Whiting 2002; Richardson et al. 2007) (Pflüger et al. 2010) + + Status of native crayfish Spread of exotic species Aesthetics of the landscape * Too specific relationship to find suitable references for cross-checking I-09, I-13, I-10, I-18, I20, I-15 I-06 I-09 I-13, I-14, I-01 (Aparicio et al. 2000) * * (Pflüger et al. 2010) 3 Table S2.4 Relationship between natural elements of the river ecosystem and benefits for the human well-being Components of the rivers whose maintenance has an Sign of the Interviewees that identified such effect effect Affected benefits link* Aesthetics of the landscape + Appreciation of the natural I-10, I-08 environment Aesthetics of the landscape + Riverbank activities I-11, I-10 Aesthetics of the landscape + Angling I-03 Aesthetics of the landscape + Walking, jogging and cycling I-09, I-10, I-16, I-01 Aquifer level + Preservation of wetlands I-11, I-12 Aquifer level + Intensive farming I-10 Aquifer level + Drinking water supply I-10, I-12 Aquifer level + Irrigation I-11 Biodiversity in terms of species and habitats + Appreciation of the natural I-08 environment Diversity of river morphology + Swimming I-01 Diversity of river morphology + Security against floods I-08 Sea water invasion Irrigation I-12 Sea water invasion Preservation of wetlands I-20 Sea water invasion Drinking water supply I-20, I-12 Spread of exotic species Preservation of historical canals I-13 Spread of exotic species Swimming I-09 Spread of exotic species +/Angling I-09, I-17, I-10, I-16 Spread of exotic species +/Appreciation of the natural I-13, I-20 environment Status of native amphibians + Appreciation of the natural I-02 environment Status of native aquatic birds + Appreciation of the natural I-09, I-13, I-02 environment Status of native crayfish + Appreciation of the natural I-02 environment Status of native eels + Angling I-09 Status of native fishes + Angling I-10, I-03, I-01 Status of native fishes + Appreciation of the natural I-13 environment Status of native otters + Appreciation of the natural I-01 environment Status of native otters + Game I-11, I-01 Status of native terrestrial fauna + Appreciation of the natural I-02 environment Structure and quality of riparian vegetation +/Appreciation of the natural I-02 environment Structure and quality of riparian vegetation + Riverbank activities I-10 Structure and quality of riparian vegetation + Swimming I-10 Structure and quality of riparian vegetation + Angling I-03 Structure and quality of riparian vegetation + Walking, jogging and cycling I-13, I-16 Structure and quality of riparian vegetation + Timber extraction I-11, I-10, I-08 Structure and quality of riparian vegetation + Security against floods I-08 Water quality + Swimming I-09, I-10, I-20, I-01, I-07 Water quality + Drinking water supply I-10, I-20 Water quality of aquifers + Drinking water supply I-10 *As we rely on the stakeholders’ opinion on how the ecosystem generates benefits for the human well-being, we didn’t need to cross-check with the literature. 4 References Aparicio E, Vargas MJ, Olmo JM, de Sostoa A (2000) Decline of native freshwater fishes in a Mediterranean watershed on the Iberian Peninsula: a quantitative assessment. 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