Multiple stressors in river networks: Local and downstream effects on freshwater macroinvertebrates

River networks are complex ecosystems characterized by a continuous exchange of material and energy through longitudinal gradients. These ecosystems are threatened by various human-induced stressors, which frequently co-occur and may interact in complex ways, potentially triggering cascading effects in the river network. Aiming at assessing the single and combined effects of flow intermittency and light pollution on macroinvertebrate communities, we performed a multiple stressor experiment in 18 flow-through mesocosms. Each mesocosm was designed to mimic a simplified river network, with two upstream tributaries merging downstream, to assess both local and cascading effects. The experiment was performed in Summer 2021 for seven weeks, applying the stressors either separately or co-occurring in the upstream sections, following a randomized block design. Flow intermittency was simulated as the ponded phase of the drying process, whereas light pollution was applied with LED strips (set at 1..., Data were collected during a field experiment in Summer 2021, using the Disconnected system, a system of 18 flow-through mesocosms, at the Eußerthal Ecosystem Research Station (EERES, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau), in the Palatinate Forest (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany). The Disconnected system is a mesocosm system designed to mimic a simplified river network, with two upstream tributaries merging together downstream. The experiment lasted seven weeks, with three weeks of colonisation and four weeks of treatment. Drift data were collected weekly during the treatment phase of the experiment. Benthos data were collected at the end of the experiment. 
Drift samples were collected by placing drift nets at the outlet of each upstream section. Benthos samples were collected from sampling areas of 150 cm2 with two replicates in each section (six samples per flume).
All macroinvertebrate samples were processed, counting and identifying organisms to a mixed taxonomic level (family or genus).&nbsp..., , # Data from: Multiple stressors in river networks: Local and downstream effects on freshwater macroinvertebrates

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rfj6q57k5](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rfj6q57k5)

## Description of the data and file structure

The experiment was performed to assess the local and downstream effects of multiple stressors (flow intermittency and light pollution) on macroinvertebrate communities in a river network. The study took place in a system of 18 flow-through mesocosms, with each mesocosm unit designed to mimic a simplified river network. The experiment ran for seven weeks in summer 2021, consisting of 26 days of colonization followed by 23 days of treatment. The Excel spreadsheet includes four sheets (drift, benthos, background_data, and README) that are described below. 

### Files and variables

#### File: DISCONNECTED_alldata.xlsx

**Description:** Data from the Disconnected project

##### Variables

* drift (sheet 1): data for drifting macroinvertebrates
* ID...,