Are distribution patterns linked to dispersal mechanism? An investigation using pond invertebrate assemblages

Abstract

1. Dispersal ability influences the distribution and abundance of organisms, but empirical investigations of the relationship between dispersal ability and the composition of ecological assemblages are scarce. Here, we compare between‐site variation in the species richness and community composition of actively and passively dispersing pond invertebrates. 2. Coleoptera (active dispersers) and microcrustacea (passive dispersers) were sampled over a season from 16 ponds within a 4‐km radius in south‐west England. Species richness and community composition were related to environmental variables using regression and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), respectively. 3. Coleopteran species richness was significantly and positively correlated with pond permanence and maximum area, whereas microcrustacean species richness was relatively equal across sites and did not correlate with environmental variables. The frequency of species' occurrence between sites was the same for both groups, which suggests that active and passive dispersers exhibited the same degree of dispersal. 4. Between‐site variation in community composition was non‐random for both groups, with pond permanence and area, together, explaining similar proportions of between‐site variation for Coleoptera. Permanence was correlated most strongly with microcrustacean community composition and a high proportion (25%) of microcrustacean species were more numerous in smaller, more ephemeral ponds. 5. These data suggest that, at small spatial scales, Coleoptera which can undertake multiple dispersal events, are more likely to colonise large, more permanent ponds than passively dispersing microcrustacea. For microcrustacea, other traits (in this case those permitting existence in ephemeral habitats) may over‐ride the influences of dispersal in driving between‐site variation in species composition.

How do freshwater organisms cross the “dry ocean”? A review on passive dispersal and colonization processes with a special focus on temporary ponds

“…Resting stages are the most important propagules for many aquatic taxa (Rundle et al, 2002) and are easily transported by different physical and biological vectors (Fig. 2) on short and long distances, even though the existence of a direct relationship between the ability of producing resting stages and dispersal efficiency is controversial (Schulz et al, 2012;De Bie et al, 2012;Heino, 2013).…”

“…Although the dispersal of adult snails and ostracods, or plant fragments (Karanovic, 2012;Havel et al, 2014;Bruckerhoff et al, 2014) can be related to their relatively high resistance to desiccation and UV radiation (e.g. Van den Broecke et al, 2012), or, as regard nematodes, to their ability to undergo anhydrobiosis (Ptatscheck & Traunspurger, 2014), resting stages are the main dispersal propagules for several organisms in temporary ponds (Rundle et al, 2002). Moreover, although several organisms inhabiting permanent waters produce resting stages and can be found in temporary waters, the opposite seldom occurs since ecological interactions (e.g.…”

Diving beetle assemblages of flooded wetlands in relation to time, wetland type and Bti-based mosquito control

“…Other habitat conditions than water regime may have had less importance in structuring the dytiscid fauna as found in Lundkvist et al (2001). Factors that positively influence dytiscid species richness are water permanence, and absence of shading effects from trees (Nilsson & Svensson, 1994;Lundkvist et al, 2001;Rundle et al, 2002;Schäfer et al, 2006). Habitat complexity provided by vegetation, may contribute positively to both the dytiscid species richness and diversity , and the most diverse dytiscid assemblages are found in small stagnant water-bodies with at least some seasonality in the water fluctuations (Larson, 1985).…”

Ecological Drivers of Cladoceran Diversity in the Central European City (Łódź, Poland): Effects of Urbanisation and Size of the Waterbody

“…Ponds may be useful agents to test ecological theory, such as island biogeography theory (MacArthur and Wilson, 1967) as they can be viewed as isolated islands of suitable habitat surrounded by a matrix of unsuitable habitat (Blaustein and Schwartz, 2001; Rundle et al, 2002). This ecological theory is one of the most widely known and accepted species distribution concepts (Gravel et al, 2011).…”

“…This in itself represents only a fraction of the overall biological diversity present within ponds. Aquatic macrophytes Jeffries, 2008;Hassall et al, 2012), algae (Asencio, 2014), and Zooplankton (Rundle et al, 2002;Drenner et al, 2009) are also very well represented within ponds and all six species of native UK amphibians (including the protected Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) and the Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita)) utilise ponds (Boothby, 1997b;O'Brien, 2014;Peterman et al, 2014). In addition, the following section outlines the ecological importance of ponds to freshwater biodiversity.…”