Diversity in constant and fluctuating environments

Eddison, Jill; Ollason, J. G.

doi:10.1038/275309a0

Cited by 29 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…(e.g. Eddison & Ollason, 1978). Ward (1994), however, reported that severe reduction in faunal diversity, as often found in lowland springbrooks, is not always apparent and that alpine rheocrenes are characterised by a species richness intermediate between those of kryal and rhithral streams.…”

Section: Diversity and Red Listsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Springs of the Alps – Sensitive Ecosystems to Environmental Change: From Biodiversity Assessments to Long-term Studies

Gerecke²,

2006

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The main aim of the present review is to synthesise the present level of knowledge on the hydrobiology of springs in the Alps. Springs are usually small, but complex and taxa rich. They have a mosaic structure, a high degree of individuality and an azonal character, due to the peculiar physicochemical stability. Springs are ecotones linking an aquifer to the uppermost section of a surface running water system. Due to adaptations, of which stenothermy is the most frequent, representatives of many groups of plants and animals have in springs their exclusive (crenobionts) or favourite (crenophiles) habitat. This leads to a peculiar longitudinal distribution of organisms. In spite of this complexity, springs (in particular high elevation springs of the Alps) have received much less attention than other types of inland waters. They are endangered habitats, being menaced by a series of direct impacts (primarily water abstractions) and indirect impacts. The classical Steinmann-Thienemann ecomorphological types are still used with differences in the physical and chemical characteristics and in the biota. In the Alps rheocrene springs (where current velocity is one of the most relevant factors and the importance of the fringing semi-aquatic habitats is reduced) are the most frequent. However, in nature, most springs are transition types among the three traditional ones and these can now be assessed thanks to procedures considering mainly the substrate particle size. The physicochemistry of springs is characterised by limited seasonal fluctuations and determined by the characteristics of the aquifer and by indirect (especially airborne contaminants) and direct impacts. Many groups of organisms are well represented and include indicators of the trophic and acid-base status, of hydrogeology, hydrological stability and biological integrity. The groups with the highest proportions of specialised taxa are mosses, water mites, dipterans, hydrobioid snails and caddisflies. Attempts are being made to add to the traditional spring types hydrochemistry and vegetation and to the regional faunistic types, diatom-based types, to combine different approaches and to consider also functional ones, such as the distinction between POM and mosses' springs. Given the high proportion of spring-specific taxa, we propose to use the zoobenthos, especially water mites, for an evaluation of the biological integrity of springs, whilst autotrophs, and in particular diatoms, which are the most widespread and taxa-rich group, can provide excellent indicators of eutrophication, acidification and ionic strength. This would require the calibration of the most promising diatom-based procedures to the spring environment and improvement of the knowledge on the taxonomy and distribution of key zoobenthos groups in the Alps. Other areas where further research is required are the definition of integrated spring-types, the potential for recovery of autotrophs in restored springs, functional aspects, the applicability of paleolimnological techniques to springs an...

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Section: Diversity and Red Listsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Springs of the Alps – Sensitive Ecosystems to Environmental Change: From Biodiversity Assessments to Long-term Studies

Gerecke²,

2006

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“…The high richness of ciliate in the land/water zone could be caused by the socalled 'contact effect' which is very often responsible for the increase in species diversity (Naiman & Decamps 1997). Eddison & Ollason (1978) consider that protozoans which inhabit continuously changing habitats are more qualitively diversified than those living on more stable and homogenous substrata. However, the lowest number of species in the macrophytes/open water zone could be associated with the 'rinsing out' of ciliates from that zone by waving.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative study of periphytic ciliate communities and succession on natural and artificial substrata in two shallow lakes (Eastern Poland)

Mieczan¹

2007

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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“…By contrast, a similar analysis in a temperate sagebrush steppe found only weak effects of climatic variability on species coexistence (Adler, HilleRisLambers & Levine, 2009). In experimental aquatic microcosms, several studies have shown that species coexistence is favoured by increased temperature fluctuation (Eddison & Ollason, 1978;Descamps-Julien & Gonzalez, 2005;Jiang & Morin, 2007); however, the type of environmental fluctuation appears to determine the type of mechanism involved, with the storage effect operating under red (positively autocorrelated) fluctuations and other mechanisms (particularly relative non-linearity; Chesson, 1994Chesson, , 2000 under white (random) fluctuations (Jiang & Morin, 2007).…”

Section: Species Interactions and Community Structure (1) Phenologmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and evolutionary impacts of changing climatic variability

et al. 2015

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While average temperature is likely to increase in most locations on Earth, many places will simultaneously experience higher variability in temperature, precipitation, and other climate variables. Although ecologists and evolutionary biologists widely recognize the potential impacts of changes in average climatic conditions, relatively little attention has been paid to the potential impacts of changes in climatic variability and extremes. We review the evidence on the impacts of increased climatic variability and extremes on physiological, ecological and evolutionary processes at multiple levels of biological organization, from individuals to populations and communities. Our review indicates that climatic variability can have profound influences on biological processes at multiple scales of organization. Responses to increased climatic variability and extremes are likely to be complex and cannot always be generalized, although our conceptual and methodological toolboxes allow us to make informed predictions about the likely consequences of such climatic changes. We conclude that climatic variability represents an important component of climate that deserves further attention.

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Diversity in constant and fluctuating environments

Cited by 29 publications

References 5 publications

Springs of the Alps – Sensitive Ecosystems to Environmental Change: From Biodiversity Assessments to Long-term Studies

Springs of the Alps – Sensitive Ecosystems to Environmental Change: From Biodiversity Assessments to Long-term Studies

Comparative study of periphytic ciliate communities and succession on natural and artificial substrata in two shallow lakes (Eastern Poland)

Ecological and evolutionary impacts of changing climatic variability

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