Factors influencing macroinvertebrate assemblages in artificial subtropical ponds of Taiwan

Abstract

Macroinvertebrate assemblages and its association with environmental factors at the 11 artificial subtropical ponds of Taiwan were examined using the multivariate analysis software STATICO. The aims of the study were to determine whether spatial and seasonal variation of macroinvertebrate assemblages changed seasonally, to examine which environmental factors determined the spatial and temporal structure of maroinvertebrate assemblages, and to compare between-pond variations in the taxon composition of macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates were collected seasonally by a corer and a sweep net in 2007, and 13 physical and chemical factors were measured at the same time. A total of 31 macroinvertebrate taxa were collected during the sampling period, and the most dominant taxa were Chironomidae (31.7% of total animal abundance) and Tubificidae (22.4%). STATICO identified pond size, pond depth, sediment depth, and altitude as the major abiotic factors and Bufo melanostictus (Amphibia) as the major biotic factor to influence macroinvertebrate assemblages at these ponds. These factors changed with seasonality. For example, the abundance of B. melanostictus was the most important factor during the spring but became much less important in other seasons. According to the spatial distribution patterns of macroinvertebrate assemblages, macroinvertebrates could be split into two groups based on their dispersal. The active dispersers, such as insect taxa, were strongly associated with pond size and the passive dispersers, such as non-insect taxa, were strongly associated with the pond depth and/or sediment depth. The results of this study suggested that pond size might influence macroinvertebrate assemblages through their dispersal mechanisms and that the environmental factors which influenced the macroinvertebrate assemblages most changed with seasons in this study area.

Richness of littoral macroinvertebrate communities in mountain ponds from NW Spain: what factors does it depend on?

“…On the other hand, these small aquatic systems are rich and diverse habitats and play a key role in safeguarding aquatic biodiversity Shieh, and Chi 2010). These systems are considered to support a high richness of organisms, particularly macroinvertebrates (Oertli et al 2002;Williams et al 2004), both on a local and regional scale (Toro et al 2006).…”

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

“…Pond size has been reported to be a key influence on macroinvertebrate composition within ponds, (Brönmark 1985;Nilsson and Svensson, 1995;Biggs et al, 2005;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007;Ruggiero et al, 2008;Shieh and Chi, 2010) as a greater surface water area can allow larger populations to develop and reduce the chance of extinction (Shieh and Chi, 2010). However, some studies found that pond size has relatively little influence on community composition (Scheffer et al, 2006;Nakanishi et al, 2014).…”

“…Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) deleteriously impacted snail abundance. Shieh & Chi, 2010Kett & Kirk, 1994Krull, 1970Nyström et al, 2001 dries and re-colonize quickly as the pond fills to exploit the resources (Vanschoenwinkel et al, 2009). Macroinvertebrate richness and abundance increased in accordance with increasing hydroperiod length in ephemeral ponds in New Hampshire, USA (Tarr et al, 2005).…”

“…There has been debate in the academic literature surrounding the influence of pond size on macroinvertebrate communities, with some research identifying a strong influence Shieh and Chi, 2010) whilst other studies have suggested pond size exerts a weak influence . Previous research has demonstrated that cyclical pond drying and desiccation is a key determinant of macroinvertebrate community assemblage within ephemeral ponds (Bilton et al, 2001;Brönmark and Hansson, 2005;Williams, 2006).…”

Comparison of benthic macroinvertebrates in three polyculture models of ponds stocking mainlyCtenopharyngodon idellus

“…As an important habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates, the pond ecosystem has been paid much attention to its different components, the macroinvertebrate assemblages were often a matter of atenton [1,41,42]. ponds in southern England [29].…”