Influence of area, altitude and hydroperiod on macroinvertebrate communities in southern Brazil wetlands

Abstract

Wetlands are important ecosystems in southern Brazil because they show high productivity and biological diversity. However, conservative data indicate that ~90% of the wetlands have disappeared as a result of agricultural expansion. In this sense, the understanding of species composition and richness patterns in fragmented and natural wetlands is a priority for biodiversity conservation strategies. The main goal of the present study was to determine how much variation in macroinvertebrate richness and composition is explained by wetland area, hydroperiod and altitude. This survey was carried out in an extensive area of the Neotropical region (~280000 km2 – southern Brazil) with a large number of wetland systems (72) and covering a wide gradient of altitude and wetland surface area. The macroinvertebrate richness was higher in permanent wetlands than intermittent ones, and intermittent wetlands supported a macroinvertebrate composition that clearly differed from those of permanent wetlands. Macroinvertebrate richness was positively affected by wetland area; however, this relationship was significant only in permanent wetlands. There is a need to promote conservation of all wetland systems in southern Brazil, regardless of their hydroperiod and area. These arguments are essential to develop conservation and management programs of wetlands in this region.

Aquatic macrophyte and macroinvertebrate diversity and conservation in wetlands of the Sinos River basin

“…Several studies have already highlighted the importance of small wetlands for the conservation of biodiversity (Semlitsch and Bodie, 1998;Russel et al, 2002). The positive relationship between area and macrophyte and macroinvertebrate richness has been found in Southern Brazil wetlands (Rolon and Maltchik, 2006;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007;Rolon et al, 2008). However, for the macroinvertebrate community, the influence of the area is controversial (Panatta et al, 2007;Stenert et al, 2008).…”

“…In wetlands, a positive relationship between macrophyte and macroinvertebrate richness and area has been found (Heino, 2000;Oertli et al, 2002;Rolon and Maltchik, 2006;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007;Studinski and Grubbs, 2007;Rolon et al, 2008). Consequently, this study had as aims: (1) to analyse the diversity of macrophytes and macroinvertebrates in the fragmented wetlands of the Sinos River basin; and (2) to investigate whether the influence of the area on the richness and on the composition of macrophyte and aquatic macroinvertebrates could work as a tool for selecting the important habitats for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity.…”

“…The principle that a large area supports more species (Rosenzweig, 1995) has been put into practice in conservation planning. The species-area relationships have also been applied to wetland conservation programs in Southern Brazil, mainly for wetlands fragmented by rice cultivation expansion (Guadagnin et al, 2005;Rolon and Maltchik, 2006;Guadagnin and Maltchik, 2007;Panatta et al, 2007;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007;Rolon et al, 2008;Stenert et al, 2008). However, little has been done for wetlands drained by the urban expansion in basins of high demographic density.…”

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

“…The second component of ephemeral macroinvertebrate communities are species only found within ephemeral ponds (ephemeral pond specialists -those that have developed strategies and adaptations to survive the demanding conditions) (Williams, 1997). This often results in communities supported within ephemeral ponds differing considerably compared to perennial ponds (Collinson et al, 1995;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007).…”

“…Recent publications on ephemeral ponds have challenged this statement. Even though ephemeral ponds typically support a lower diversity of aquatic invertebrate taxa than other water body types (Williams, 1996;Nicolet, 2001;Della Bella et al, 2005;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007) because of their demanding physicochemical environment, they are sites of high ecological importance (high conservation value) supporting a comparable, and often greater diversity of rare and endemic macroinvertebrate taxa than perennial waterbodies (Bratton, 1990;Simovich, 1998;Blaustein and Schwartz, 2001;Nicolet et al, 2004;Della Bella et al, 2005;Céréghino et al, 2008b;Díaz-Paniagua et al, 2010).…”