Macroinvertebrate communities in sediment and plants in coastal Mediterranean water bodies (Central Iberian Peninsula).

Abstract

Sediment and plant-associated macroinvertebrates were sampled in six shallow water bodies along the central part of the coast of Mediterranean Spain. The size of ponds, salinity and hydroperiod were highly variable. Seventy-one taxa were recorded, some of them were endemic or uncommon species, evidencing the important contribution of these ponds to biodiversity. Crustaceans and gastropods of biogeographical interest were found in the most primeval site. Correspondence analysis showed that macroinvertebrate assemblages responded to environmental variables such as salinity, temporality and eutrophication. The brackish water fauna was dominated by crustaceans, while oligochaeta and insect larvae were abundant in freshwater conditions. Oligochaetes were abundant at localities with high trophic level, whereas localities with semi-permanent waters were dominated by chironomids. The density of macroinvertebrates was clearly related with trophic state but we did not find significant relationships between density and salinity or water permanence. For plant associated samples our results showed negative relationships between species richness and temporality or salinity, contrary to sediment samples, where the Oligochaeta/Chironomidae ratio in sediments and the percentage of sensitive taxa (Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera) were useful indices, and were dependent on pond typology. This study emphasizes the broad ecological variety of ponds found in these wetlands and their importance for biodiversity. Some ponds act as permanent biodiversity reservoirs in fluctuant marshes with seasonal dryness, calling for more attention on their ecological relevance for management strategies.

Aquatic invertebrate assemblages in ponds from coastal Mediterranean wetlands

“…This period was selected because it covers the macrophyte development (their growth usually starts in spring and senescence occurs in early autumn), and thus, associated aquatic macroinvertebrates (Sahuquillo et al, 2007). Due to the high evaporation in summer, the shallowest areas of some ponds (WP1, RE3 and RE5) dried out naturally.…”

“…In the Mediterranean region where lakes are usually scarce, these shallow habitats are quite common, and most of them are located on coastal areas, so the prevalence of brackish water bodies is high (Boix et al, 2007;Sahuquillo et al, 2007). Owing to their shallowness, benthic and pelagic habitats are strongly linked (Vadeboncoeur et al, 2001), but despite this relationship, these habitats are often treated independently.…”

“…) as well as adult and larval insects (Boix et al, 2007;Sahuquillo et al, 2007). These organisms can move through the water column faster than smaller planktonic organisms (as rotifers or cladocerans), and in very shallow systems, they can use the sediment or the vegetation as a refuge against predation (Romare et al, 2003).…”

Checklist of benthic macroinvertebrates of the Lago Pratignano (northern Apennines, Italy): an extremely rich ecosystem

“…Some information on the macrozoobethic community of small water bodies is present for Europe (Boix et al 2001;Sahuquillo et al 2007;Oertli et al 2008;Céréghino et al 2012;Guareschi et al 2012;Novikmec et al 2015). In Italy, there are data for alpine mountains ponds (Boggero et al 2005;Boggero and Lencioni 2006;Füreder et al 2006;Maiolini et al 2006;Steingruber et al 2013) and for lowland ponds Della Bella et al 2005;Della Bella and Mancini 2009).…”

Influence of vegetation cover on the biological traits of pond invertebrate communities

“…Recent studies have revealed their importance for aquatic biodiversity (Pyke 2005, Dimitriou et al 2006, Scheffer et al 2006, EPCN 2007 because, despite their small size, they disproportionately contribute to regional diversity, e.g., when compared to streams, large rivers, or lakes (Oertli et al 2002, Williams et al 2004, Karaus et al 2005. To date, the structure of biological communities in ponds was mostly studied on the basis of taxonomic composition (Sahuquillo et al 2007, Céréghino et al 2008. While great emphasis has been laid on species richness (Oertli et al 2002, Williams et al 2004) and species assemblage patterns in ponds (Briers & Biggs 2005, Mergeay et al 2006, Demeter & Hartel 2007, little is known about patterns of biological traits of pond invertebrates (but see Cayrou & Céré-ghino 2005).…”