Spatial and temporal organization of macroinvertebrate assemblages in a lowland floodplain ecosystem

Starr, Scott M.; Benstead, Jonathan P.; Sponseller, Ryan A.

doi:10.1007/s10980-014-0037-8

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…These findings are in contrast with Starr et al (2014) and Arscott et al (2003), who reported an increase of compositional heterogeneity coming from the increasing isolation of sampling sites, and from flood homogenization respectively. García-Roger et al (2011) instead found similar results, with a mesohabitat (riffles and pools in their study) differentiation smaller during the dry season for a decrease of mesohabitat heterogeneity.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 97%

“…These findings are consistent with Harding (2009), Zilli andMarchese (2011), Karaus et al (2013) and Starr et al (2014), that reported significant levels of variation of taxa richness and abundance among mesohabitats inside river reaches. Arscott et al (2005) found greater diversity in macroinvertebrate communities of backwaters areas of Tagliamento River, while Gray and Harding (2009) pointed out spring creeks, spring sources and ponds and Zilli and Marchese (2011) isolated lakes as mesohabitats hosting greater diversity in New Zealand rivers and in Panamá River floodplain, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Mesohabitat mosaic in lowland braided rivers: Short-term variability of macroinvertebrate metacommunities

et al. 2017

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Braided rivers are among the most variable and dynamic riverine systems. Changes in these environments are sudden and frequent, driven by the high hydrological variability. They host high levels of local heterogeneity, with many different habitats in close proximity establishing a mosaic of patches. This provides the conditions for high levels of biodiversity, with strong community variability in particular among the different habitats at the stream-reach level. Nevertheless, these systems are still poorly studied and their complexity is often not taken into account in biomonitoring protocols. We applied mixed effects modelling, spatial ordination techniques and beta-diversity partitioning (into nestedness and turnover components) with the aim of improving the knowledge of braided rivers, investigating: i) the organization of macroinvertebrate communities among the different habitats of a river reach, and ii) the temporal variability of this organization (both among seasons and during summer). We predicted a differentiation of macroinvertebrate communities between distinct habitats within rivers, with this differentiation increasing during the low-flow period. We carried out our study in four braided rivers and streams of the Po River basin (Northern Italy) sampling three different kinds of mesohabitats (main channel, secondary channel and pool) in eight stations during seven campaigns from June 2015 to April 2016. We found a high variability of taxa richness, abundance and community structure among mesohabitats, with marginal ones accounting for the greater part of macroinvertebrate diversity. Secondary channels resulted as being the habitat hosting greater taxa diversity, with 10 exclusive taxa. Surprisingly the mesohabitat communities differed greatly during the seasonal phase, whereas their dissimilarity decreased during summer. This could be explained considering the summer flow reduction as a homogenizing force, leading to a general loss of the most sensitive taxa. However, the summer taxa turnover value resulted higher than nestedness, suggesting a strong environmental control on community organization, with taxa well adapted to the different conditions of mesohabitats and able to manage the effects of flow reduction. Our work represents a remarkable issue for biomonitoring protocols, highlighting the importance of taking into account the whole complexity of braided rivers for a more realistic evaluation of macroinvertebrate communities.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Mesohabitat mosaic in lowland braided rivers: Short-term variability of macroinvertebrate metacommunities

et al. 2017

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“…However, several studies have suggested that high connectivity and regular inundation by floodwater may act to constrain species richness on the floodplain (Bornette et al, 1998;Reckendorfer et al, 2006). The reduced species richness at sites of high connectivity with the river may reflect the large physical disturbance (high flow velocity of flood water) caused by river floodwater on floodplains (Ward et al, 2002;Tockner et al, 2010;Starr et al, 2014). Notwithstanding this, the results of the current study indicate that high invertebrate richness was associated with highly connected ponds adjacent to the River Soar.…”

Section: Connectivity (Pond Proximity)mentioning

confidence: 42%

“…Notwithstanding this, the results of the current study indicate that high invertebrate richness was associated with highly connected ponds adjacent to the River Soar. Similarly, the highest diversity of macroinvertebrate communities on the River Sipsey floodplain, Alabama, USA, were recorded from sloughs (wetlands) with greatest connectivity to the main river channel (Starr et al, 2014). In this study the River Soar floodplain has a number of lateral drainage ditches connected to the main channel which can reduce the floodwater velocity over the floodplain.…”

Section: Connectivity (Pond Proximity)mentioning

confidence: 68%

“…In this study the River Soar floodplain has a number of lateral drainage ditches connected to the main channel which can reduce the floodwater velocity over the floodplain. The high species richness associated with high connectivity among ponds on the floodplain may reflect the replenishing effect that floodwater can have (when there is lower floodwater flow velocity), especially in lowland landscapes (Lake et al, 2006) such as: re-filling the lentic habitats; re-initiating hydrological connections; facilitating macroinvertebrate dispersal and colonization between floodplain habitats; and the provision of nutrients and food (Starr et al, 2014). Although high connectivity may increase alpha diversity, it has been found to reduce betadiversity in some aquatic systems (Warren, 1996;Pedruski and Arnott, 2011).…”

Section: Connectivity (Pond Proximity)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Pawlikiewicz¹,

Jurasz

2017

Annales Zoologici Fennici

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Ponds are common and abundant features in nearly all landscapes typical of European lowland landscapes yet research on freshwater biodiversity has traditionally focussed on larger waterbodies such as lakes and rivers. This has led to an increased need to understand and quantify the biodiversity associated with pond habitats to better inform the active conservation and management of these small waterbodies. This thesis examines the aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity (alpha, beta and gamma) and conservation value of 95 ponds in Leicestershire, UK, across a variety of urban and rural landscape types and at a range of spatial scales. In addition, the relative importance of local (physicochemical and biological) and spatial (connectivity) variables in structuring macroinvertebrate communities within ponds is investigated. At a regional scale, the greatest macroinvertebrate biodiversity and conservation value was recorded within meadow ponds compared to urban, agricultural and forest ponds. Spatially, ponds were highly physically and biologically heterogeneous. Temporally (seasonally), invertebrate communities were most dissimilar in meadow and agricultural ponds but assemblages were similar in urban and forest ponds. In urban landscapes, park ponds supported a greater diversity of invertebrates than 'other' urban or garden ponds and typically had a greater conservation value. Garden ponds were the most taxon poor of those investigated. Perennial floodplain meadow ponds supported a greater biodiversity of invertebrates compared to ephemeral meadow ponds although conservation value was similar. Despite regular inundation from the River Soar, ephemeral ponds supported distinct communities compared to perennial meadow ponds. Aquatic macrophytes supported a higher diversity of taxa than other pond mesohabitats across all landscapes studied. Physicochemical factors were identified to be the dominant influence on macroinvertebrate assemblages although, a combination of local and spatial factors best explained the variation in community composition at a regional scale and for meadow ponds. Spatial factors were not identified to significantly influence urban pond communities. This study highlights the ecological importance and conservation value of ponds in rural and anthropogenically disturbed landscapes. Recognition of the significant contribution of ponds to freshwater biodiversity at regional and landscape scales is important for future conservation of pond habitats and will help focus and direct conservation strategies to where they are needed most.iv

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Direct and indirect effects of flood regime on macroinvertebrate assemblages in a floodplain riverscape

et al. 2019

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Floods are necessary for the functioning of floodplain ecosystems. Ultimately, flood effects on biota are spatially complex and unfold at various time scales. Yet, biodiversity conservation in regulated floodplains requires a sound quantification of the main pathways how floods affect riverine ecosystems. Here, we investigated the relative effects of flood frequency, magnitude, and time elapsed since the last flood on macroinvertebrate communities of 24 parafluvial habitats in the Maggia river floodplain, Switzerland. Parafluvial habitats were sampled seasonally over 1 year, and a combination of 2D hydrodynamic modelling and piecewise structural equation modelling was used to quantify the direct and indirect effects of local hydrological metrics on macroinvertebrate communities. We found that high flood frequency favoured rheophilic species (EPT taxa) over other groups (Coleoptera, Diptera) and prevented strong competitive interactions and competitive exclusion by maintaining low food resource levels. Importantly, we found that parafluvial habitats exhibited more lentic‐like characteristics as time passed after a flood, which caused EPT taxa to be relatively more abundant and taxa richness higher immediately after flood disturbance. Lastly, overall taxa richness increased over time after a flood and even more so after larger floods. Our results suggest that variation in flood magnitude, frequency, and return period maximizes beta diversity within floodplain riverscapes due to the independent and spatially interactive responses of parafluvial habitats.

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Spatial and temporal organization of macroinvertebrate assemblages in a lowland floodplain ecosystem

Cited by 21 publications

References 49 publications

Mesohabitat mosaic in lowland braided rivers: Short-term variability of macroinvertebrate metacommunities

Mesohabitat mosaic in lowland braided rivers: Short-term variability of macroinvertebrate metacommunities

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

Direct and indirect effects of flood regime on macroinvertebrate assemblages in a floodplain riverscape

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