| Title | Spatial scale effects on taxonomic and biological trait diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean streams |
| Abstract | We examined the effect of spatial scale on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in Mediterranean streams from six basins distributed across southern Europe, including Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. We classified the studied streams according to their long-term aquatic regime into the three following types: (i) permanent (P), (ii) intermittent with summer pools (I-P), and (iii) intermittent with summer dry channels (I-D). For each stream type, we analyzed taxonomic and trait diversity, as well as the composition of the macroinvertebrate community, following a spatially nested design at three spatial scales of analysis: microhabitat (substratum patches), mesohabitat (pools vs. riffles), and macrohabitat (streams). In order to assess intrinsic seasonal variability in streams from the Mediterranean region, 20 Surber samples were taken from each stream according to meso- and microhabitat frequency in the wet and the dry season during 2010. Given the need for adaptation to specific hydrological conditions and the fact that microhabitats should encompass the niche requirements of particular taxa, we hypothesized that this spatial scale would have a greater influence on macroinvertebrate taxa composition and biological traits than the other two larger spatial scales in intermittent streams. We observed that patterns in the relative importance of variance components across hierarchical spatial scales changed with time because low flow or droughts altered both mesohabitat prevalence and microhabitat composition. Our results confirm the importance of the microhabitat scale in I-P streams in the wet season but not in the dry one, when a loss of microhabitat diversity occurred. Stream-to-stream variability was more important in P and I-D streams. Our study also explored the relationships between traits and aquatic regimes. We found that aquatic macroinvertebrates inhabiting permanent streams exhibited traits related to the longer duration of life cycles in these rivers (e.g. large size of adult stages) and adaptations to flowing conditions (e.g. modes of aquatic dispersal), whereas aquatic macroinvertebrates inhabiting intermittent streams with summer pools had traits adapted to depositional conditions and ecological preferences for confined habitats (i.e. disconnected pools without flow). Finally, aquatic macroinvertebrates from intermittent streams with summer dry channels had adaptations conferring ability to survive periods with no water (e.g. modes of aerial dispersal, resistant stages). These results indicate that microhabitat conditions should not be neglected as they can play an important role in certain situations. © 2013 E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. |
| Source | Fundamental and applied limnology 183 (2), pp. 89–105 |
| Keywords | Aquatic macroinvertebratesBiological traitsDiversityMediterranean regionMicrohabitatsSeasonal changesSpatial scale |
| Journal | Fundamental and applied limnology |
| Editor | Schweizerbart, Stuttgart, Germania |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1127/1863-9135/2013/0429 |
| Authors | Garcia-Roger E.M.; Del Mar Sanchez-Montoya M.; Cid N.; Erba S.; Karaouzas I.; Verkaik I.; Rieradevall M.; Gomez R.; Suarez M.L.; Vidal-Abarca M.R.; DeMartini D.; Buffagni A.; Skoulikidis N.; Bonada N.; Prat N. |
| Text | 306830 2013 10.1127/1863 9135/2013/0429 Scopus 2 s2.0 84890545639 Aquatic macroinvertebrates Biological traits Diversity Mediterranean region Microhabitats Seasonal changes Spatial scale Spatial scale effects on taxonomic and biological trait diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates in Mediterranean streams Garcia Roger E.M.; Del Mar Sanchez Montoya M.; Cid N.; Erba S.; Karaouzas I.; Verkaik I.; Rieradevall M.; Gomez R.; Suarez M.L.; Vidal Abarca M.R.; DeMartini D.; Buffagni A.; Skoulikidis N.; Bonada N.; Prat N. Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology and Management FEM , Departament d Ecologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Departamento de Ecologia e Hidrologia, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad de Murcia, Spain; Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque CNR IRSA , Italy; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research HCMR , Greece; Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat I Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de Valencia, Spain We examined the effect of spatial scale on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in Mediterranean streams from six basins distributed across southern Europe, including Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. We classified the studied streams according to their long term aquatic regime into the three following types i permanent P , ii intermittent with summer pools I P , and iii intermittent with summer dry channels I D . For each stream type, we analyzed taxonomic and trait diversity, as well as the composition of the macroinvertebrate community, following a spatially nested design at three spatial scales of analysis microhabitat substratum patches , mesohabitat pools vs. riffles , and macrohabitat streams . In order to assess intrinsic seasonal variability in streams from the Mediterranean region, 20 Surber samples were taken from each stream according to meso and microhabitat frequency in the wet and the dry season during 2010. Given the need for adaptation to specific hydrological conditions and the fact that microhabitats should encompass the niche requirements of particular taxa, we hypothesized that this spatial scale would have a greater influence on macroinvertebrate taxa composition and biological traits than the other two larger spatial scales in intermittent streams. We observed that patterns in the relative importance of variance components across hierarchical spatial scales changed with time because low flow or droughts altered both mesohabitat prevalence and microhabitat composition. Our results confirm the importance of the microhabitat scale in I P streams in the wet season but not in the dry one, when a loss of microhabitat diversity occurred. Stream to stream variability was more important in P and I D streams. Our study also explored the relationships between traits and aquatic regimes. We found that aquatic macroinvertebrates inhabiting permanent streams exhibited traits related to the longer duration of life cycles in these rivers e.g. large size of adult stages and adaptations to flowing conditions e.g. modes of aquatic dispersal , whereas aquatic macroinvertebrates inhabiting intermittent streams with summer pools had traits adapted to depositional conditions and ecological preferences for confined habitats i.e. disconnected pools without flow . Finally, aquatic macroinvertebrates from intermittent streams with summer dry channels had adaptations conferring ability to survive periods with no water e.g. modes of aerial dispersal, resistant stages . These results indicate that microhabitat conditions should not be neglected as they can play an important role in certain situations. © 2013 E. Schweizerbart sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. 183 http //www.scopus.com/inward/record.url eid=2 s2.0 84890545639 partnerID=q2rCbXpz Articolo in rivista Schweizerbart 1863 9135 Fundamental and applied limnology Fundamental and applied limnology Fundam. appl. limnol. Fundamental and applied limnology. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie 2007 DEMARTINI DANIELE andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO stefania.erba ERBA STEFANIA |
