Adaptation, phenology and disturbance of macroinvertebrates in temporary water bodies

Abstract

The temporal transition of species dominance following disturbances is strongly influenced by taxon life histories. In temporary water bodies, seasonal progression can be rapid. The community response of aquatic littoral invertebrate communities to disturbance was measured across four temporary water bodies (turloughs) representing a hydroperiod gradient in the karst landscape of western Ireland. Three distinct turlough wet-phases were identified based on macroinvertebrate taxon richness and community composition: filling, aquatic and drying phase. Invertebrates able to recolonise the turlough environment quickly upon flooding from refugia (e.g. sink-holes or little puddles) or resting stages within the turlough basin demonstrated highest proportion in abundances during the initial filling phase. Over time, the number of actively dispersing invertebrates, generally occupying turloughs only for a part of their life-cycle, increased. Hydroperiod had a significant effect on macroinvertebrate taxon richness, with short hydroperiods supporting low faunal diversity. Influence of hydrological disturbance generally decreased with progression of the annual wet phase, indicated by a decrease in taxon richness variation and an increase of biodiversity with time. Our study highlights the importance of life-cycle strategies of species for the occurrence of fairly predictable and periodically occurring seasonal patterns, and emphasizes the importance of ecological disturbances for colonisation cycles.

Assessment of the effects of the dry period on the faunal composition of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in two temporary ponds in NW Spain

“…This result agrees with Porst et al (2012), Vanschoenwinkel et al (2009), passive dispersers are more affected by the hydroperiod than active ones due to their low dispersal ability, which makes them, in general, permanent inhabitants of temporary ponds. In contrast, some groups, like Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera and most Chironomidae, are considered cyclic colonizers that inhabit temporary habitats during the wet phase and migrate to permanent systems to avoid dry conditions (Williams, 1987).…”

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in a subtropical reservoir and their effects over the benthic macroinvertebrate community

“…As predicted, the communities showed differential composition and abundance between the wet and dry season enhancing to the global diversity in the Itupararanga reservoir. The presence of aquatic macrophytes, especially the floating species, during the wet season, as well as the inundation of adjacent areas due to the rising water level, are factors that must be considered in order to interpret the seasonality (Porst et al, 2012;Schultz and Dibble, 2012). It should be observed that the lower range values recorded during the dry season indicate more stable conditions in the environment, once that fewer fluctuations of the variables have occurred for this period.…”

Quantifying the influence of surface water–groundwater interaction on nutrient flux in a lowland karst catchment

“…In the turloughs, the 1-month interval was deemed appropriate based on the findings of previous studies such as Gill (2010), who, in an attempt to optimise sampling methodologies, evaluated nutrient concentrations both spatially and temporally and found 1 month to be an adequate sampling interval. This 1-month interval has also been used as an established sampling technique for a variety of other ecohydrological turlough studies (Cunha Pereira, 2011;Cunha Pereira et al, 2010;Porst et al, 2012;Waldren, 2015).…”