Additive partitioning of aquatic invertebrate species diversity across multiple spatial scales

Abstract

1. Additive partitioning of three measures of diversity (species richness, Shannon's diversity index H and Simpson's diversity D) was used to study the relationship between local and regional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities of boreal lakes (littoral habitats) and streams (riffle habitats) across three spatial scales (sampling sites, ecoregions and biogeographic regions). 2. Alpha (a) and beta (b) diversity are defined as within-habitat and between-habitat diversity, respectively. According to the concept of additive partitioning, diversity can be partitioned across multiple spatial scales such that the total (c) diversity on one spatial scale becomes within-habitat (a) diversity at the next higher scale. Hence, the total diversity at one scale is determined by the a diversity and the between-habitat diversity (b) at the next lower scale. Consequently, one of the advantages of additive partitioning is that it is possible to study simultaneously b diversity and the regional-local species relationship and the scale dependence of a and b components. 3. For both lakes and streams a diversity was low for sites and ecoregions, whereas b diversity was high, indicating that among-site factors are important in describing the variability among the lakes and streams studied here. 4. Weak, albeit significant, evidence was found for regional and local species saturation patterns. Multiple stepwise regression indicated that local processes might be more important in structuring lake-littoral and stream-riffle species assemblages than regional processes. From these results we conclude that environmental heterogeneity may act as an important factor contributing to species coexistence, resulting in the observed saturation patterns. 5. Our study supports the use of additive partitioning for identifying specific patterns of macroinvertebrate diversity on multiple spatial scales and the underlying processes generating these patterns. This information is needed to improve understanding of the relation between patterns and processes affecting (decreasing) trends in aquatic biodiversity.

Hydrologic connection between ponds positively affects macrophyte α and γ diversity but negatively affects β diversity

“…This suggests that a connection between habitat patches influences species composition at a regional scale. Our findings of a high contribution of b diversity and low contribution of a diversity to regional c diversity are consistent with previous studies of freshwater fishes and invertebrates (Stendera andJohnson 2005, Eros 2007) and terrestrial plants (Clough et al 2007). High dissimilarity between habitat patches has been explained by a strong dispersal limitation between the patches as well as a strong species-sorting process by environmental filters or competition (Capers et al 2010, Clarke et al 2010, Matthiessen et al 2010.…”

Efecto de los factores ambientales sobre la diversidad de insectos hemimetábolos y coleópteros acuáticos en la cuenca del Río Xichú, Guanajuato, México

“…De la misma manera, Cardoso de Ávila, Stenert & Maltchik (2011) y Stendera & Johnson (2005), encontraron que las escalas o filtros espaciales mayores son los que definen el cambio en la composición de macroinvertebrados acuáticos en sistemas dulceacuícolas y no los filtros relacionados con las escalas más finas (Ligeiro et al, 2009). En la cuenca del Río Xichú existe una alta diversidad β espacial y temporal de coleópteros e insectos hemimetábolos, debida a los bajos valores de similitud entre sitios de muestreo (I J <0.65) y altos valores de diversidad β en la partición multiescalar.…”

“…Estos filtros varían desde el nivel de cuenca hasta el de microhábitat e influyen sobre las comunidades de macroinvertebrados acuáti-cos en sistemas dulceacuícolas (Stendera & Johnson, 2005;Ligeiro, Melo & Callisto, 2009;Cardoso de Ávila, Stenert & Maltchik, 2011). La cuenca es una escala natural bien delimitada, con procesos y características propias: geomorfológicas, hidrológicas, climáticas y de uso de suelo, entre otras.…”

Effect of trophic status and sediment particle size on diversity and abundance of aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida) in neotropical reservoirs

“…The influence of local and regional factors driving species diversity has been recently discussed in different biological communities (Bini et al, 2003;Stendera and Johnson, 2005;Johnson et al, 2007). Studies describing assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates have observed that local processes may be more important for the structure of these communities than regional processes (Stendera and Johnson, 2005;Johnson et al, 2007), and the factors may indeed be independent (Johnson and Goedkoop, 2002).…”