Dispersal behaviour and riverine network connectivity shape the genetic diversity of freshwater amphipod metapopulations

Alther, Roman; Fronhofer, Emanuel A.; Altermatt, Florian

doi:10.1111/mec.16201

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Yet, the allelic richness and private allele values were highest at the most downstream sampling sites, which may be due to their proximity to the river confluence and therefore enhanced gene flow from other G . pulex populations (Alther et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the LME, distance from the source was not an important parameter for increased allelic richness within a river (see Table S11). Yet, the allelic richness and private allele values were highest at the most downstream sampling sites, which may be due to their proximity to the river confluence and therefore enhanced gene flow from other G. pulex populations (Alther et al, 2021).…”

Section: Genetic Diversity Of Gammarus Pulex At Sites With Aom Contam...mentioning

confidence: 93%

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Reduced genetic diversity of freshwater amphipods in rivers with increased levels of anthropogenic organic micropollutants

Švara

Michalski

Krauß

et al. 2022

Evolutionary Applications

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Anthropogenic chemicals in freshwater environments contribute majorly to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity decline. In particular anthropogenic organic micropollutants (AOM), a diverse group of compounds, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals, can significantly impact freshwater organisms. AOM were found to impact genetic diversity of freshwater species; however, to which degree AOM cause changes in population genetic structure and allelic richness of freshwater macroinvertebrates remains poorly understood. Here, the impact of AOM on genetic diversity of the common amphipod Gammarus pulex (Linnaeus, 1758) (clade E) was investigated on a regional scale. The site‐specific AOM levels and their toxic potentials were determined in water and G. pulex tissue sample extracts for 34 sites along six rivers in central Germany impacted by wastewater effluents and agricultural run‐off. Population genetic parameters were determined for G. pulex from the sampling sites by genotyping 16 microsatellite loci. Genetic differentiation among G. pulex from the studied rivers was found to be associated with geographic distance between sites and to differences in site‐specific concentrations of AOM. The genetic diversity parameters of G. pulex were found to be related to the site‐specific AOM levels. Allelic richness was significantly negatively correlated with levels of AOM in G. pulex tissue (p < 0.003) and was reduced by up to 22% at sites with increased levels of AOM, despite a positive relationship of allelic richness and the presence of waste‐water effluent. In addition, the inbreeding coefficient of G. pulex from sites with toxic AOM levels was up to 2.5 times higher than that of G. pulex from more pristine sites. These results indicate that AOM levels commonly found in European rivers significantly contribute to changes in the genetic diversity of an ecologically relevant indicator species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Genetic Diversity Of Gammarus Pulex At Sites With Aom Contam...mentioning

confidence: 93%

Reduced genetic diversity of freshwater amphipods in rivers with increased levels of anthropogenic organic micropollutants

Švara

Michalski

Krauß

et al. 2022

Evolutionary Applications

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show abstract

“…All individuals collected were identified to species level using a stereomicroscope and cataloging specific traits according to an identification key covering all Swiss amphipods (Altermatt et al, 2019). Previous genetic analyses showed that only one type (type A) of the Gammarus fossarum complex is found in the larger study area, and thus subsequently all members of that complex can be treated as one species of G. fossarum (Altermatt et al, 2016;Alther et al, 2021). The two species, G. fossarum and G. pulex, are morphologically highly similar, and small individuals or females with uropods broken off-for example, following sampling and handling-can sometimes not be reliably told apart.…”

Section: Study Area and Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 98%

Spatiotemporal dynamics in freshwater amphipod assemblages are associated with surrounding terrestrial land use type

Cereghetti

Altermatt

2023

Ecosphere

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Biological assemblages are the result of dynamic processes that have explicit temporal and spatial dimensions. Although biodiversity patterns can be directly inferred from the structure of these assemblages, an assessment of changes through time and space is needed to understand how organisms initially assembled and how they are responding to local environmental and biotic factors. Small freshwater streams are particularly affected by contemporary anthropogenic activities and biological invasions, yet they are commonly less studied, as studies often focus on lakes and large streams. Here, we conducted a spatially explicit analysis of keystone shredder assemblages across eight years in 12 replicated small tributary streams. In each stream, we monitored multiple sites per kilometer of stream length. By assessing temporal beta diversity dynamics, defined by the gain or loss of species or abundance per species at individual sites, we show that changes in amphipod assemblages occur within the context of the surrounding terrestrial matrix and reflect recent amphipod colonization history. While amphipod composition was mostly constant in streams located in forested catchments, streams embedded in catchments with more extensive agricultural land use displayed more pronounced temporal changes, either driven by colonization of unoccupied upstream locations or by more pronounced but undirected fluctuations in gains and losses of species or abundance per species. Our study thus suggests that agricultural landscapes might destabilize aquatic amphipod assemblages, causing higher temporal changes in community structures and highlighting the vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial land use drivers.

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“…It inhabits a range of freshwater ecosystems, from streams and creeks to lakes and natural springs. Gammarus fossarum comprises a species complex (Wattier et al, 2020), of which at least three species-lineages are known from Switzerland, namely lineages A, B and C (Altermatt et al, 2019; for their distribution see also Alther et al, 2021). These lineages differ in their sensitivity to environmental stressors (Feckler et al, 2012;Eisenring et al, 2016).…”

Section: Study Organismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing laboratory cultures of Gammarus fossarum (Crustacea: Amphipoda) as a study organism in environmental sciences and ecotoxicology

Alther

Krähenbühl

Bucher

et al. 2023

Science of The Total Environment

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Dispersal behaviour and riverine network connectivity shape the genetic diversity of freshwater amphipod metapopulations

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 10 publications

References 115 publications

Reduced genetic diversity of freshwater amphipods in rivers with increased levels of anthropogenic organic micropollutants

Reduced genetic diversity of freshwater amphipods in rivers with increased levels of anthropogenic organic micropollutants

Spatiotemporal dynamics in freshwater amphipod assemblages are associated with surrounding terrestrial land use type

Optimizing laboratory cultures of Gammarus fossarum (Crustacea: Amphipoda) as a study organism in environmental sciences and ecotoxicology

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