Effects of diversity on community assembly in newly formed pond communities

Abstract

Theory suggests that in a new habitat, initial levels of genetic or species diversity can influence subsequent community assembly. Nevertheless, empirical investigations of these diversity effects in newly created habitats remain rare at both the genetic and species level, especially for animal systems. To test this theory, we conducted a field experiment in which initial stocking diversity (both intra‐ and interspecific) of freshwater zooplankton in newly constructed pools was manipulated in a 2 × 2 fully factorial design. Zooplankton communities were sampled every 2 weeks from May to August in 2011 and 2012, and once in May of 2013 and 2014. Estimates of overland dispersal were measured in 2012. Despite theoretical predictions, we found no difference in taxonomic richness among stocking treatments after 4 yr. A total of 24 species was recorded in the experimental pool metacommunity, with average cumulative taxonomic richness ranging from 6.1 to 7.6 species per pool. Using dispersal traps, we found that dispersal of zooplankton was rapid, with eight taxa dispersing within 7 d; we found no difference in the number of dispersed propagules based on number of neighboring source pools. Despite theoretical predictions regarding diversity and community assembly, our study suggests that initial diversity may have no effect on early successional community species richness.

Eco-evolutionary feedbacks and the maintenance of metacommunity diversity in a changing environment

“…For example, evolution-mediated priority effects can occur, where populations that adapt rapidly can exclude other, similarly fit genotypes and species (Lee et al 2012;De Meester et al 2016). Species diversity can inhibit local adaptation, because it increases the likelihood that there is another resident species already pre-adapted to the new environment (Fukami et al 2007;de Mazancourt et al 2008; but see Holmes et al 2016). Competition can also slow rates of adaptation to the new environment, because adaptation towards a local environmental optimum can increase the negative impacts of competition as species converge on more similar trait values (Johansson 2008).…”

Environmental Drivers of Ranavirus in Free-Living Amphibians in Constructed Ponds

“…This finding suggests microinvertebrate communities may have been overlooked thus far in the field of amphibian ranavirus research. Although Daphnia have been previously studied in controlled laboratory experiments, other zooplankton should be included in future research; in this study, “total zooplankton” also included copepods, ostracods, and non- Daphnia cladoceran species (Holmes et al 2016). …”

“…Thermal loggers were programmed to record readings every 3 h and were retrieved and redeployed every 6 months during the study period. Zooplankton concentrations were taken from Holmes et al (2016). Briefly, zooplankton was sampled by passing 3 L of water, taken from the center of each pond, through an 80-µm sieve.…”

“…Briefly, zooplankton was sampled by passing 3 L of water, taken from the center of each pond, through an 80-µm sieve. Animals were preserved in 95% ethanol and manually counted and identified to the species level, or lowest taxonomic group possible when species could not be identified (Holmes et al 2016). …”

Comprehensive analysis of population genetics of Phoxinus phoxinus ujmonensis in the Irtysh River: Abiotic and biotic factors

“…The cold water fish Cottus poecilopus was also reported to be abundant in streams with high oxygen saturation and high abundance of macroinvertebrates (Baran et al, 2015). Another study of aquatic organisms found that among-pond variation in community structure of freshwater zooplankton was partially explained by pH and dissolved oxygen (HolmesSingh, 2016). Similarly, the pH of water largely influenced the survival, growth, development, and reproduction of fish (Abbink et al, 2012;Ahmed, Donkor, Street, & Vasiljevic, 2013;Alavi & Cosson, 2005;Dziewulska & Domagała, 2013), which were also F I G U R E 9 Mantel tests for detecting IBA patterns, matrixes of environmental variables against matrixes of F st_p .…”