Environmental factors affecting the distribution of aquatic invertebrates in temporary ponds in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA

Abstract

Despite a recent surge of interest in temporary lentic systems, a strong theory linking the biota to its environment has not emerged. Using data from 10 temporary ponds at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA, we investigated how invertebrate communities were structured along environmental gradients, both between and within ponds. Samples were collected with a benthic corer in winter and spring, and a sweep net in spring. Six between-pond and two within-pond datasets were created. Betweenpond analyses yielded significant CCA's with only one of the six data sets. The ranges of environmental variables (EV's) within ponds were often similar to the ranges of EV's when averaged and compared between ponds. Some taxa were aggregated in a single pond, and richness increased with pond area. The theory that richness increases with hydroperiod did not apply to these systems. Within-pond analyses yielded more consistent relationships, with both CCA's being significant. Sample depth was the best predictor of invertebrate richness and abundance, with most taxa preferring shallow habitats. Richness and abundance were higher in both shallow ponds and shallow areas of deep ponds than in deep areas of deep ponds. Standardizing sample depth may be an effective way to remove this gradient as a confounding variable in future research. The presence of within-pond gradients, possibly coupled with the limited dispersal and random colonization of tolerant taxa, makes between-pond comparisons difficult.

Aquatic macrophyte and macroinvertebrate diversity and conservation in wetlands of the Sinos River basin

“…In wetlands, a positive relationship between macrophyte and macroinvertebrate richness and area has been found (Heino, 2000;Oertli et al, 2002;Rolon and Maltchik, 2006;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007;Studinski and Grubbs, 2007;Rolon et al, 2008). Consequently, this study had as aims: (1) to analyse the diversity of macrophytes and macroinvertebrates in the fragmented wetlands of the Sinos River basin; and (2) to investigate whether the influence of the area on the richness and on the composition of macrophyte and aquatic macroinvertebrates could work as a tool for selecting the important habitats for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity.…”

Responses of freshwater molluscs to environmental factors in Southern Brazil wetlands

“…A positive relationship between macroinvertebrate richness and area has been found for specific taxonomic groups of macroinvertebrates (Spencer et al, 1999;Heino, 2000;Oertli et al, 2002;Sanderson et al, 2005;Studinski and Grubbs, 2007). Stenert and Maltchik (2007) showed that area was an important predictor of macroinvertebrate richness and composition in southern Brazil wetlands.…”

“…The macroinvertebrate structure in wetlands has been associated with area and habitat heterogeneity (Oertli et al, 2002;Batzer et al, 2004;Panatta et al, 2006;Studinski and Grubbs, 2007;Stenert et al, 2008); hydroperiod (Tarr et al, 2005;Whiles and Goldowitz, 2005;Stenert and Maltchik, 2007); altitude (Oertli et al, 2002;Jacobsen, 2004); water chemistry (Heino, 2000;Batzer et al, 2004), and water depth and temperature (Zimmer et al, 2000;Hall et al, 2004;Tarr et al, 2005;Studinski and Grubbs, 2007). However, most of these surveys were developed in the North Hemisphere and Australia.…”

Ecological Drivers of Cladoceran Diversity in the Central European City (Łódź, Poland): Effects of Urbanisation and Size of the Waterbody

“…Physicochemistry (Nicolet et al, 2004;Bilton et al, 2009;Gutierrez-Estrada and Bilton, 2010), substratum preferences (Fairchild et al, 2003) and pond area (Spencer et al, 1999;Kiflawi et al, 2003;Studinski and Grubbs, 2007) (Brönmark and Hansson, 2005: 60). Invertebrate (Coleoptera, Notonectidae) and amphibian predation can be an important aspect regulating fishless ephemeral pond communities (Larson, 1990;Herwig and Schindler, 1996;Jeffries, 1996;Schnieder and Frost, 1996;Blaustein 1998;Bilton et al, 2001;Brendonck et al, 2002).…”