Environmental Heterogeneity and Salinity Gradient Impacted the Alpha and Beta Diversities of Diatom Assemblages in a Coastal Delta Wetland

Abstract

The coastal deltas are ecologically diverse and complex ecosystems that can contain different habitat types. The effect of environmental heterogeneity on diatom beta diversity is a poorly understood research topic. Freshwater (floodplain forest, river) and brackish (three lagoons) water bodies in the study area construct distinct environmental heterogeneity at a small spatial scale. The connection of the lagoons with an inland sea caused a high salinity gradient. All water bodies in the wetland were determined as hypereutrophic. CCA, Cluster, ANOSIM, and SIMPER analysis clearly explained the distribution of diatom assemblages according to salinity gradient and environmental heterogeneity. The environmental heterogeneity resulted in the presence of freshwater, brackish, and marine diatom species in the studied wetland. Diatom assemblages generally consist of freshwater species with euryhaline character adapted to wide salinity gradients. We determined the rapid replacement and richness difference in diatom assemblages due to environmental heterogeneity and salinity gradient causes high overall alpha, beta, and gamma diversity. Unlike many other studies, the high beta diversity mainly consists of the richness difference rather than species replacement. The high overall beta diversity showed low similarity between the habitats, while high overall alpha diversity exposed high species diversity at the local scale in the study area.