Substrate heterogeneity influences the trait composition of stream insect communities: an experimental in situ study

Milesi, Silvia Vendruscolo; Dolédec, Sylvain; Melo, Adriano S.

doi:10.1086/688706

Cited by 57 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This pattern was even more evident in the sites at higher altitudes (1200–1400 m), where the number of shared taxa among the three substrates was lower than at lower altitudes (Venn diagrams in Figure ). The importance of substratum type for the composition of stream macroinvertebrate assemblages is widely recognized in the literature by regulating habitat complexity, food availability, and refuge against predation or flow disturbance (Buss, Baptista, Nessimian & Egler, ; Milesi, Dolédec & Melo, ; Mykrä, Heino & Muotka, ; Vinson & Hawkins, ). For instance, the abundance of aquatic invertebrate families was higher on leaf packs, possibly because this substrate provides greater food resources and shelter against predators for the fauna compared to gravel and cobble substrates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beta diversity of aquatic invertebrates increases along an altitudinal gradient in a Neotropical mountain

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mountains harbor rich biodiversity and high levels of endemism, particularly due to changes in environmental conditions over short spatial distances, which affects species distribution and composition. Studies on mountain ecosystems are increasingly needed, as mountains are highly threatened despite providing ecosystem services, such as water supply for half of the human population. We aimed to understand the patterns and drivers of alpha and beta diversities of aquatic invertebrates in headwater streams along an altitudinal gradient in the second largest South American mountain range, the Espinhaço mountains. Headwater streams were selected at each 100 m of elevation along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 800 to 1400 m asl, where three substrate types per stream were sampled: leaf litter, gravel, and cobbles. Environmental variables were sampled to represent local riparian canopy cover, instream physical habitat, water quality, climatic data, and land use. Generalized linear models and mixed models were used to test relationships between altitude and the richness and abundance of invertebrates and to assess the influence of environmental variables on the same metrics. Patterns of spatial variation in aquatic invertebrate assemblages along the altitudinal gradient were assessed using multiplicative beta diversity partitioning.The richness and abundance of aquatic invertebrates decreased with increasing altitude, whereas beta diversity increased with increasing altitude. Significant differences in assemblage composition and in relative abundance of invertebrates were observed for both substrates and altitude. We thus show that the high regional beta diversity in aquatic ecosystems in the studied site is due to the high turnover among areas.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material. K E Y W O R D Saquatic ecosystems, elevation, macroinvertebrate assemblages, mountain ecology, rupestrian grassland, species distribution

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beta diversity of aquatic invertebrates increases along an altitudinal gradient in a Neotropical mountain

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Apart from local chemical and physical factors, substratum diversity was among the most important local environmental variables driving variation in all facets of beta diversity. Substrate diversity may affect macroinvertebrate community composition by allowing more species to coexist locally (e.g., Milesi, Dolédec, & Melo, ), and it has indeed been found to be a key structuring factor in macroinvertebrate communities (Boyero, ; Brown, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local environment and space drive multiple facets of stream macroinvertebrate beta diversity

Rocha

Bini

Domisch

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim: Understanding variation in biodiversity typically requires consideration of factors operating at different spatial scales. Recently, ecologists and biogeographers have recognized the need of analysing ecological communities in the light of multiple facets including not only species-level information but also functional and phylogenetic approaches to improve our understanding of the relative contribution of processes shaping biodiversity. Here, our aim was to disentangle the relative importance of environmental variables measured at multiple levels (i.e., local, catchment, climate, and spatial variables) influencing variation in macroinvertebrate beta diversity facets (i.e., species, traits, and phylogeny) and their components (i.e., replacement and abundance difference) in boreal streams. Taxon: Aquatic macroinvertebrates Location: Western FinlandMethods: A total of 105 streams were sampled in western Finland, encompassing a geographical extent over 500 km. We analysed variation in the different beta diversity facets and components using distance-based redundancy analysis and associated variation partitioning procedures. We modelled spatial structures using distance-based Moran eigenvector maps. Results:We found that the relative influence of explanatory variables on each diversity facet and component revealed relatively similar patterns. Our main finding was that local environmental and spatial variables generally contributed most to the total explained variability in all facets and components of beta diversity, whereas catchment and climate variables explained less variation in the beta diversity facets at the spatial scale considered in this study.Main conclusions: Different facets of beta diversity were mainly influenced by local environmental variables and spatial structuring, likely acting through deterministic and stochastic pathways respectively. Identifying the ecological variables and mechanisms that drive variation in beta diversity may be used to guide the conservation and restoration efforts for biodiversity under global change.

show abstract

“…In addition, substrate heterogeneity (i.e. proportion of different sediment types, sizes or textures) allows more species to coexist and positively affects macroinvertebrate assemblage structure, acting as an abiotic filter that selects for a set of functionally different organisms (Milesi et al., ). In an earlier study conducted in the Nova Ponte and Três Marias HUs, Ferreira et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dolédec, Phillips and Townsend (2011), assessing aquatic invertebrate trait and taxonomic response to land use, found that trait responses were consistent at the broad and catchment scales, with similar traits responding to land use at both scales. Functional trait information for Neotropical aquatic invertebrates has increased (Dedieu, Rhone, Vigouroux, & Céréghino, ; Milesi, Dolédec, & Melo, ; Reynaga & Santos, ; Tomanova, Moya, & Oberdorff, ; Tomanova & Usseglio‐Polatera, ) and provides opportunity for MTB analyses to be used in determining their interactions with multiscale pressures. Nonetheless, this approach has not been attempted previously in the Neotropical savanna.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape variables influence taxonomic and trait composition of insect assemblages in Neotropical savanna streams

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Stream invertebrate assemblages are structured by environmental factors acting at multiple spatial scales. Identifying the spatial scale that most influences the species–environment relationships is a major goal of community ecology. We evaluated the importance of catchment and site scales and associated environmental variables in shaping Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) assemblages in Neotropical savanna headwater streams. Sampling sites were associated with 20 catchment‐scale variables that depicted land cover and land use as well as natural geophysical variables such as altitude and climate. Site‐scale habitat was characterised by 55 variables that described habitat hydromorphology, substrate, flow, canopy, in‐stream cover and water quality. EPT traits were assessed using 28 categories of 7 biological traits, which represented the best available current knowledge for EPT in Neotropical savanna streams. We analysed the relationships between the catchment‐ and site‐scale habitat variables and the taxonomic and trait composition of insect assemblages using 1,760 samples collected in 160 stream sites. Catchment‐ and site‐scale variables both explained significant variation in EPT taxon and trait composition. Substrate, habitat hydromorphology and land use most influenced variation in taxonomic composition, whereas trait composition was mainly affected by land use. Catchment geographic position explained less assemblage variation. To our knowledge, this study is the first assessment of the impact of catchment‐ and site‐scale variables on the trait and taxon composition of stream insect assemblages in Neotropical savanna streams. It highlights the need for better regional biological knowledge of invertebrates to generate more general trait‐based approaches in freshwater ecosystem conservation.

show abstract

Substrate heterogeneity influences the trait composition of stream insect communities: an experimental in situ study

Cited by 57 publications

References 57 publications

Beta diversity of aquatic invertebrates increases along an altitudinal gradient in a Neotropical mountain

Beta diversity of aquatic invertebrates increases along an altitudinal gradient in a Neotropical mountain

Local environment and space drive multiple facets of stream macroinvertebrate beta diversity

Landscape variables influence taxonomic and trait composition of insect assemblages in Neotropical savanna streams

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About