Taxonomic and functional macroinvertebrate diversity of high‐altitude ponds in the Macun Cirque, Switzerland

Abstract

1. Global environmental change is threatening freshwater biodiversity with ecological impacts predicted to be particularly severe in high-altitude regions.Despite this, an ecological understanding of high-altitude pond networks remains patchy, with only limited knowledge of the environmental and spatial predictors of taxonomic and functional diversity. Moreover, previous studies of pond ecosystems have focused primarily on taxonomic richness and largely overlooked functional diversity.2. This study examined the influence of local environmental and spatial factors on taxonomic and functional α and β diversity (including the turnover and nestedness-resultant components) of 17 high-altitude ($2,500 m above sea level) pond macroinvertebrate communities, in the Macun Cirque, Switzerland.3. Spatial processes (pond connectivity) were important drivers for taxonomic α diversity, while local environmental variables (pond permanence and surface area) were important determinants of functional α diversity. Species turnover was the

An evaluation of crustacean and rotifer diversity and composition in a temporary pond metacommunity: Comparing results from field samples and a hatching experiment

“…Alpha, β, and γ diversity measures are relevant to understand metacommunity structure and the underlying processes modulating it. Many studies have analysed the β diversity of aquatic active communities, concluding that turnover is the main factor driving differences in spatial (between pond) β diversity (Atkinson et al, 2021; Fernández‐Aláez et al, 2020; Hill et al, 2021; Korhonen et al, 2010; Martins et al, 2019), but other studies have found nestedness as the main factor driving β diversity (Florencio et al, 2011; Gleason & Rooney, 2018; Pires et al, 2017). Only a few studies have assessed the β diversity of the egg bank, and they found turnover to be the main component driving β diversity (Declerck et al, 2011; Freiry et al, 2016; Freiry, Weber, et al, 2020).…”