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Laura Serrano - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Relationships between Hydroperiod length, and seasonal and spatial patterns of beta-diversity of the microcrustacean assemblages in Mediterranean ponds
Hydrobiologia, 2015Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Carmen Díaz-paniagua, Laura SerranoAbstract:Temporary ponds are unpredictable habitats that exhibit inundation periods of variable duration (Hydroperiods). We hypothesised that changes in microcrustacean assemblages, namely among ponds (spatial variation) and within ponds at a monthly scale (intra-annual variation), would differ according to Hydroperiod length. We found that the microcrustacean assemblages of the study ponds demonstrated distinctive individual patterns that were dependent on monthly variation. During pond filling, species turnover was particularly high in short-Hydroperiod ponds, probably due to the fast hatching of the initial pool of species, which seemed to determine subsequent species succession. Some of the long-Hydroperiod ponds were able to hold water during the summer, which meant that they could harbour adult microcrustaceans in the early autumn, in contrast to the recently filled ponds; species turnover could thus increase at the onset of the inundation cycle. In the summer, species turnover decreased (while the contribution of nestedness to β-diversity increased) because only a few tolerant species were able to withstand the poor water quality found in drying ponds. We suggest that preserving the broader Hydroperiod gradient, by protecting ponds with different environmental conditions within each Hydroperiod category, would safeguard the ecological dynamics of the microcrustacean assemblages found in temporary ponds.
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spatio temporal nested patterns in macroinvertebrate assemblages across a pond network with a wide Hydroperiod range
Oecologia, 2011Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Laura Serrano, Carmen Diazpaniagua, David T BiltonAbstract:Nestedness has been widely used to measure the structure of biological communities and occurs when species-poor sites contain subsets of species-rich ones. Here, we examine nested patterns across the macroinvertebrate assemblages of 91 ponds in Donana National Park, Spain, and explore temporal variation of nestedness and species richness in 19 temporary ponds over 2 years with differing rainfall. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were significantly nested; both pond spatial arrangement and environmental variation being important in driving nested patterns. Despite the nested structure observed, a number of taxa and ponds deviate from this pattern (termed idiosyncratic), by occurring more frequently than expected in species-poor sites, or having assemblages dominated by species largely absent from species-rich sites. Aquatic adults of winged insects, capable of dispersal, were more highly nested than non-dispersing taxa and life-history stages. Idiosyncratic taxa were found in ponds spanning a wide range of Hydroperiods, although nestedness was higher in more permanent waterbodies. Monthly sampling demonstrated a gradual increase of species richness and nestedness from pond filling to April–May, when the most temporary ponds started to dry. Although the degree of nestedness of individual pond assemblages varied from month to month, the overall degree of nestedness in the two study years was practically identical despite marked differences in Hydroperiod. Our results suggest that differential colonization and environmental variation are key processes driving the nested structure of Donana ponds, that macroinvertebrate assemblages change in a predictable manner each year in response to cycles of pond wetting and drying, and that connectivity and environmental variability maintain biodiversity in pond networks.
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Inter- and intra-annual variations of macroinvertebrate assemblages are related to the Hydroperiod in Mediterranean temporary ponds
Hydrobiologia, 2009Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Laura Serrano, Carola Gómez-rodríguez, Andrés Millán, Carmen Díaz-paniaguaAbstract:Macroinvertebrate assemblages of 22 temporary ponds with different Hydroperiod were sampled monthly during a dry year (2005–2006) and a wet year (2006–2007). Coleopteran and Heteropteran adults were most abundant at the end of the Hydroperiod, while Coleopteran larvae, mainly Dytiscidae, were mostly recorded in spring. Macroinvertebrate assemblages differed between study years. The shorter Hydroperiod of ponds in the dry year constrained the length of the aquatic period for macroinvertebrates, and three distinct wet phases of community composition could be distinguished: filling phase, aquatic phase and drying phase. In the wet year, with a longer pond Hydroperiod, five phases could be identified, with the aquatic phase differentiated into winter, early spring and late spring phases. Dispersers such as Anisops sardeus, Berosus guttalis or Anacaena lutescens were typical during the filling phase and Corixa affinis or Enochrus fuscipennis during the drying phase. The ponds with intermediate Hydroperiod showed a similar composition (mainly dispersers) at the beginning and end of their wet period; this is not being seen in early drying or long Hydroperiod ponds. A general pattern was detected, with similar variation between both years, which may be associated with the life histories of the macroinvertebrate taxa recorded.
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zooplankton communities across a Hydroperiod gradient of temporary ponds in the donana national park sw spain
Wetlands, 2005Co-Authors: Laura Serrano, Khalid FahdAbstract:We studied the influence of Hydroperiod on the composition and richness of the zooplankton community in 19 freshwater temporary ponds of the Donana National Park (SW Spain) at different spatial and temporal scales. The study ponds were assigned to three Hydroperiod categories (long, intermediate, and short) according to previous hydrologic records. During the study period (October 1996–September 1998), wet phases ranged from 56% to 100% of the study period in the five long-Hydroperiod ponds, from 25% to 47% in the 10 intermediate-Hydroperiod ponds, and from 5% to 21% in the four short-Hydroperiod ponds. A total of 56 crustacean species (27 cladocerans, 11 cyclopoids, 5 diaptomids, 1 harpacticoid, 1 notostracan, 1 anostracan, 1 diplostracan) and 47 rotifer taxa were identified from the 19 ponds. Most zooplankton taxa were widely distributed in the ponds. However, Dapnia longispina was restricted to the long-Hydroperiod ponds and Metacyclops minutus to the short-Hydroperiod ponds. There was a significant (P 0.05) for either crustaceans or rotifers. On average, single collection richness represented between 30% and 48% of the cumulative richness, and this percentage was significantly lower in the long- than in the short-Hydroperiod ponds (Mann-Whitney tests) for crustaceans (P<0.05) and rotifers (P<0.01). Our data showed that the effect of hydrologic variability on zooplankton taxon richness depended on the temporal scale of observation; it was weakly affected at a momentary scale and strongly affected in the long-term. A longer Hydroperiod implied more chance for change in these fluctuating environments.
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ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES ACROSS A Hydroperiod GRADIENT OF TEMPORARY PONDS IN THE DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK (SW SPAIN)
Wetlands, 2005Co-Authors: Laura Serrano, Khalid FahdAbstract:We studied the influence of Hydroperiod on the composition and richness of the zooplankton community in 19 freshwater temporary ponds of the Donana National Park (SW Spain) at different spatial and temporal scales. The study ponds were assigned to three Hydroperiod categories (long, intermediate, and short) according to previous hydrologic records. During the study period (October 1996–September 1998), wet phases ranged from 56% to 100% of the study period in the five long-Hydroperiod ponds, from 25% to 47% in the 10 intermediate-Hydroperiod ponds, and from 5% to 21% in the four short-Hydroperiod ponds. A total of 56 crustacean species (27 cladocerans, 11 cyclopoids, 5 diaptomids, 1 harpacticoid, 1 notostracan, 1 anostracan, 1 diplostracan) and 47 rotifer taxa were identified from the 19 ponds. Most zooplankton taxa were widely distributed in the ponds. However, Dapnia longispina was restricted to the long-Hydroperiod ponds and Metacyclops minutus to the short-Hydroperiod ponds. There was a significant (P 0.05) for either crustaceans or rotifers. On average, single collection richness represented between 30% and 48% of the cumulative richness, and this percentage was significantly lower in the long- than in the short-Hydroperiod ponds (Mann-Whitney tests) for crustaceans (P
Carmen Díaz-paniagua - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Aquatic plant distribution is driven by physical and chemical variables and Hydroperiod in a mediterranean temporary pond network
Hydrobiologia, 2016Co-Authors: Rocío Fernández-zamudio, Pablo García-murillo, Carmen Díaz-paniaguaAbstract:The aim of this study was to assess aquatic plant distribution patterns in a Mediterranean temporary pond network (Donana National Park, SW Spain). We analyzed differences in species composition employing multivariate ordination techniques; we specifically examined the importance of Hydroperiod and physical and chemical variables in the five geomorphological areas across which the pond network is spread. The ponds significantly segregated along a north–south gradient, matching the segregation pattern of the aquatic plant assemblages. Ponds in the three northernmost areas showed higher levels of species richness than ponds in the two southernmost areas. In the north, ponds were present at higher densities, spanned a broader Hydroperiod range, and had lower conductivity levels; these features were associated with the presence of wet-meadow species and larger numbers of submerged and emergent species. In the south, alkaline waters were mainly associated with different charophyte species, and the predominance of long-Hydroperiod ponds helped in increasing the number of floating species. Managed ponds, which had been artificially deepened, contributed to increase pond heterogeneity and Hydroperiod breadth across the entire network. At present, such ponds are key to the preservation of Donana’s rich and unique aquatic plant community.
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Relationships between Hydroperiod length, and seasonal and spatial patterns of beta-diversity of the microcrustacean assemblages in Mediterranean ponds
Hydrobiologia, 2015Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Carmen Díaz-paniagua, Laura SerranoAbstract:Temporary ponds are unpredictable habitats that exhibit inundation periods of variable duration (Hydroperiods). We hypothesised that changes in microcrustacean assemblages, namely among ponds (spatial variation) and within ponds at a monthly scale (intra-annual variation), would differ according to Hydroperiod length. We found that the microcrustacean assemblages of the study ponds demonstrated distinctive individual patterns that were dependent on monthly variation. During pond filling, species turnover was particularly high in short-Hydroperiod ponds, probably due to the fast hatching of the initial pool of species, which seemed to determine subsequent species succession. Some of the long-Hydroperiod ponds were able to hold water during the summer, which meant that they could harbour adult microcrustaceans in the early autumn, in contrast to the recently filled ponds; species turnover could thus increase at the onset of the inundation cycle. In the summer, species turnover decreased (while the contribution of nestedness to β-diversity increased) because only a few tolerant species were able to withstand the poor water quality found in drying ponds. We suggest that preserving the broader Hydroperiod gradient, by protecting ponds with different environmental conditions within each Hydroperiod category, would safeguard the ecological dynamics of the microcrustacean assemblages found in temporary ponds.
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Evidence of Hydroperiod Shortening in a Preserved System of Temporary Ponds
Remote Sensing, 2010Co-Authors: Carola Gómez-rodríguez, Javier Bustamante, Carmen Díaz-paniaguaAbstract:Based on field data simultaneous with Landsat overpasses from six different dates, we developed a robust linear model to predict subpixel fractions of water cover. The model was applied to a time series of 174 Landsat TM and ETM+ images to reconstruct the flooding regime of a system of small temporary ponds and to study their spatio-temporal changes in a 23-year period. We tried to differentiate natural fluctuations from trends in hydrologic variables (i.e., Hydroperiod shortening) that may threaten the preservation of the system. Although medium-resolution remote sensing data have rarely been applied to the monitoring of small-sized wetlands, this study evidences its utility to understand the hydrology of temporary ponds at a local scale. We show that the temporary ponds in Donana National Park constitute a large and heterogeneous system with high intra and inter-annual variability. We also evidence that the conservation value of this ecosystem is threatened by the observed tendency to shorter annual Hydroperiods in recent years, probably due to aquifer exploitation. This system of temporary ponds deserves special attention for the high density and heterogeneity of natural ponds, not common in Europe. For this reason, management decisions to avoid its destruction or degradation are critical.
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Inter- and intra-annual variations of macroinvertebrate assemblages are related to the Hydroperiod in Mediterranean temporary ponds
Hydrobiologia, 2009Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Laura Serrano, Carola Gómez-rodríguez, Andrés Millán, Carmen Díaz-paniaguaAbstract:Macroinvertebrate assemblages of 22 temporary ponds with different Hydroperiod were sampled monthly during a dry year (2005–2006) and a wet year (2006–2007). Coleopteran and Heteropteran adults were most abundant at the end of the Hydroperiod, while Coleopteran larvae, mainly Dytiscidae, were mostly recorded in spring. Macroinvertebrate assemblages differed between study years. The shorter Hydroperiod of ponds in the dry year constrained the length of the aquatic period for macroinvertebrates, and three distinct wet phases of community composition could be distinguished: filling phase, aquatic phase and drying phase. In the wet year, with a longer pond Hydroperiod, five phases could be identified, with the aquatic phase differentiated into winter, early spring and late spring phases. Dispersers such as Anisops sardeus, Berosus guttalis or Anacaena lutescens were typical during the filling phase and Corixa affinis or Enochrus fuscipennis during the drying phase. The ponds with intermediate Hydroperiod showed a similar composition (mainly dispersers) at the beginning and end of their wet period; this is not being seen in early drying or long Hydroperiod ponds. A general pattern was detected, with similar variation between both years, which may be associated with the life histories of the macroinvertebrate taxa recorded.
Luc Brendonck - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Impact of Hydroperiod on seasonal dynamics in temporary pool cladoceran communities
Fundamental and Applied Limnology, 2009Co-Authors: Liesbet Boven, Luc BrendonckAbstract:We studied seasonal dynamics in cladoceran communities in relation to changing habitat characteristics and biotic interactions in 18 temporary freshwater pools in Kiskunsag (Hungary), with an inundation period varying from less than ten weeks (short) to 10-13 weeks (medium long) and more than 16 weeks (long). Pools were sampled for cladocerans and macroinvertebrates and habitat characteristics were monitored starting two weeks after snow melt (end of March 2005) until July. Analysis of early-season dynamics (March-April), when all three Hydroperiod classes were represented, did not reveal differences in cladoceran communities recolonizing pools with a different Hydroperiod. Species turnover later in the season (May - July) resulted in the association of some species with the medium and long Hydroperiod class. Cumulative species richness increased with Hydroperiod length from an average of ten species in short Hydroperiod to 15 species in long Hydroperiod pools. The longer time available most likely allowed more species to gradually occupy available niches in pools with a longer Hydroperiod. With time, feeding and growth conditions became more favorable for predominantly small and/or plant-associated species, while the absence of large Daphnia may have been due to predation risk. A decline of pools with a long inundation cycle, through drainage and/or climate change, may adversely affect cladoceran communities and needs particular attention in the conservation of temporary pools and their inhabitants.
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Seasonal dynamics in water quality and vegetation cover in temporary pools with variable Hydroperiods in Kiskunság (Hungary)
Wetlands, 2008Co-Authors: Liesbet Boven, Robby Stoks, László Forró, Luc BrendonckAbstract:The seasonal dynamics in habitat characteristics of temporary freshwater pools were studied in relation to Hydroperiod and geographical location for a set of 36 pristine pools in and around the Kiskunsag National Park (Hungary). The pools were geographically distributed over three clusters and their Hydroperiod varied from seven to more than 18 weeks. Biweekly to monthly monitoring started two weeks after inundation (March) and lasted until most pools were dry again (July). Throughout the season, nutrient concentrations and conductivity increased in all study pools. Algal biomass increased after short Hydroperiod pools were already dry, resulting in an increase in the amount of suspended solids and turbidity in pools with a relatively long Hydroperiod. Both the longer inundation period and conditions later in the season may have contributed to the stronger algal growth in these pools. Oxygen was not depleted towards the end of the season, potentially due to growing algae and vegetation. The high buffering capacity of the water may have contributed to the near constant pH levels through time. Pools in one of the clusters were typically more turbid, less vegetated, and had higher amounts of suspended matter when compared to pools in the two other clusters. Temporary pool characteristics were related to local environmental conditions and seasonal dynamics differed according to the duration of inundation.
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Invertebrate community patterns in Mediterranean temporary wetlands along Hydroperiod and salinity gradients
Freshwater Biology, 2008Co-Authors: Aline Waterkeyn, Patrick Grillas, Bram Vanschoenwinkel, Luc BrendonckAbstract:1. Temporary aquatic habitats often are inhabited by a unique fauna and flora and contribute significantly to regional diversity. Temporary wetlands around the world are disappearing rapidly. The individual and interacting impacts of factors influencing community structure and dynamics in temporary wetlands are not always well known. 2. Camargue wetlands are mainly characterized by variable salinity and Hydroperiod. The individual and combined impacts of these local factors, together with regional variables, on invertebrate communities remain unknown. We therefore characterized and sampled invertebrates in 30 temporary wetlands along salinity and Hydroperiod gradients in the Camargue (Southern France) 3, 5 and 7 months after inundation. 3. Over the three sampling occasions, a total of 17 cladoceran species and 49 macroinvertebrate taxa were identified. Hydroperiod and salinity were the most important variables explaining variation in taxonomic composition and can be considered key factors shaping the invertebrate communities in Camargue wetlands. The impact on taxon richness was significantly positive for Hydroperiod but significantly negative for salinity. Regional factors had no significant effect on the structure of the studied invertebrate communities, suggesting that dispersal was not limiting and that species sorting was the most important structuring process. 4. The results of this study suggest that the combined and interacting effects of salinization and hydrological modification of Mediterranean temporary wetlands (due to water management, climate change, etc.) can result in reduced diversity in large numbers of Mediterranean wetlands and induce a considerable decline in regional diversity of aquatic invertebrates.
Kimberly J Babbitt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The effects of Hydroperiod and predator density on growth, development, and morphology of wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica )
Aquatic Ecology, 2020Co-Authors: Emily May Lent, Kimberly J BabbittAbstract:Accelerated development and metamorphosis allow tadpoles to escape death by leaving the aquatic habitat before it dries. Phenotypic plasticity in response to predators typically includes development of physical and behavioral traits, including changes in tail coloration, activity rate, and tail shape and body size. Responding to predators increases the probability of survival, but lowers growth rate. Responses to two common stressors in ephemeral aquatic habitats appear to be in direct opposition to one another. In this study, we examined the individual and interactive effects of Hydroperiod and predator density on the life history, morphology, and metamorphosis of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) tadpoles in an outdoor mesocosm study. Tadpoles were exposed to three Hydroperiods (constant, intermediate, and short) and three predator densities (zero, four, and eight Anax junius naiads) using a complete block design. The threat of habitat desiccation resulted in increased developmental rate and shorter larval periods. Increased predator densities resulted in increased size at metamorphosis and development of the induced morphology. Although the threat of predation precluded growth and developmental responses to shortened Hydroperiod in tadpoles, it did not negate the metamorphic responses to Hydroperiod. It appears that, at least at the treatment levels imposed in this experiment, the interaction between these multiple stressors is complex, with the stressors acting both individually and together on different aspects of tadpole ecology.
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macroinvertebrate community structure across a wetland Hydroperiod gradient in southern new hampshire usa
Wetlands Ecology and Management, 2005Co-Authors: Tracy L Tarr, Matthew J Baber, Kimberly J BabbittAbstract:We conducted a field study to examine the influence of Hydroperiod and concomitant changes in abiotic (wetland size, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and water temperature) and biotic (predatory fish presence) characteristics on macroinvertebrate communities in isolated wetlands in southern New Hampshire. Invertebrates were sampled using dipnet sweeps in 42 wetlands with short (<4 months), intermediate (4–11 months) or long (permanent) Hydroperiods in 1998 and 1999. We found that invertebrate genera richness, and to a lesser degree abundance, increased linearly along the hydrological gradient, and in response to temperature and dissolved oxygen. Relative abundance of genera also differed markedly with respect to Hydroperiod. Most notably, invertebrate communities changed from Acilius-dominated communities to Notonecta-dominated communities. Invertebrate relative abundances in permanent wetlands also differed with respect to the occurrence of predatory fish. Some genera (e.g., Libellula, and Dytiscus) were more likely to occur in permanent wetlands without fish, whereas other genera (e.g., Buena, and Basiaeshna) were more likely to occur in wetlands with predatory fish. Because aquatic invertebrate communities differed markedly with respect to wetland Hydroperiod, and in relation to the occurrence of predatory fish, it is essential to retain a diversity of wetlands in the landscape to ensure the long-term persistence of aquatic invertebrate biodiversity.
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the relative importance of wetland size and Hydroperiod for amphibians in southern new hampshire usa
Wetlands Ecology and Management, 2005Co-Authors: Kimberly J BabbittAbstract:In the United States, the regulatory approach to wetland protection has a traditional focus on size as a primary criterion, with large wetlands gaining significantly more protection. Small, isolated wetlands have received less protection; however, these wetlands play a significant role in the maintenance of biodiversity of many taxonomic groups, including amphibians. An important question for directing conservation and management efforts for amphibians is whether size is a useful criterion for regulatory decisions. Because Hydroperiod has an important influence on amphibian composition in wetlands, I conducted a study to examine the relative influence of wetland size and Hydroperiod on amphibian occurrence. I sampled 103 wetlands in southern New Hampshire in 1998 and 1999 using dipnet sampling to document the presence of larval amphibians. Wetlands were placed into one of three Hydroperiod categories; short (<4 months), intermediate (4–11 months), or long (permanent) based on field observations of drying pattern. Wetland size was determined from digitized national wetland inventory (NWI) maps (most wetlands) or measured in the field. I examined patterns of amphibian species richness and individual species occurrence using generalized linear models. Wetland size ranged from 0.01 to 3.27 ha. Overall, species richness was significantly influenced by Hydroperiod (χ2 = 18.6, p <0.001), but not size (χ2 = 1.4, p = 0.24). Examination within Hydroperiod categories revealed several significant relationships with wetland size. Species richness was related to wetland size in wetlands with short and intermediate Hydroperiods, but not wetlands with long Hydroperiods. Wetland size does not appear to be a useful sole criterion for determining wetland functional value for amphibians; assessments of functions of seasonally inundated wetlands for amphibians would benefit from examination of Hydroperiod.
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The relative importance of wetland size and Hydroperiod for amphibians in southern New Hampshire, USA
Wetlands Ecology and Management, 2005Co-Authors: Kimberly J BabbittAbstract:In the United States, the regulatory approach to wetland protection has a traditional focus on size as a primary criterion, with large wetlands gaining significantly more protection. Small, isolated wetlands have received less protection; however, these wetlands play a significant role in the maintenance of biodiversity of many taxonomic groups, including amphibians. An important question for directing conservation and management efforts for amphibians is whether size is a useful criterion for regulatory decisions. Because Hydroperiod has an important influence on amphibian composition in wetlands, I conducted a study to examine the relative influence of wetland size and Hydroperiod on amphibian occurrence. I sampled 103 wetlands in southern New Hampshire in 1998 and 1999 using dipnet sampling to document the presence of larval amphibians. Wetlands were placed into one of three Hydroperiod categories; short (
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the relationship between wetland Hydroperiod and nestedness patterns in assemblages of larval amphibians and predatory macroinvertebrates
Oikos, 2004Co-Authors: Matthew J Baber, Erica Fleishman, Kimberly J Babbitt, Tracy L TarrAbstract:Assemblages exhibit nested distributional patterns if the species found in species-poor locations also occur in progressively richer locations. We investigated patterns of nestedness in assemblages of larval amphibians and predatory macroinvertebrates in 42 isolated freshwater wetlands in southern New Hampshire, USA. These wetlands varied markedly in Hydroperiod and we predicted that nestedness would be relatively weak because changes in disturbance processes (the relative threat of desiccation and predation) along the Hydroperiod gradient often generate distinct assemblages. Contrary to expectations we found that both amphibian and macroinvertebrate assemblages were strongly nested not only with respect to species richness but also with respect to Hydroperiod and wetland size, which were positively correlated. We attribute our results to the increased colonization rates and decreased extinction rates associated with increasing Hydroperiod, and to concomitant increases in wetland size, habitat heterogeneity/complexity, and possibly water temperature. Moreover, the impact of predatory fishes on species richness and composition of amphibians and macroinvertebrates was relatively minor. We found that amphibians had a significantly lower degree of nestedness than macroinvertebrates, suggesting that a higher proportion of amphibian species found in species-poor assemblages was unlikely to occur in species-rich assemblages of amphibians (e.g. wood frogs and spotted salamanders). The degree of nestedness appeared to be influenced primarily by Hydroperiod and wetland size for amphibians, whereas nestedness of macroinvertebrates was influenced by unknown factors (possibly water temperature) in addition to Hydroperiod and wetland size. The high degrees of nestedness observed in amphibian and macroinvertebrate assemblages imply that protection of larger, more permanent wetlands may be more important for conserving native biological diversity than protection of smaller, non-permanent wetlands. However, non-permanent wetlands are used by several species of conservation concern that often do not occur in larger and more permanent wetlands.
Margarita Florencio - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Relationships between Hydroperiod length, and seasonal and spatial patterns of beta-diversity of the microcrustacean assemblages in Mediterranean ponds
Hydrobiologia, 2015Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Carmen Díaz-paniagua, Laura SerranoAbstract:Temporary ponds are unpredictable habitats that exhibit inundation periods of variable duration (Hydroperiods). We hypothesised that changes in microcrustacean assemblages, namely among ponds (spatial variation) and within ponds at a monthly scale (intra-annual variation), would differ according to Hydroperiod length. We found that the microcrustacean assemblages of the study ponds demonstrated distinctive individual patterns that were dependent on monthly variation. During pond filling, species turnover was particularly high in short-Hydroperiod ponds, probably due to the fast hatching of the initial pool of species, which seemed to determine subsequent species succession. Some of the long-Hydroperiod ponds were able to hold water during the summer, which meant that they could harbour adult microcrustaceans in the early autumn, in contrast to the recently filled ponds; species turnover could thus increase at the onset of the inundation cycle. In the summer, species turnover decreased (while the contribution of nestedness to β-diversity increased) because only a few tolerant species were able to withstand the poor water quality found in drying ponds. We suggest that preserving the broader Hydroperiod gradient, by protecting ponds with different environmental conditions within each Hydroperiod category, would safeguard the ecological dynamics of the microcrustacean assemblages found in temporary ponds.
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spatio temporal nested patterns in macroinvertebrate assemblages across a pond network with a wide Hydroperiod range
Oecologia, 2011Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Laura Serrano, Carmen Diazpaniagua, David T BiltonAbstract:Nestedness has been widely used to measure the structure of biological communities and occurs when species-poor sites contain subsets of species-rich ones. Here, we examine nested patterns across the macroinvertebrate assemblages of 91 ponds in Donana National Park, Spain, and explore temporal variation of nestedness and species richness in 19 temporary ponds over 2 years with differing rainfall. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were significantly nested; both pond spatial arrangement and environmental variation being important in driving nested patterns. Despite the nested structure observed, a number of taxa and ponds deviate from this pattern (termed idiosyncratic), by occurring more frequently than expected in species-poor sites, or having assemblages dominated by species largely absent from species-rich sites. Aquatic adults of winged insects, capable of dispersal, were more highly nested than non-dispersing taxa and life-history stages. Idiosyncratic taxa were found in ponds spanning a wide range of Hydroperiods, although nestedness was higher in more permanent waterbodies. Monthly sampling demonstrated a gradual increase of species richness and nestedness from pond filling to April–May, when the most temporary ponds started to dry. Although the degree of nestedness of individual pond assemblages varied from month to month, the overall degree of nestedness in the two study years was practically identical despite marked differences in Hydroperiod. Our results suggest that differential colonization and environmental variation are key processes driving the nested structure of Donana ponds, that macroinvertebrate assemblages change in a predictable manner each year in response to cycles of pond wetting and drying, and that connectivity and environmental variability maintain biodiversity in pond networks.
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Inter- and intra-annual variations of macroinvertebrate assemblages are related to the Hydroperiod in Mediterranean temporary ponds
Hydrobiologia, 2009Co-Authors: Margarita Florencio, Laura Serrano, Carola Gómez-rodríguez, Andrés Millán, Carmen Díaz-paniaguaAbstract:Macroinvertebrate assemblages of 22 temporary ponds with different Hydroperiod were sampled monthly during a dry year (2005–2006) and a wet year (2006–2007). Coleopteran and Heteropteran adults were most abundant at the end of the Hydroperiod, while Coleopteran larvae, mainly Dytiscidae, were mostly recorded in spring. Macroinvertebrate assemblages differed between study years. The shorter Hydroperiod of ponds in the dry year constrained the length of the aquatic period for macroinvertebrates, and three distinct wet phases of community composition could be distinguished: filling phase, aquatic phase and drying phase. In the wet year, with a longer pond Hydroperiod, five phases could be identified, with the aquatic phase differentiated into winter, early spring and late spring phases. Dispersers such as Anisops sardeus, Berosus guttalis or Anacaena lutescens were typical during the filling phase and Corixa affinis or Enochrus fuscipennis during the drying phase. The ponds with intermediate Hydroperiod showed a similar composition (mainly dispersers) at the beginning and end of their wet period; this is not being seen in early drying or long Hydroperiod ponds. A general pattern was detected, with similar variation between both years, which may be associated with the life histories of the macroinvertebrate taxa recorded.
