Biodiversity may regulate the temporal variability of ecological systems

The effect of biodiversity on natural communities has recently emerged as a topic of considerable ecological interest. We review studies that explicitly test whether the number of species in a community (species richness) regulates the temporal variability of aggregate community (total biomass, productivity, nutrient cycling) and population (density, biomass) properties. Theoretical studies predict that community variability should decline with increasing species richness, while population variability should increase. Many, but not all, empirical studies support these expectations. However, a closer look reveals that several empirical studies have either imperfect experimental designs or biased methods of calculating variability. Furthermore, most theoretical studies rely on highly unrealistic assumptions. We conclude that evidence to support the claim that biodiversity regulates temporal variability is accumulating, but not unequivocal. More research, in a broader array of ecosystem types and with careful attention to methodological considerations, is needed before we can make definitive statements regarding richness‐variability relationships.     

Spatial and temporal variability of internal and external phosphorus loads in Mona Lake,Michigan

A study was conducted in Mona Lake, a small eutrophic lake located in western Michigan (USA) to address the temporal and spatial variability of external and internal phosphorus loading. External P load varied among subbasins, which was mostly related to discharge, but also to land use. Black Creek, which drains lands with natural cover and agriculture, accounted for the majority of flow, and total phosphorus (TP) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) load, to Mona Lake. However, the relative contribution of SRP load was greater in Little Black Creek, which flows through a mostly urbanized subbasin, than in Black Creek. The relative importance of internal loading was strongly related to season, as internal TP loads contributed only ∼9% of the overall P load in April 2005, but ∼68–82% of the overall P load in the summer and early fall seasons. Internal TP and SRP loading was greater under anaerobic than aerobic conditions. Mean anaerobic TP release rates ranged from 0.80 to 15.56 mg P m⁻² d⁻¹, varying with site and season. Spatial variability in both internal phosphorus loading and sediment P concentration was also evident. By taking into account the spatial and temporal variability of different loading sources, management practices can be targeted to optimize nutrient source control strategies.     

Movement of immature aquatic insects in a lotic habitat

The movement of immature insects up down and across Salem Creek, Ontario, was measured with traps and nets at two week intervals from January to December 1977. Drift of most taxa was more strongly correlated with water velocity from August to December than it was over the whole year. That of Baetis, however, was not correlated with water velocity and it was significantly greater at the side of the stream than at the centre from May to July. Upstream movement, as measured in three different ways, was small compared with drift, being only 2.1, 7.3 and 15.2 percent respectively.Upstream and across stream movements were not consistently different from one another, changes in their intensity apparently merely representing changes in numbers and behaviour of the animals. It is concluded therefore that upstream movement is only random movement.Colonization of empty sediment in trays on and above the substratum confirmed that most reoccupation of denuded areas is by drift. This supports the finding that drift is far geater than random wandering of the insects.     

Benthic, Drifting and Marginal Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in a Lowland River: Temporal and Spatial Variations and Size Structure

Aquatic macroinvertebrates living in anastomosing lowland rivers use different habitats and respond differently to the hydrological regime. In this paper, the structure and composition of benthic, drifting and marginal macroinvertebrate assemblages are analyzed in the lowland river Ctalamochita (Córdoba, Argentina). The assemblages were studied in an annual cycle; a comparison among the composition of benthos, drift and marginal fauna was carried out; and size structure of the assemblages was characterized. Samples were obtained from two sites: a rural and an urban site. In total 73 taxa of aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected. Benthos was characterized by Chironomidae and Oligochaeta; marginal fauna was mainly constituted by Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Decapoda, the Trichoptera Nectopsyche sp., Ephemeroptera and Odonata. Drifting assemblage was composed by macroinvertebrates from local and remote upstream benthos, and from the marginal zone. Marginal fauna diversity was higher than benthos and drift. Total biomass of the assemblages pooled together was relatively equitably among size classes. Larger size classes consisted of organisms from the marginal zone whereas the smallest ones were composed by benthic and drifting organisms. In the study area there is habitat partitioning in the lateral dimension of the river. Marginal fauna was more diverse due to the asymmetry of transport and deposit processes, which generate a heterogeneous habitat in the bankside. The relation between fine substrate and high current velocity determines an unstable habitat in the central channel, which makes colonization by benthic macroinvertebrates difficult.     

Spatial and temporal variability in epilithic biofilm bacterial communities along an upland river gradient

Riverine biofilms remain one of the least-studied habitats despite the significant increase in the examination of aquatic microbial communities in recent years. In this study, the dynamics of epilithic biofilm communities native on rocks from a low-order upland stream were examined over a period of 3 years. Spatial and temporal variations in bacterial communities were assessed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, based on analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. In total, 108 epilithic biofilm samples were analysed and 170 different ribotypes were detected. A strong temporal gradient in ribotype composition was noticed, especially between samples collected in 2001 and those collected in 2002 and 2003, most likely reflecting interannual differences in weather conditions, such as temperature. A spatial gradient in ribotype composition, from upstream sites to the low-lying sites, was also evident and interpreted as an environmental variation gradient along the river course. Distinct biofilm communities consistently occurred at the first site along the river, which was significantly correlated to low pH. Temporal factors explained the highest degree of variation within the epilithic biofilms. Recurrent blooms of certain bacteria were noted within the system. Phylogenetic relationships of bacteria at one point in the river were determined using a cloning and sequencing approach, with Alphaproteobacteria dominating the community, followed by Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Betaproteobacteria.     

Some ecological aspects of aquatic oligochaetes in the Lower Pearl River (People's Republic of China)

Densities of the 8 most important species or genera of the 15 taxa found at a series of stations along the Guangzhou Reach of the Pearl River are given. Shannon-Weaver diversity index values were low throughout the area studied. No clear correlations were found between oligochaetes and NH₃-N or a combination of 6 chemical factors (COD, NH₃-N, NO₃-N, Cr, Pb, Hg). However, when the main groups of the benthos, including the oligochaetes, were taken together, and a BPI (Biological Pollution Index) approach used, a correlation between the macroinvertebrate community and the combined chemical factors was noted.     

Spatial and temporal variability of xylan distribution in differentiating secondary xylem of hybrid aspen

Xylans occupy approximately one-third of the cell wall components in hardwoods and their chemical structures are well understood. However, the microdistribution of xylans (O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoxylans, AcGXs) in the cell wall and their correlation with functional properties of cells in hardwood xylem is poorly understood. We demonstrate here the spatial and temporal distribution of xylans in secondary xylem cells of hybrid aspen using immunolocalization with LM10 and LM11 antibodies. Xylan labeling was detected earliest in fibers at the cell corner of the S? layer, and then later in vessels and ray cells respectively. Fibers showed a heterogeneous labeling pattern in the mature cell wall with stronger labeling of low substituted xylans (lsAcGXs) in the outer than inner cell wall. In contrast, vessels showed uniform labeling in the mature cell wall with stronger labeling of lsAcGXs than fibers. Xylan labeling in ray cells was detected much later than that in fibers and vessels, but was also detected at the beginning of secondary cell wall formation as in fibers and vessels with uniform labeling in the cell wall regardless of developmental stage. Interestingly, pit membranes including fiber-, vessel- and ray-vessel pits showed strong labeling of highly substituted xylans (hsAcGXs) during differentiation, although this labeling gradually disappeared during pit maturation. Together our observations indicate that there are temporal and spatial variations of xylan deposition and chemical structure of xylans between cells in aspen xylem. Differences in xylan localization between aspen (hardwood) and cedar (softwood) are also discussed.     

Species richness of aquatic macrophyte communites in Central Canada

Aquatic macrophyte species richness (SR) was examined at 430 sites in the central Canadian region in relation to water body type, bottom substrate and 8 water chemistry parameters. SR was highest in rivers and lakes, intermediate in creeks, and lowest in ponds. The highest values occurred where granitic bedrock, highly organic substrates or sand predominated. SR was significantly inversely correlated in the study area as a whole with 7 of the water chemistry parameters; of these, total alkalinity was the most important. However, the relative importance of the respective parameters differed for various water body types. The relationship between SR and phosphorus was positive in ponds, but negative for all other water body types. Stepwise sultiple regression analysis identified phosphorus, total alkalinity and dissolved organic matter as important factors in ponds; sulphate, total alkalinity and chloride in lakes, and sulphate and phosphorus in lotic habitats. Log transformations improved the correlations for some variables. However, the water chemistry parameters examined accounted for less than half of the total variability in SR. Apparently SR depends on many different factors, including surface areaand bottom type, whose relative contributions vary with situation.     

Spatial and temporal variability in a butterfly population

Summary The dynamics of a butterfly (Plebejus argus) population were analysed at two levels, (i) the population as a whole and (ii) sections within the population. Some sections of the population fluctuated out of synchrony with others, such that the variability [SD Log(Density+1)] shown by the population as a whole was less than the variability shown by each part of the population — overall temporal variability was dampened by spatial asynchrony. Since observed population variability depends on the spatial scale that is sampled, comparisons of population variability among taxa should be carried out only with caution. Implications for island biogeography and conservation biology are discussed.     

中国兰科植物沿经纬度的水平分布格局

对濒危物种在大尺度上地理分布的研究,有助于制定合理的保护规划和保护策略.兰科植物作为一大类急需保护的濒危物种,研究其在中国境内的地理分布格局具有重要的理论和实践意义.通过文献查阅、自然保护区数据整理收集兰科植物在全国范围内的调查数据,利用ArcGIS10.0和SPASS18.0软件对其地理分布进行了分析,结果表明：中国西南地区是兰科植物的分布中心和分化中心;兰科植物丰富度表现出显著的经度和纬度相关性,与经度之间呈单峰关系,在100°E附近出现峰值,但随纬度升高丰富度不断下降.     

Spatial distribution and diversity of chironomid assemblages in a small hilly stream (Diptera: Chironomidae)

In 2006–2007, spatial variations of chironomid assemblages of a small chalky watercourse were investigated in the hilly region of Balaton Upland, Hungary. Samplings were carried out every three weeks at seven characteristically different sites along the whole length of the watercourse. Altogether 2966 specimens were collected and identified. The chironomid fauna of the stream was relatively rich with 40 taxa belonging to four subfamilies (eight Tanypodinae, one Prodiamesinae, 17 Orthocladiinae, 14 Chironominae). The lowest number of species and number of individuals was found at the spring, and the highest at the middle reach. Based on multivariate analysis the different sections of the creek were characterised by distinctive chironomid communities. Although longitudinal changes in the chironomid community of the Örvényesi creek were detectable due to changes in natural environmental factors, land-use changes also significantly influenced the chironomid community composition and diversity. The natural and anthropogenic effects were hardly distinguishable. Furthermore, we found that the response of different diversity indices to environmental variability was different. This draws attention to the difficulties in evaluating the relationships between stream communities and environmental variables using different diversity indices. The taxonomic diversity, which incorporates the taxonomical relationships between the specimens, proved to be one of the most useful diversity indices to characterise the stream chironomid assemblages.     

Spatial and temporal dynamics of phytoplankton communities along a regulated river system, the Nakdong River, Korea

The longitudinal distribution and seasonal fluctuation of phytoplankton communities was studied along the middle to lower part of a regulated river system (Nakdong River, Korea). Phytoplankton biomass decreased sharply in the middle part of the river (182 km upward the estuary dam), and then increased downstream reaching a maximum at the last sampling station (27 km upward the estuary dam). In contrast, there was little downstream fluctuation in species composition, irrespective of pronounced differences in nutrient concentrations (TN, TP, NO₃, NH₄, PO₄) as well as in algal biomass. In the main river channel, small centric diatoms (Stephanodiscus hantzschii, Cyclotella meneghiniana) and pennate diatoms (Synedra, Fragilaria, Nitzschia) were dominant from winter to early spring (November–April). A mixed community of cryptomonads, centric and pennate diatoms, and coenobial greens (Pediastrum, Scenedesmus) was dominant in late spring (May–June). Blue-green algae (Anabaena, Microcystis, Oscillatoria) were dominant in the summer (July–September). A mid-summer Microcystis bloom occurred at all study sites during the dry season, when discharge was low, though the nutrient concentration varied in each study site. Nutrients appeared everywhere to be in excess of algal requirement and apparently did not influence markedly the downstream and seasonal phytoplankton compositional differences in this river.     

The effect of organic pollution on the abundance and distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in an urban water basin, Taiwan

Aquatic oligochaetes are abundant in polluted areas and are, therefore, commonly used as bioindicators to study organic pollution in rivers and streams. In order to develop a species-level oligochaete biotic index to reflect the River Pollution Index (RPI) in the Taichung Water Basin in Taiwan, we conducted a systematic sampling scheme to collect aquatic oligochaetes from the sediment samples of watercourses in the Taichung Water Basin, Taiwan. We evaluated the relationships between aquatic oligochaetes and the sewage pollution using statistical methods. The distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in relation to environmental variables, such as water quality and sediment characteristics of the regional urban contaminated streams was expressed by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). We identified 17 species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) including 3 species of Tubificidae, 13 species of Naididae, and 1 species of Enchytraeidae from the watercourses of an urban region in the Taichung Water Basin in Taiwan, during the summer and winter of 2005 and 2006. A positive correlation was found between the total abundance of aquatic oligochaetes and the RPI (r = 0.58, P < 0.05). However, only population density of the most abundant tubificid, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, increased with increasing RPI values and a significantly negative correlation was found between the population density of the naidid, Nais communis, and RPI values. The results of CCA indicated that certain naidids, such as Aulophorus furcatus and Allonais gwaliorensis also tolerated extremely polluted environments in upper stream or stony habitats, implying that tubificids should not be the sole representation of simple biotic indices but should also include pollution-tolerant naidids. We found that the community structure of aquatic oligochaetes was influenced by short-term variations in microhabitat rather than according to seasonal factors in our study region. The results proved that aquatic oligochaetes were sensitive enough to provide a supplement for the regional urban pollution assessment applications for biotic indicators at the species-level.     

Diversity and distribution of reptiles in Romania

The reptile fauna of Romania comprises 23 species, out of which 12 species reach here the limit of their geographic range. We compiled and updated a national database of the reptile species occurrences from a variety of sources including our own field surveys, personal communication from specialists, museum collections and the scientific literature. The occurrence records were georeferenced and stored in a geodatabase for additional analysis of their spatial patterns. The spatial analysis revealed a biased sampling effort concentrated in various protected areas, and deficient in the vast agricultural areas of the southern part of Romania. The patterns of species richness showed a higher number of species in the warmer and drier regions, and a relatively low number of species in the rest of the country. Our database provides a starting point for further analyses, and represents a reliable tool for drafting conservation plans.     

Diversity and distribution of amphibians in Romania

Nineteen species of amphibians inhabit Romania, 9 of which reach their range limit on this territory. Based on published occurrence reports, museum collections and our own data we compiled a national database of amphibian occurrences. We georeferenced 26779 amphibian species occurrences, and performed an analysis of their spatial patterns, checking for hotspots and patterns of species richness. The results of spatial statistic analyses supported the idea of a biased sampling for Romania, with clear hotspots of increased sampling efforts. The sampling effort is biased towards species with high detectability, protected areas, and large cities. Future sampling efforts should be focused mostly on species with a high rarity score in order to accurately map their range. Our results are an important step in achieving the long-term goals of increasing the efficiency of conservation efforts and evaluating the species range shifts under climate change scenarios.     

Biogeography and species richness of endophagous insects associated with Proteaceae in South Africa

The endophagous insects associated with Proteaceae of the Cape fynbos were compared to endophage assemblages from more northern non-Capensis Proteaceae. Insects were collected from Proteaceae in the Cape on a regular basis and additional records obtained from insect collections. Northern samples were collected more opportunistically or records were obtained from collections or through personal communication. The Cape fynbos genus Protea is utilized by many more insect taxa than the non-fynbos Protea species. The fynbos Proteaceae has very few species in common with the northern Proteaceae, yet each has many of their own distinct species. This suggests that the fynbos endophage insect fauna is distinct from that of the other regions. It appears that the high diversity of host plants in the fynbos has contributed to generating high, local endophagous insect diversity.     

The distribution, density and growth of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, in the freshwater catchment of the River Thames

Improvements in water quality in the Thames Estuary since the 1960s have removed a barrier to fish migration into the Thames catchment. The extent of recolonization by the eel is examined, using data from 235 electrofished and fyke-netted sites, compared with information on pre-pollution distribution. Density is highest in the lower parts of the catchment and decreases significantly with increasing distance from the tidal limit. Only sparse populations are found beyond 50 km from the tidal limit and are characterized by an increasing bias towards larger, slower-growing females. Artificial stocking is believed to be a significant factor in certain areas. The rate of recolonization has been slow and neither the annual natural recruitment nor distribution of the pre-pollution stock of the 1800s appears to have been achieved. The future management of the stock in relation to its commercial scientific and conservation value is considered.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of sediment and nutrient accumulation in shallow lakes of the Upper St. Johns River Basin, Florida

We used paleolimnological methods to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of bulk sediment and nutrient (C, N, P) accumulation in Lakes Hell n Blazes (A = 154 ha, zmax = 240 cm), Sawgrass (A = 195 ha, zmax = 157 cm) and Washington (A = 1766 ha, zmax = 322 cm), in the Upper St. Johns River Basin, Florida. The study was designed to evaluate long-term changes in sedimentation and nutrient storage in the basin, and was one component of a larger project addressing flood control, wetland restoration, and water quality improvement. These three study lakes are wide, shallow waterbodies in the upper reaches of the St. Johns River channel. Sediment mapping indicates soft, organic deposits are distributed uniformly throughout Lakes Hell n Blazes and Sawgrass. In contrast, much of Lake Washington is characterized by sandy bottom, and organic sediment is largely restricted to the north end of the lake. Lakes Hell n Blazes and Sawgrass are effective sediment traps because dense submersed macrophytes and their associated epiphytes reduce flow velocity, intercept suspended particles, and utilize dissolved nutrients. Abundant Hydrilla, combined with short fetch, prevents resuspension and downstream transport of sediments. Larger Lake Washington is probably wind-mixed and resuspended organic sediments are redeposited to downstream sites. 210Pb-dated sediment cores show that organic sediment accumulation began in all three lakes before 1900, but that bulk sediment and nutrient accumulation rates have generally increased since then. The increases are probably attributable, in part, to anthropogenic activities including 1) hydrologic modifications that reduced flow rates in the channel, 2) discharge of nutrient-rich waters from urban, agricultural and ranching areas, and, 3) introduction and periodic herbicide treatment of the exotic macrophytes Eichhornia and Hydrilla.