Patterns of composition and species richness of crustaceans and aquatic insects along environmental gradients in Mediterranean water bodies |
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Authors: | D Boix S Gascón J Sala A Badosa S Brucet R López-Flores M Martinoy J Gifre X D Quintana |
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Institution: | (1) Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain;(2) Mosquito Control Service of Badia de Roses and Baix Ter, Girona, Spain |
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Abstract: | Differences in the dynamics of ecological processes between Mediterranean and colder temperate aquatic systems could imply
different patterns in faunal communities in terms of composition and biodiversity (i.e. species richness and rarity). In order
to identify some of these patterns the crustacean and aquatic insect composition and biodiversity of four water body types,
classified according to their salinity and water permanence, were compared. Moreover, the relationships between species richness
and water, pond and landscape variables were analysed. A total number of 91 water bodies located throughout Catalunya (NE
Iberian Peninsula) were sampled. Three species assemblages were observed: one for permanent freshwaters, another for temporary
freshwaters, and a third one for saline waters (SW), since permanent and temporary saline water bodies had similar composition.
Differences in salinity were associated with proportion of crustaceans versus insects and with singularity. Thus, saline ponds
had a higher proportion of crustaceans, and lower values of singularity. Conductivity was significantly related to total (crustaceans
plus insects) richness, and also related to insect richness. The main difference between the models obtained for crustacean
species richness and insect species richness is the significance of landscape variables in the latter, and this fact could
be related to the different dispersion types of these two faunal groups: active for insects versus passive for crustaceans.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Guest editors: R. Céréghino, J. Biggs, B. Oertli & S. Declerck
The ecology of European ponds: defining the characteristics of a neglected freshwater habitat |
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Keywords: | Mediterranean water bodies Faunal composition Species richness Trophic state Pond characteristics Landscape variables |
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