Interactions between nutrient availability and hydroperiod shape macroinvertebrate communities in Florida Everglades marshes |
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Authors: | Shawn E Liston |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;(2) Present address: Audubon of Florida, Tavernier Science Center, 115 Indian Mound Trail, Tavernier, FL 33070, USA |
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Abstract: | Hydroperiod and nutrient status are known to influence aquatic communities in wetlands, but their joint effects are not well
explored. I sampled floating periphyton mat and flocculent detritus (floc) infaunal communities using 6-cm diameter cores
at short- and long-hydroperiod and constantly inundated sites across a range of phosphorus (P) availability (total phosphorus
in soil, floc and periphyton). Differences in community structure between periphyton and floc microhabitats were greater than
any variation attributable to hydroperiod, P availability, or other spatial factors. Multivariate analyses indicated community
structure of benthic-floc infauna was driven by hydroperiod, although crowding (no. g−1 AFDM) of individual taxa showed no consistent responses to hydroperiod or P availability. In contrast, community structure
of periphyton mat infauna was driven by P availability, while densities of mat infauna (no. m−2) were most influenced by hydroperiod (+correlations). Crowding of mat infauna increased significantly with P availability
in short-hydroperiod marshes, but was constant across the P gradient in long-hydroperiod marshes. Increased abundance of floating-periphyton
mat infauna with P availability at short-hydroperiod sites may result from a release from predation by small fish. Community
structure and density were not different between long-hydroperiod and constantly inundated sites. These results have implications
for the use of macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality in wetlands and suggest the substrate sampled can influence
interpretation of ecological responses observed in these communities. |
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Keywords: | everglades hydroperiod phosphorus macroinvertebrates periphyton fish |
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