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Hu J, Xu N, Ao S, Tan L, Li X, Cai Q, Tang T. Species turnover and functional nestedness constitute the geographic patterns of stream diatoms in the Three Parallel Rivers region, China. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70010. [PMID: 39011136 PMCID: PMC11246976 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Unraveling biodiversity patterns and their driving processes is paramount in ecology and biogeography. However, there remains a limited understanding regarding the underlying mechanisms of community assembly, particularly in alpine streams where significant elevation gradients and habitat heterogeneity exist. We investigated the patterns and drivers of beta diversity, explicitly focusing on taxonomic and functional diversity, in the three parallel rivers region in China. We employed a beta diversity partitioning approach to examine the turnover and nestedness components of beta diversity and further deconstructed the diatom community into attached and unattached groups. Our results revealed distinct diversity patterns and drivers for taxonomic and functional beta diversity. Specifically, taxonomic beta diversity was mainly driven by the turnover component affected by spatial processes, whereas functional beta diversity was dominated by the nestedness component affected by environmental processes. Furthermore, our analysis of the division of the whole communities demonstrated that the varying responses of benthic diatoms with different attached abilities to environmental filtering, dispersal limitation, and directional flow were the essential reasons for shaping the biodiversity patterns of species turnover and functional nestedness in the alpine stream. Our findings suggested that partitioning beta diversity and dividing the entire community can more deeply infer underlying community assembly processes, thereby providing valuable insights into understanding biodiversity patterns, drivers, and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancheng Hu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- School of Environmental Science and EngineeringHubei Polytechnic UniversityHuangshiChina
- School of Resources and Environmental EngineeringWuhan University of TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Nuo Xu
- School of Environmental Science and EngineeringHubei Polytechnic UniversityHuangshiChina
- College of Life SciencesHubei Normal UniversityHuangshiChina
| | - Sicheng Ao
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research StationInstitute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of SciencesXiamenChina
| | - Lu Tan
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Xianfu Li
- Institute of Eastern‐Himalaya Biodiversity ResearchDali UniversityDaliYunnanChina
| | - Qinghua Cai
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Tao Tang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
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Li Z, Zhu H, García-Girón J, Gu S, Heino J, Xiong X, Yang J, Zhao X, Jia Y, Xie Z, Zhang J. Historical and dispersal processes drive community assembly of multiple aquatic taxa in glacierized catchments in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118746. [PMID: 38513751 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the relative role of dispersal dynamics and niche constraints is not only a core task in community ecology, but also becomes an important prerequisite for bioassessment. Despite the recent progress in our knowledge of community assembly in space and time, patterns and processes underlying biotic communities in alpine glacierized catchments remain mostly ignored. To fill this knowledge gap, we combined the recently proposed dispersal-niche continuum index (DNCI) with traditional constrained ordinations and idealized patterns of species distributions to unravel community assembly mechanisms of different key groups of primary producers and consumers (i.e., phytoplankton, epiphytic algae, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fishes) in rivers in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the World's Third Pole. We tested whether organismal groups with contrasting body sizes differed in their assembly processes, and discussed their applicability in bioassessment in alpine zones. We found that community structure of alpine river biotas was always predominantly explained in terms of dispersal dynamics and historical biogeography. These patterns are most likely the result of differences in species-specific functional attributes, the stochastic colonization-extinction dynamics driven by multi-year glacier disturbances and the repeated hydrodynamic separation among alpine catchments after the rising of the Qilian mountains. Additionally, we found that the strength of dispersal dynamics and niche constraints was partially mediated by organismal body sizes, with dispersal processes being more influential for microscopic primary producers. Finding that zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities followed clumped species replacement structures (i.e., Clementsian gradients) supports the notion that environmental filtering also contributes to the structure of high-altitude animal communities in glacierized catchments. In terms of the applied fields, we argue that freshwater bioassessment in glacierized catchments can benefit from incorporating the metacommunity perspective and applying novel approaches to (i) detect the optimal spatial scale for species sorting and (ii) identify and eliminate the species that are sensitive to dispersal-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfei Li
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Zhu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jorge García-Girón
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007, León, Spain; Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Siyu Gu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Xiong Xiong
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiali Yang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianfu Zhao
- Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yintao Jia
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhicai Xie
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Junqian Zhang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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Wu N, Liu G, Qi X, Lin Z, Wang Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Oduro C, Khan S, Zhou S, Chu T. Different facets of alpha and beta diversity of benthic diatoms along stream watercourse in a large near-natural catchment. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11577. [PMID: 38873020 PMCID: PMC11169757 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the processes and mechanisms that shape the distribution patterns and variations of biodiversity along spatial gradients continues to be a priority for ecological research. We focused on the biodiversity of benthic diatom communities within a large near-natural watershed. The objectives are: (1) to explore the overall spatial patterns of benthic diatom biodiversity; (2) to investigate the effects associated with watercourse position and environmental variables, as well as both common and rare species on two facets (i.e., taxonomic and functional) of alpha and beta diversity; and (3) to unveil the mechanisms underlying their spatial variations. Alpha diversity indices along the stream watercourse showed a clear increasing trend from upstream to downstream sites. Results of random forest regression identified conductivity as the primary factor influencing functional alpha diversity, while elevation emerged as the predominant factor for taxonomic alpha diversity. Beta diversity partitioning revealed that taxonomic beta diversity generally exceeded functional beta diversity. These diversity measures exhibited different patterns along the watercourse position: taxonomic beta diversity remained relatively consistent along the watercourse, whereas functional total beta diversity and its two components of middle stream sites were lower than those of upstream and downstream sites. Functional beta diversity was sustained by dominant and common species, while rare species made significant contributions to taxonomic beta diversity. Both taxonomic and functional beta diversity and its components displayed a stronger influence from spatial factors than from local environmental, geo-climatic, and nutrient variables. Collectively, taxonomic and functional alpha and beta diversity demonstrated distinct responses to the main environmental gradients and spatial factors within our catchment, highlighting their different insights into diatom diversity. Furthermore, research is required to assess the generalizability of our findings to similar ecosystems. In addition, this study presents opportunities for expansion to include other taxa (e.g., macroinvertebrates and fish) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the driving mechanisms behind stream biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naicheng Wu
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Guohao Liu
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Xinxin Qi
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Zongwei Lin
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Yixia Wang
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Yaochun Wang
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Yuying Li
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Watershed Ecological Security in the Water Source Area of the Middle Route of South‐to‐North Water Diversion Project, College of Water Resource and Modern AgricultureNanyang Normal UniversityNanyangChina
| | - Collins Oduro
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
- Ningbo University Donghai InstituteNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Sangar Khan
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information TechniquesNingbo UniversityNingboChina
- Ningbo University Donghai InstituteNingbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Shuchan Zhou
- Ningbo University Library (Journal Editorial Department)Ningbo UniversityNingboChina
| | - Tianjiang Chu
- Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural SciencesHangzhouChina
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Kiemel K, Weithoff G, Tiedemann R. DNA metabarcoding reveals impact of local recruitment, dispersal, and hydroperiod on assembly of a zooplankton metacommunity. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6190-6209. [PMID: 35869804 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the environmental impact on the assembly of local communities in relation to their spatial and temporal connectivity is still a challenge in metacommunity ecology. This study aims to unravel underlying metacommunity processes and environmental factors that result in observed zooplankton communities. Unlike most metacommunity studies, we jointly examine active and dormant zooplankton communities using a DNA metabarcoding approach to overcome limitations of morphological species identification. We applied two-fragment (COI and 18S) metabarcoding to monitor communities of 24 kettle holes over a two-year period to unravel (i) spatial and temporal connectivity of the communities, (ii) environmental factors influencing local communities, and (iii) dominant underlying metacommunity processes in this system. We found a strong separation of zooplankton communities from kettle holes of different hydroperiods (degree of permanency) throughout the season, while the community composition within single kettle holes did not differ between years. Species richness was primarily dependent on pH and permanency, while species diversity (Shannon Index) was influenced by kettle hole location. Community composition was impacted by kettle hole size and surrounding field crops. Environmental processes dominated temporal and spatial processes. Sediment communities showed a different composition compared to water samples but did not differ between ephemeral and permanent kettle holes. Our results suggest that communities are mainly structured by environmental filtering based on pH, kettle hole size, surrounding field crops, and permanency. Environmental filtering based on specific conditions in individual kettle holes seems to be the dominant process in community assembly in the studied zooplankton metacommunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Kiemel
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Guntram Weithoff
- Unit of Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ralph Tiedemann
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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Bried JT, Vilmi A. Improved detection of mass effect species assembly for applied metacommunity thinking. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason T. Bried
- Illinois Natural History Survey Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign IL USA
| | - Annika Vilmi
- Freshwater Centre Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Oulu Finland
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Kelly MG, Phillips G, Teixeira H, Várbíró G, Salas Herrero F, Willby NJ, Poikane S. Establishing ecologically-relevant nutrient thresholds: A tool-kit with guidance on its use. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150977. [PMID: 34656586 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One key component of any eutrophication management strategy is establishment of realistic thresholds above which negative impacts become significant and provision of ecosystem services is threatened. This paper introduces a toolkit of statistical approaches with which such thresholds can be set, explaining their rationale and situations under which each is effective. All methods assume a causal relationship between nutrients and biota, but we also recognise that nutrients rarely act in isolation. Many of the simpler methods have limited applicability when other stressors are present. Where relationships between nutrients and biota are strong, regression is recommended. Regression relationships can be extended to include additional stressors or variables responsible for variation between water bodies. However, when the relationship between nutrients and biota is weaker, categorical approaches are recommended. Of these, binomial regression and an approach based on classification mismatch are most effective although both will underestimate threshold concentrations if a second stressor is present. Whilst approaches such as changepoint analysis are not particularly useful for meeting the specific needs of EU legislation, other multivariate approaches (e.g. decision trees) may have a role to play. When other stressors are present quantile regression allows thresholds to be established which set limits above which nutrients are likely to influence the biota, irrespective of other pressures. The statistical methods in the toolkit may be useful as part of a management strategy, but more sophisticated approaches, often generating thresholds appropriate to individual water bodies rather than to broadly defined "types", are likely to be necessary too. The importance of understanding underlying ecological processes as well as correct selection and application of methods is emphasised, along with the need to consider local regulatory and decision-making systems, and the ease with which outcomes can be communicated to non-technical audiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyn G Kelly
- Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn, Durham DH6 5QB, UK; School of Geography, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Geoff Phillips
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Heliana Teixeira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gábor Várbíró
- Department of Tisza Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, Bem t'er 18/c, H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Nigel J Willby
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Sandra Poikane
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), I-21027 Ispra, Italy
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Zhang J, Chen Y, Huo Y, Guo J, Wan L, Lu Z, Wu QL, Jeppesen E, Han BP, Ren L. Eutrophication increases deterministic processes and heterogeneity of co-occurrence networks of bacterioplankton metacommunity assembly at a regional scale in tropical coastal reservoirs. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117460. [PMID: 34343871 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding microbial metacommunity assembly and the underlying methanisms are fundamental objectives of aquatic ecology. However, little is known about how eutrophication, the primary water quality issue of aquatic ecosystems, regulates bacterioplankton metacommunity assembly at a regional scale in reservoirs. In this study, we applied a metacommunity framework to study bacterioplankton communities in 210 samples collected from 42 tropical coastal reservoirs in the wet summer season. We found that the spatial pattern of bacterioplankton community compositions (BCCs) at a regional scale was shaped mainly by species sorting. The reservoir trophic state index (TSI) was the key determinant of bacterioplankton metacommunity assembly. BCC turnover increased significantly with the TSI differences between sites (∆TSI) when ∆TSI was < 20, but remained at a level of about 80% when ∆TSI was > 20. Compared to oligo-mesotrophic and mesotrophic reservoirs, increased heterogeneity of co-occurrence bacterioplankton networks and bacterioplankton β-diversity were observed across eutrophic reservoirs. We propose that larger variation in phytoplankton community assembly may play directly or indirectly deterministic processes in controlling the bacterioplankton metacommunity assembly and became the potential mechanisms behind the observed higher BCC heterogeneity across the eutrophic reservoirs. Our research contributes to a broader understanding of the ecological effects of eutrophication on reservoir ecosystems and provides clues to the management of the tropical coastal reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiexiang Zhang
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ye Chen
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yong Huo
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jia Guo
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Linglin Wan
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhe Lu
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Qinglong L Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China; Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Erik Jeppesen
- Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Silkeborg, Denmark; Limnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Ecosystem Research and Implementation, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey; Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli-Mersin, Turkey.
| | - Bo-Ping Han
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lijuan Ren
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
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