Competitive relationships due to similar nutrient preferences reshape soil bacterial metacommunities

Paddy soil, as an ecosystem with alternating drained and flooded conditions, microorganisms in it can maintain the stability of the ecosystem by regulating the composition and diversity of its species when disturbed by external biotic or abiotic factors, and the regulatory mechanism in this process is a controversial topic in ecological research. In this study, we investigate the effects of pigeon feces addition on bacterial communities in three textured soils, two conditions (drained and flooded) based on microcosm experiment using high-throughput sequencing techniques. Our results show that pigeon feces addition reduced environmental heterogeneity and community diversity, both under flooded and drained conditions and in all textured soils, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of environmental selection and increasing diffusion limitations among bacterial communities. Bacterial communities are altered by environmental factors including total organic carbon, available nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus and available potassium, resulting in the formation of new community structures and dominant genera. Bacteria from pigeon feces did not colonize the original soil in large numbers, and the soil bacterial community structure changed, with some species replaced the indigenous ones as new dominant genera. As nutrient diffusion increases the nutrient content of the soil, this does not lead to species extinction; however, nutrient diffusion creates new nutrient preferences of the bacterial community, which causes direct competition between species, and contributes to the extinction and immigration species. Our results suggest that species replacement is an adaptive strategy of soil bacterial community in response to dispersal of pigeon feces, and that bacterial community regulate diversity and abundance of the community by enhancing species extinction and immigration, thereby preventing bacteria in pigeon feces from colonizing paddy soils and maintaining ecosystem stability.

Disentangling the effects of different human disturbances on multifaceted biodiversity indices in freshwater fish

Evaluating the effects of anthropogenic pressures on several biodiversity metrics can inform the management and monitoring of biodiversity loss. However, the type of disturbances can lead to different responses in different metrics. In this study, we aimed at disentangling the effects of different types of anthropogenic disturbances on freshwater fish communities. We calculated diversity indices for 1109 stream fish communities across France by computing richness and evenness components for ecological, morphological, and phylogenetic diversity, and used null models to estimate standardized effect sizes. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the relative effects of environmental and anthropogenic drivers in driving those diversity indices. Our results demonstrated that all diversity indices exhibited significant responses to both climatic conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. While we observed a decrease of ecological and phylogenetic richness with the intensity of disturbance, a weak increase in morphological richness and evenness was apparent. Overall, our results demonstrated the importance of disentangling various types of disturbances when assessing human-induced ecological impacts and highlighted that different facets of diversity are not impacted identically by anthropogenic disturbances in stream fish communities. This calls for further work seeking to integrate biodiversity responses to human disturbances into a multifaceted framework, and could have beneficial implications when planning conservation action in freshwater ecosystems.

Disequilibrium and complexity across scales: a patch-dynamics framework for organizational ecology

Based on equilibrium assumptions, traditional ecological models have been widely applied in the fields of management and organization studies. While research using these models is still ongoing, studies have nonetheless struggled with ways to address multiple levels of analysis, uncertainty, and complexity in their analyses. This paper conceptualizes the dynamic co-evolution mechanisms that operate in an ecosystem across multiple organizational scales. Specifically, informed by recent advances in modelling in biology, a general 'patch-dynamics' framework that is theoretically and methodologically able to capture disequilibrium, uncertainty, disturbances, and changes in organizational populations or ecosystems, as complex and dynamically evolving resource environments are introduced. Simulation models are built to show the patch-dynamics framework's functioning and test its robustness. The patch-dynamics framework and modelling methodology integrates equilibrium and disequilibrium perspectives, co-evolutions across multiple organization levels, uncertainties, and random disturbances into a single framework, opening new avenues for future research on topics in the field of management and organization studies, as well as on the mechanisms that shape ecosystems. Such a framework has the potential to help analyse the sustainability and healthiness of the business environment, and deserves more attention in future research on management and organization theory, particularly in the context of significant uncertainty and disturbances in business and management practice. Overall, the paper offers a distinct theoretical perspective and methodology for modelling population and ecosystem dynamics across different scales.

Source-sink dynamics within a complex life history

Source-sink patch dynamics occur when movement from sources stabilizes sinks by compensating for low local vital rates. The mechanisms underlying source-sink dynamics may be complicated in species that undergo transitions between discrete life stages, particularly when stages have overlapping habitat requirements and similar movement abilities. In these species, for example, the demographic effects of movement by one stage may augment or offset the effects of movement by another stage. We used a stream salamander system to investigate patch dynamics within this form of complex life history. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that the salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus experiences source-sink dynamics in riffles and pools, the dominant geomorphic patch types in headwater streams. We estimated stage-specific survival probabilities in riffles and pools and stage-specific movement probabilities between the two patch types using 8 years of capture-recapture data on 4491 individuals, including premetamorphic larvae and postmetamorphic adults. We then incorporated survival and movement probabilities into a stage-structured, two-patch model to determine the demographic interactions between riffles and pools. Monthly survival probabilities of both stages were higher in pools than in riffles. Larvae were more likely to move from riffles to pools, but adults were more likely to move from pools to riffles, despite experiencing much lower survival in riffles. In simulations, eliminating interpatch movements by both stages indicated that riffles are sinks that rely on immigration from pools for stability. Allowing only larvae to move stabilized both patch types, but allowing only adults to move destabilized pools due to the demographic cost of adult emigration. These results indicated that larval movement not only stabilizes riffles, but also offsets the destabilizing effects of maladaptive adult movement. Similar patch dynamics may emerge in any structured population in which movement and local vital rates differ by age, size, or stage. Addressing these forms of internal demographic structure in patch dynamics analyses will help to refine and advance general understanding of spatial ecology.

Freshwater fish biodiversity restoration in floodplain rivers requires connectivity and habitat heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales

With a sixth mass extinction looming and freshwater biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates, evaluating ecological efficacy of river restoration efforts is critical in combatting global biodiversity loss. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the functioning for fishes of 46 river restoration projects in the river Rhine, one of the world's most heavily engineered lowland rivers. Floodplains with permanent, either one- or two-sided lateral connectivity to the main channel, favour total fish abundance, and are essential as nursery areas for riverine fishes. Habitat heterogeneity had a strong positive effect on species richness but was negatively related with fish abundances. However, the effects of environmental variables varied between ecological groups and spatial scales. Surprisingly, richness of critical rheophilic fishes declined with large-scale habitat heterogeneity (~1000 m), while it increased at small scales (~100 m), possibly because of the presence of unfavourable habitats for this ecological group at larger scales. Clearly, there is no one-size-fits-all design for river restoration projects. Whether a river section is free-flowing or impounded dictates the scope and efficacy of restoration projects and, within a river section, multiple complementary restoration projects might be key to mitigate freshwater fish biodiversity loss. An essential element for success is that these projects should retain permanent lateral connection to the main channel.

Effects of human disturbance on habitat and fish diversity in Neotropical streams

Human pressures have been intensely modifying freshwater ecosystems worldwide. We assessed the effects of human pressure on habitat diversity and primary productivity to understand the consequences on fish fauna in 25 tropical and subtropical streams of two globally important ecoregions: Iguassu and Upper Paraná. We hypothesized that the increased human pressure (urbanization and agriculture) on stream environments, both at the local and catchment scales, directly decreases habitat diversity. We also hypothesized that increased human pressure triggers changes in primary productivity and fish fauna composition and structure. We evaluated the human pressure intensity using the Integrated Disturbance Index and the Rapid Habitat Diversity Assessment protocol, which combines information about land use, land cover and environmental characteristics of the stream catchment and sampling sites. Streams with increased human disturbance had lower habitat diversity, higher primary productivity, and high non-native species abundance. Fish compositional turnover was associated with increased human disturbance. Native and degradation-sensitive fish species, especially endemic ones, were associated with streams with higher habitat diversity and forested cover. Degradation-resistant fishes, mostly non-native species, were associated with streams with higher human disturbance and urban land use. Although human pressure did not affect species richness, Shannon diversity, and Simpson dominance, there were significant effects on numerical abundance and fish species equitability. In this study, human pressure directly affected habitat structure, with indirect consequences for fish fauna, increasing the potential for local extirpation of rare species.

Abundance of Benthic Algae in Forestry Watersheds and the Associated Forest Cover Factors

We analyzed the abundance of benthic algae in nine forested headwater watersheds in south-central Chile to study the relationship between the variability of the abundance of benthic algae and physicochemical parameters and forest cover factors. Between 10 November 2015 and 18 August 2016, we sampled benthic algae and physicochemical parameters in the streams and characterized forest cover factors in each of the study watersheds. We found that physicochemical parameters and forest cover factors have contrasting effects on abundance. More specifically, the following observations were made: (1) maximum diversity and abundance occurred in watersheds covered with Pinus radiata, (2) seasonal ranks did not influence the abundance of benthic algae, (3) benthic algae abundance is controlled by rank dissimilarities in type of vegetation, solar radiation, volume, density age, canopy openness, native forest area, plantation area and harvested area, and (4) regression analysis of genera exhibited significant variability with physicochemical parameters (water temperature, pH, ammonium, nitrate, phosphorus, solar radiation) and forest cover factors (volume, density, age, native forest area, plantation area and harvested area); however, these effects were not seen in all genera. Factors related to the benthic algae compartment showed the highest sensitivity to forest cover, emphasizing their value as biological indicators of water quality and stream ecological integrity.

Biophysical properties at patch scale shape the metabolism of biofilm landscapes

Phototrophic biofilms form complex spatial patterns in streams and rivers, yet, how community patchiness, structure and function are coupled and contribute to larger-scale metabolism remains unkown. Here, we combined optical coherence tomography with automated O₂ microprofiling and amplicon sequencing in a flume experiment to show how distinct community patches interact with the hydraulic environment and how this affects the internal distribution of oxygen. We used numerical simulations to derive rates of community photosynthetic activity and respiration at the patch scale and use the obtained parameter to upscale from individual patches to the larger biofilm landscape. Our biofilm landscape approach revealed evidence of parallels in the structure-function coupling between phototrophic biofilms and their streambed habitat.

The Role of Directed Dispersal in Driving Genetic and Morphological Structure in Invasive Smallmouth Bass

Dispersal is an essential life-history trait crucial to species persistence and diversification. This is particularly important in spatiotemporal fluctuating environments such as freshwater habitats, where species movement is confined to the dendritic network and wetted boundaries. To persist in such fluctuating environments, a species can modify, adaptively and plastically, its phenotypic variation to better match the environment or escape via directed dispersal to a more suitable habitat (i.e., matching habitat choice). We use the invasive smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, sampled at 10 km intervals, to assess the effect of directed dispersal on the fine scale genetic and phenotypic variation in populations of M. dolomieu along a river course. Gene flow was used as a proxy for dispersal. By comparing population genetic structure, morphological variation (of linear traits and geometric landmarks), and environmental heterogeneity, we discovered a clear correlation between environmental variation and morphological traits. Although isolation by distance seemed to have shaped the overall genetic pattern detected among the populations, the strong genetic structuring observed within the Ratel tributary appeared to be non-random. These results provide novel insights into the potential mechanisms promoting the spread and establishment of invasive species and the possible influence multiple introductions may have on fine scale genetic structuring.

Best Practices for Monitoring and Assessing the Ecological Response to River Restoration

Nature-based solutions are widely advocated for freshwater ecosystem conservation and restoration. As increasing amounts of river restoration are undertaken, the need to understand the ecological response to different measures and where measures are best applied becomes more pressing. It is essential that appraisal methods follow a sound scientific approach. Here, experienced restoration appraisal experts review current best practice and academic knowledge to make recommendations and provide guidance that will enable practitioners to gather and analyse meaningful data, using scientific rigor to appraise restoration success. What should be monitored depends on the river type and the type and scale of intervention. By understanding how habitats are likely to change we can anticipate what species, life stages, and communities are likely to be affected. Monitoring should therefore be integrated and include both environmental/habitat and biota assessments. A robust scientific approach to monitoring and appraisal is resource intensive. We recommend that appraisal efforts be directed to where they will provide the greatest evidence, including ‘flagship’ restoration schemes for detailed long-term monitoring. Such an approach will provide the evidence needed to understand which restoration measures work where and ensure that they can be applied with confidence elsewhere.

Microcoleus (Cyanobacteria) form watershed-wide populations without strong gradients in population structure

The relative importance of separation by distance and by environment to population genetic diversity can be conveniently tested in river networks, where these two drivers are often independently distributed over space. To evaluate the importance of dispersal and environmental conditions in shaping microbial population structures, we performed genome‐resolved metagenomic analyses of benthic Microcoleus‐dominated cyanobacterial mats collected in the Eel and Russian River networks (California, USA). The 64 Microcoleus genomes were clustered into three species that shared >96.5% average nucleotide identity (ANI). Most mats were dominated by one strain, but minor alleles within mats were often shared, even over large spatial distances (>300 km). Within the most common Microcoleus species, the ANI between the dominant strains within mats decreased with increasing spatial separation. However, over shorter spatial distances (tens of kilometres), mats from different subwatersheds had lower ANI than mats from the same subwatershed, suggesting that at shorter spatial distances environmental differences between subwatersheds in factors like canopy cover, conductivity, and mean annual temperature decreases ANI. Since mats in smaller creeks had similar levels of nucleotide diversity (π) as mats in larger downstream subwatersheds, within‐mat genetic diversity does not appear to depend on the downstream accumulation of upstream‐derived strains. The four‐gamete test and sequence length bias suggest recombination occurs between almost all strains within each species, even between populations separated by large distances or living in different habitats. Overall, our results show that, despite some isolation by distance and environmental conditions, sufficient gene‐flow occurs among cyanobacterial strains to prevent either driver from producing distinctive population structures across the watershed.

Structure of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in streams of a sub-basin in the Pampa Biome, Southern Brazil

The Piratinim River is located in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, and represents an important effluent from the Uruguay River, with streams located far from urbanized areas, in conditions similar to those of environmental integrity, but under the influence of agricultural activities. In this study, we aim at investigating the structure of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community in streams of the Piratinim river basin by observing both spatial and local scales. The sampling was carried out in six streams distributed in three regions (upper, middle and lower) of the basin, thus exploring its upstream, intermediate and downstream stretches, during spring and autumn. Macroinvertebrates were collected using aquatic dipnets and were identified at the family level; trophic-functional categories were established according to the classification adapted to the state of Paraná. The spatial and temporal variations of the groups and of the biotic attributes (density, richness, diversity and equitability) were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests and a posteriori Dunn’s tests. The abiotic variables were obtained to verify possible influence on the composition of the macroinvertebrate community, evaluated through a Canonical Correspondence Analysis. We sampled 11,564 macroinvertebrate individuals from 72 taxa, and found a predominance of the collector-filter trophic group. Abundance and richness were different between streams; the highest densities were found in the streams located in the upper region of the watershed (Chuní and Itú). The highest taxon richness was found in the lower region of the watershed (Guaracapa stream), and the lowest richness was found in the two streams for the intermediate region (Santana and Ximbocu). Diversity and equitability did not vary; temporal variations were not found. Canonical correspondence analysis explained 31.7% of the data variability. The main environmental variables that influenced macroinvertebrates distribution were temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, altitude and extension of the riparian forest. Seasonality and the longitudinal gradient along the basin represented determining factors for the structure and distribution of the macroinvertebrate community in the tributary streams of the Piratinim River.

Hot spots and hot moments of nitrogen removal from hyporheic and riparian zones: A review

The Earth is experiencing excessive nitrogen (N) input to its various ecosystems due to human activities. How to effectively and efficiently remove N from ecosystems has been, is and will be at the center of attention in N research. Hyporheic and riparian zones are widely acknowledged for their buffering capacity to reduce contaminants (especially N) transport downstream. However, these zones are usually misunderstood that they can remove N at all spots and at any moments. Here pathways of N removal from hyporheic and riparian zones are reviewed and summarized with an emphasize on their hot spots and hot moments. N is biogeochemically removed by denitrification, anammox, nitrifier denitrification, denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation, Feammox and Sulfammox. Hot moments of N removal are mainly triggered by precipitation, fire and snowmelt. Finally, some research needs are outlined and discussed, such as developing approaches for multiscale sampling and monitoring, quantifying the effects of hot spots and hot moments at hyporheic and riparian zones and evaluating the impacts of human activities on hot spots and hot moments, to inspire more research on hot spots and hot moments of N removal. By this review, we hope to bring awareness of the heterogeneity of hyporheic and riparian zones to catchment managers and policy makers when tackling N pollution problems.

Using alpha, beta, and zeta diversity in describing the health of stream-based benthic macroinvertebrate communities

Ecological monitoring of streams has frequently focused on measures describing the taxonomic, and sometimes functional, α diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) within a single sampled community. However, as many ecological processes effectively link BMI stream communities there is a need to describe groups of communities using measures of regional diversity. Here we demonstrate a role for incorporating both a traditional pairwise measure of community turnover, β diversity, in assessing community health as well as ζ diversity, a more generalized framework for describing similarity between multiple communities. Using 4,395 samples of BMI stream communities in California, we constructed a model using measures of α, β, and ζ diversity, which accounted for 71.7% of among-watershed variation in the mean health of communities, as described by the California Streams Condition Index (CSCI). We also investigated the use of ζ diversity in assessing models of stochastic vs. niche assembly across communities of BMIs within watersheds, with the niche assembly model found to be the likelier of the two.

Sediment deposition from eroding peatlands alters headwater invertebrate biodiversity

Land use and climate change are driving widespread modifications to the biodiverse and functionally unique headwaters of rivers. In temperate and boreal regions, many headwaters drain peatlands where land management and climate change can cause significant soil erosion and peat deposition in rivers. However, effects of peat deposition in river ecosystems remain poorly understood. We provide two lines of evidence-derived from sediment deposition gradients in experimental mesocosms (0-7.5 g/m² ) and headwaters (0.82-9.67 g/m² )-for the adverse impact of peat deposition on invertebrate community biodiversity. We found a consistent negative effect of sediment deposition across both the experiment and survey; at the community level, decreases in density (1956 to 56 individuals per m² in headwaters; mean 823 ± 129 (SE) to 288 ± 115 individuals per m² in mesocosms) and richness (mean 12 ± 1 to 6 ± 2 taxa in mesocosms) were observed. Sedimentation increased beta diversity amongst experimental replicates and headwaters, reflecting increasing stochasticity amongst tolerant groups in sedimented habitats. With increasing sedimentation, the density of the most common species, Leuctra inermis, declined from 290 ± 60 to 70 ± 30 individuals/m² on average in mesocosms and >800 individuals/m² to 0 in the field survey. Traits analysis of mesocosm assemblages suggested biodiversity loss was driven by decreasing abundance of invertebrates with trait combinations sensitive to sedimentation (longer life cycles, active aquatic dispersal of larvae, fixed aquatic eggs, shredding feeding habit). Functional diversity metrics reinforced the idea of more stochastic community assembly under higher sedimentation rates. While mesocosm assemblages showed some compositional differences to surveyed headwaters, ecological responses were consistent across these spatial scales. Our results suggest short-term, small-scale stressor experiments can inform understanding of "real-world" peatland river ecosystems. As climate change and land-use change are expected to enhance peatland erosion, significant alterations to invertebrate biodiversity can be expected where these eroded soils are deposited in rivers.

Organization of fish assemblages in blackwater Atlantic Forest streams

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine whether fish species occupy different mesohabitats, as defined by specific criteria of substrate types in Atlantic Forest blackwater streams. We sampled fourteen coastal blackwater rivers along the coast of São Paulo State, Brazil, during the low-flow season (June-September/2016). For each stream, we selected three mesohabitat types (sand, leaf-litter and trunks) in a 100 m river stretch. We sampled 41 mesohabitats, 31 of which contained fish, resulting in 15 species. When multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was applied to the mesohabitat abiotic variables, no significant differences were indicated between them. ANOSIM for species density and biomass and Redundancy Analyses (RDAs) for species density, biomass and fish community indexes showed similar patterns of community structure among mesohabitats. Nevertheless, fish biomass, diversity and richness were associated with such unique environmental features as low shading and shallow habitats. The observed dispersion among mesohabitats suggests that these communities are subject to some level of disturbance, which may affect the value of patches as refugia. Thus, the sharing of these mesohabitat patches among species may represent an opportunistic strategy to maximize the use of available resources for these low density populations living in these unique environments.

Seasonal and longitudinal variation in fish assemblage structure along an unregulated stretch of the Middle Uruguay River

ABSTRACT Diversity patterns and their causes remain important questions, especially for ecosystems that preserve natural conditions. This is the case of fish diversity in large Neotropical rivers. In this context, we investigated fish diversity patterns along an extensive unregulated river section (ca. 450 km) in the Middle Uruguay River Basin. Sampling was conducted seasonally between May 2017 and March 2018, at six sites (patches) with contrasting environmental conditions. We collected 3,008 individuals belonging to 90 species. Nine were migratory, which summed relevant biomass in local assemblages (20 to 60%). We observed spatial variation in assemblage structure, but weak seasonal effects. Overall, biomass was similar among sites, but richness tended to increase downstream. Migratory fishes showed opposed trends, with higher richness and biomass upstream, particularly catfishes (Siluriformes). Ordination analyses separated sites in three groups based on variations in composition and abundance, and revealed associations between these groups and specific hydro-geomorphic conditions (i.e., flow, depth, channel width and the presence of riparian vegetation). Our study revealed that fish diversity distributes heterogeneously along the main channel, where hydro-geomorphic patches select for distinct assemblages along riverine gradients.

Divergence in energy sources for Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) in Neotropical floodplains

ABSTRACT The stable carbon isotopic variability and the contributions of autochthonous (sediment microbial biomass, phytoplankton, and periphyton) and allochthonous (soil microbial biomass) sources available to the detritivorous fish Prochilodus lineatus were investigated in three environments of the floodplain of the Upper Paraná River. The isotopic composition of carbon sources and fish varied significantly among the studied environments. The autochthonous resources, represented by the phytoplankton, were the most assimilated by the species, followed by periphyton and sediment microbial biomass. The species used the sources differently in each environment. This study suggests that the inherent characteristics of this area, as well as the size of the watershed, the dry season, anthropogenic actions, and phytoplankton productivity, favor the use of autochthonous resources by the species studied. Therefore, studies in the floodplain should employ an eco-hydrological approach that quantifies the magnitude of energy subsidies, as well as an access route to consumers, knowledge about the selectivity of detritivorous species and the effects of different land uses.

Distribution of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) along an elevational gradient in the Andes Mountains of Colombia during the El Niño Southern Oscillation

Vector ecology is a key factor in understanding the transmission of disease agents, with each species having an optimal range of environmental requirements. Scarce data, however, are available for how interactions of local and broad-scale climate phenomena, such as seasonality and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), affect simuliids. We, therefore, conducted an exploratory study to examine distribution patterns of species of Simuliidae along an elevational gradient of the Otún River in the Colombian Andes, encompassing four ecoregions. Larval and pupal simuliids were sampled at 52 sites ranging from 1800 to 4750 m above sea level in dry and wet seasons and during the La Niña phase (2011-2012) and the El Niño phase (2015-2016) of the ENSO; physicochemical measurements were taken during the El Niño phase. Twenty-seven species in two genera (Gigantodax and Simulium) were collected. Species richness and occurrence in each ecoregion were influenced by elevation, seasonality, and primarily the warm El Niño and cool La Niña phases of the ENSO. The degree of change differed among ecoregions and was related to physicochemical factors, mainly with stream discharge. Some putative simuliid vectors of Leucocytozoon, such as G. misitu and S. muiscorum, markedly changed in distribution and occurrence, potentially influencing parasite transmission.

Shifting stream planform state decreases stream productivity yet increases riparian animal production

In the Colorado Front Range (USA), disturbance history dictates stream planform. Undisturbed, old-growth streams have multiple channels and large amounts of wood and depositional habitat. Disturbed streams (wildfires and logging < 200 years ago) are single-channeled with mostly erosional habitat. We tested how these opposing stream states influenced organic matter, benthic macroinvertebrate secondary production, emerging aquatic insect flux, and riparian spider biomass. Organic matter and macroinvertebrate production did not differ among sites per unit area (m^-2), but values were 2 ×-21 × higher in undisturbed reaches per unit of stream valley (m^-1 valley) because total stream area was higher in undisturbed reaches. Insect emergence was similar among streams at the per unit area and per unit of stream valley. However, rescaling insect emergence to per meter of stream bank showed that the emerging insect biomass reaching the stream bank was lower in undisturbed sites because multi-channel reaches had 3 × more stream bank than single-channel reaches. Riparian spider biomass followed the same pattern as emerging aquatic insects, and we attribute this to bottom-up limitation caused by the multi-channeled undisturbed sites diluting prey quantity (emerging insects) reaching the stream bank (riparian spider habitat). These results show that historic landscape disturbances continue to influence stream and riparian communities in the Colorado Front Range. However, these legacy effects are only weakly influencing habitat-specific function and instead are primarily influencing stream-riparian community productivity by dictating both stream planform (total stream area, total stream bank length) and the proportional distribution of specific habitat types (pools vs riffles).

Fine-scale movement and habitat use of a prairie stream fish assemblage

Measuring an organism's movement and habitat use is highly dependent on the spatial and temporal scale of the study, with most studies measuring distributions once a day or at less frequent intervals. Yet, to fully understand the rates of intra- and interspecific encounters among individuals, observations at finer spatial and temporal scales might be necessary. We used passive integrated transponder tags and antenna arrays to continuously monitor habitat use and vagility of three stream minnows; southern redbelly dace Chrosomus erythrogaster, central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum, and creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, among and within pools of an intermittent stream. Most fish remained in the pool where they were caught and released, or returned after emigrating from the pool. Despite largely remaining within the release pool, distribution among four microhabitats differed significantly over six, 4-h time periods for all three species. Vagility, the summed distance moved among antennas, differed significantly among species. Individual vagility (m day^-1) increased significantly with body length for stoneroller and chub, but not dace. Some individuals moved as much as 110 m day^-1 within the pool, showcasing extensive movement at fine scales. Finally, we found no evidence that feeding activity changed as a result of differential habitat use over a 24-h period. Our findings indicate considerable variation in habitat use and movement occurs among species over a 24-h period. This suggests ecologists can broaden the interpretation of processes influencing community structure (e.g., resource partitioning, avoidance of predators) by quantifying species distributions across a range of spatial and temporal scales.

Fish metacommunity structure in Caño Maraca, an important nursery habitat in the Western Llanos of Venezuela

ABSTRACT We investigated spatial and seasonal variation of fish assemblages of Caño Maraca, a creek in Venezuela’s Western Llanos, a region with strong wet-dry seasonality. Fishes were surveyed over a 19-year period at three sites along the longitudinal gradient: a headwater site with a narrow channel, a middle site with shallow channels traversing a seasonal wetland, and a lower site where the channel has higher banks. Assemblage composition and presence of species with juveniles and various life history strategies were compared during wet and dry seasons. Overall, fish species richness was lowest at the headwater site and highest at the downstream site. During the wet season, however, species richness is greatest at the middle site, a pattern associated with migration into the site for reproduction and use of the wetland as a nursery. During the dry season, species richness is greater at the downstream site where habitat quality is sufficient to provide suitable habitat for many species. Fish movements and population dynamics in Caño Maraca respond to seasonal environmental changes, and the fish metacommunity appears influenced by species sorting (habitat selection), mass effects (source-sink dynamics), patch dynamics (interspecific differences in colonization and species interaction) as well as random factors (dry-season strandings).

Identifying keystone habitats with a mosaic approach can improve biodiversity conservation in disturbed ecosystems

Conserving native biodiversity in the face of human- and climate-related impacts is a challenging and globally important ecological problem that requires an understanding of spatially connected, organismal-habitat relationships. Globally, a suite of disturbances (e.g., agriculture, urbanization, climate change) degrades habitats and threatens biodiversity. A mosaic approach (in which connected, interacting collections of juxtaposed habitat patches are examined) provides a scientific foundation for addressing many disturbance-related, ecologically based conservation problems. For example, if specific habitat types disproportionately increase biodiversity, these keystones should be incorporated into research and management plans. Our sampling of fish biodiversity and aquatic habitat along ten 3-km sites within the Upper Neosho River subdrainage, KS, from June-August 2013 yielded three generalizable ecological insights. First, specific types of mesohabitat patches (i.e., pool, riffle, run, and glide) were physically distinct and created unique mosaics of mesohabitats that varied across sites. Second, species richness was higher in riffle mesohabitats when mesohabitat size reflected field availability. Furthermore, habitat mosaics that included more riffles had greater habitat diversity and more fish species. Thus, riffles (<5% of sampled area) acted as keystone habitats. Third, additional conceptual development, which we initiate here, can broaden the identification of keystone habitats across ecosystems and further operationalize this concept for research and conservation. Thus, adopting a mosaic approach can increase scientific understanding of organismal-habitat relationships, maintain natural biodiversity, advance spatial ecology, and facilitate effective conservation of native biodiversity in human-altered ecosystems.

Trophic relationships in fish assemblages of Neotropical floodplain lakes: selectivity and feeding overlap mediated by food availability

ABSTRACT. The relationships between the degree of dietary overlap and food availability, and implications for food selectivity of fish species were evaluated at floodplain lakes on the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. The hypothesis tested were: i) species become less selective in lakes with high availability of food resources; and ii) species (interspecific) or individual (intraspecific) present higher food overlap in conditions of high availability of food resources. In general, with the results was observed that species become less selective when the environment provided higher availability of food resources. Interspecific overlap did not show a pattern when evaluating availability of food resources in the lakes. However, intraspecific overlap tended to be more accentuated in conditions of high availability of resource food.

Watershed Urbanization Linked to Differences in Stream Bacterial Community Composition

Urbanization strongly influences headwater stream chemistry and hydrology, but little is known about how these conditions impact bacterial community composition. We predicted that urbanization would impact bacterial community composition, but that stream water column bacterial communities would be most strongly linked to urbanization at a watershed-scale, as measured by impervious cover, while sediment bacterial communities would correlate with environmental conditions at the scale of stream reaches. To test this hypothesis, we determined bacterial community composition in the water column and sediment of headwater streams located across a gradient of watershed impervious cover using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Alpha diversity metrics did not show a strong response to catchment urbanization, but beta diversity was significantly related to watershed impervious cover with significant differences also found between water column and sediment samples. Samples grouped primarily according to habitat—water column vs. sediment—with a significant response to watershed impervious cover nested within each habitat type. Compositional shifts for communities in urbanized streams indicated an increase in taxa associated with human activity including bacteria from the genus Polynucleobacter, which is widespread, but has been associated with eutrophic conditions in larger water bodies. Another indicator of communities in urbanized streams was an OTU from the genus Gallionella, which is linked to corrosion of water distribution systems. To identify changes in bacterial community interactions, bacterial co-occurrence networks were generated from urban and forested samples. The urbanized co-occurrence network was much smaller and had fewer co-occurrence events per taxon than forested equivalents, indicating a loss of keystone taxa with urbanization. Our results suggest that urbanization has significant impacts on the community composition of headwater streams, and suggest that processes driving these changes in urbanized water column vs. sediment environments are distinct.

Comparative movements of four large fish species in a lowland river

A multi-year radio-telemetry data set was used to comparatively examine the concurrent movements of the adults of three large-bodied Australian native freshwater fishes (Murray cod Maccullochella peelii, trout cod Maccullochella macquariensis and golden perch Macquaria ambigua) and the introduced carp Cyprinus carpio. The study was conducted over a reach scale in the regulated Murray River in south-eastern Australia. Differences were identified in the movements among these species. The predominant behaviour was the use of small movements (<1 km) for all species, and although larger-scale movements (>1 km) did occur, the frequency varied considerably among species. Large-scale movements were least evident for M. macquariensis and more common for M. ambigua and C. carpio with these two species also having a greater propensity to change locations. Macquaria ambigua displayed the largest movements and more M. ambigua moved on a 'continual' basis. Although a degree of site fidelity was evident for all species, the highest levels were exhibited by M. macquariensis and M. peelii. Homing was also evident to some degree in all species, but was greatest for M. peelii.

Community assembly of adult odonates in tropical streams: an ecophysiological hypothesis

Community assembly theory is founded on the premise that the relative importance of local environmental processes and dispersal shapes the compositional structure of metacommunities. The species sorting model predicts that assemblages are dominated by the environmental filtering of species that are readily able to disperse to suitable sites. We propose an ecophysiological hypothesis (EH) for the mechanism underlying the organization of species-sorting odonate metacommunities based on the interplay of thermoregulation, body size and the degree of sunlight availability in small-to-medium tropical streams. Due to thermoregulatory restrictions, the EH predicts (i) that larger species are disfavored in small streams and (ii) that streams exhibit a nested compositional pattern characterized by species' size distribution. To test the EH, we evaluate the longitudinal distribution of adult Odonata at 19 sites in 1st- to 6th-order streams in the Tropical Cerrado of Brazil. With increasing channel width, the total abundance and species richness of Anisoptera increased, while the abundance of Zygoptera decreased. The first axis of an ordination analysis of the species abundance data was directly related to channel width. Mean and maximum thorax size are positively correlated to channel width, but no relationship was found for the minimum thorax size, suggesting that there is no lower size constraint on the occurrence of these species. Additionally, a nested compositional pattern related to body size was observed. Our results support the EH and its use as an ecological assembly rule based on abiotic factors. Forest cover functions as a filter to determine which species successfully colonize a given site within a metacommunity. As a consequence, the EH also indicates higher treats for small-bodied zygopterans in relation to the loss of riparian forests in tropical streams.

Species sorting and seasonal dynamics primarily shape bacterial communities in the Upper Mississippi River

Bacterial community structure (BCS) in freshwater ecosystems varies seasonally and due to physicochemical gradients, but metacommunity structure of a major river remains understudied. Here we characterize the BCS along the Mississippi River and contributing rivers in Minnesota over three years using Illumina next-generation sequencing, to determine how changes in environmental conditions as well as inputs from surrounding land and confluences impacted community structure. Contributions of sediment to water microbial diversity were also evaluated. Long-term variation in community membership was observed, and significant shifts in relative abundances of major freshwater taxa, including α-Proteobacteria, Burkholderiales, and Actinomycetales, were observed due to temporal and spatial variations. Environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, rainfall, and nutrient concentrations) primarily contributed to differences in phyla abundances (88% of variance), with minimal influence from spatial distance alone (<1% of variance). Furthermore, an annually-recurrent BCS was observed in late summer, further suggesting that seasonal dynamics strongly influence community composition. Sediment communities differed from those in the water, but contributed up to 50% to community composition in the water column. Among water sampling sites, 34% showed significant variability in BCS of replicate samples indicating variability among riverine communities due to heterogeneity in the water column. Results of this study highlight the need for a better understanding of spatial and temporal variations in riverine bacterial diversity associated with physicochemical gradients and reveal how communities in sediments, and potentially other environmental reservoirs, impact waterborne BCS. Techniques used in this study may prove useful to determine sources of microbes from sediments and soils to waterways, which will facilitate best management practices and total maximum daily load determinations.

Climate change simulations predict altered biotic response in a thermally heterogeneous stream system

Climate change is predicted to increase water temperatures in many lotic systems, but little is known about how changes in air temperature affect lotic systems heavily influenced by groundwater. Our objectives were to document spatial variation in temperature for spring-fed Ozark streams in Southern Missouri USA, create a spatially explicit model of mean daily water temperature, and use downscaled climate models to predict the number of days meeting suitable stream temperature for three aquatic species of concern to conservation and management. Longitudinal temperature transects and stationary temperature loggers were used in the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers during 2012 to determine spatial and temporal variability of water temperature. Groundwater spring influence affected river water temperatures in both winter and summer, but springs that contributed less than 5% of the main stem discharge did not affect river temperatures beyond a few hundred meters downstream. A multiple regression model using variables related to season, mean daily air temperature, and a spatial influence factor (metric to account for groundwater influence) was a strong predictor of mean daily water temperature (r2 = 0.98; RMSE = 0.82). Data from two downscaled climate simulations under the A2 emissions scenario were used to predict daily water temperatures for time steps of 1995, 2040, 2060, and 2080. By 2080, peak numbers of optimal growth temperature days for smallmouth bass are expected to shift to areas with more spring influence, largemouth bass are expected to experience more optimal growth days (21-317% increase) regardless of spring influence, and Ozark hellbenders may experience a reduction in the number of optimal growth days in areas with the highest spring influence. Our results provide a framework for assessing fine-scale (10 s m) thermal heterogeneity and predict shifts in thermal conditions at the watershed and reach scale.

Modeling the evolution of riparian woodlands facing climate change in three European rivers with contrasting flow regimes

Global circulation models forecasts indicate a future temperature and rainfall pattern modification worldwide. Such phenomena will become particularly evident in Europe where climate modifications could be more severe than the average change at the global level. As such, river flow regimes are expected to change, with resultant impacts on aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Riparian woodlands are among the most endangered ecosystems on earth and provide vital services to interconnected ecosystems and human societies. However, they have not been the object of many studies designed to spatially and temporally quantify how these ecosystems will react to climate change-induced flow regimes. Our goal was to assess the effects of climate-changed flow regimes on the existing riparian vegetation of three different European flow regimes. Cases studies were selected in the light of the most common watershed alimentation modes occurring across European regions, with the objective of appraising expected alterations in the riparian elements of fluvial systems due to climate change. Riparian vegetation modeling was performed using the CASiMiR-vegetation model, which bases its computation on the fluvial disturbance of the riparian patch mosaic. Modeling results show that riparian woodlands may undergo not only at least moderate changes for all flow regimes, but also some dramatic adjustments in specific areas of particular vegetation development stages. There are circumstances in which complete annihilation is feasible. Pluvial flow regimes, like the ones in southern European rivers, are those likely to experience more pronounced changes. Furthermore, regardless of the flow regime, younger and more water-dependent individuals are expected to be the most affected by climate change.

The influence of environmental, biotic and spatial factors on diatom metacommunity structure in Swedish headwater streams

Stream assemblages are structured by a combination of local (environmental filtering and biotic interactions) and regional factors (e.g., dispersal related processes). The relative importance of environmental and spatial (i.e., regional) factors structuring stream assemblages has been frequently assessed in previous large-scale studies, but biotic predictors (potentially reflecting local biotic interactions) have rarely been included. Diatoms may be useful for studying the effect of trophic interactions on community structure since: (1) a majority of experimental studies shows significant grazing effects on diatom species composition, and (2) assemblages can be divided into guilds that have different susceptibility to grazing. We used a dataset from boreal headwater streams in south-central Sweden (covering a spatial extent of ∼14000 km²), which included information about diatom taxonomic composition, abundance of invertebrate grazers (biotic factor), environmental (physicochemical) and spatial factors (obtained through spatial eigenfunction analyses). We assessed the relative importance of environmental, biotic, and spatial factors structuring diatom assemblages, and performed separate analyses on different diatom guilds. Our results showed that the diatom assemblages were mainly structured by environmental factors. However, unique spatial and biological gradients, specific to different guilds and unrelated to each other, were also evident. We conclude that biological predictors, in combination with environmental and spatial variables, can reveal a more complete picture of the local vs. regional control of species assemblages in lotic environments. Biotic factors should therefore not be overlooked in applied research since they can capture additional local control and therefore increase accuracy and performance of predictive models. The inclusion of biotic predictors did, however, not significantly influence the unique fraction explained by spatial factors, which suggests low bias in previous assessments of unique regional control of stream assemblages.