Invertebrate Metacommunity Structure and Dynamics in an Andean Glacial Stream Network Facing Climate Change

作者：Sophie Cauvy‐Fraunié, Rodrigo Espinosa, Patricio Andino, Dean Jacobsen, Olivier Dangles · 发表于：PLoS ONE · 年份：2015 · DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0136793 · 被引用次数：80 · 研究领域：Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology、Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies、Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

Under the ongoing climate change, understanding the mechanisms structuring the spatial distribution of aquatic species in glacial stream networks is of critical importance to predict the response of aquatic biodiversity in the face of glacier melting. In this study, we propose to use metacommunity theory as a conceptual framework to better understand how river network structure influences the spatial organization of aquatic communities in glacierized catchments. At 51 stream sites in an Andean glacierized catchment (Ecuador), we sampled benthic macroinvertebrates, measured physico-chemical and food resource conditions, and calculated geographical, altitudinal and glaciality distances among all sites. Using partial redundancy analysis, we partitioned community variation to evaluate the relative strength of environmental conditions (e.g., glaciality, food resource) vs. spatial processes (e.g., overland, watercourse, and downstream directional dispersal) in organizing the aquatic metacommunity. Results revealed that both environmental and spatial variables significantly explained community variation among sites. Among all environmental variables, the glacial influence component best explained community variation. Overland spatial variables based on geographical and altitudinal distances significantly affected community variation. Watercourse spatial variables based on glaciality distances had a unique significant effect on community variation. Within alpine catchment, glacial me...