Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate
Introduction Arctic freshwater ecosystems are undergoing rapid environmental transformation because of climate change, which is predicted to produce fundamental alterations in river community structure and function. Methods We explored how climate change affects benthic invertebrate communities of A...
Published in: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612/full |
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crfrontiers:10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612 2024-02-11T10:00:29+01:00 Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate Lento, Jennifer Lau, Danny C. P. Brittain, John E. Culp, Joseph M. Goedkoop, Willem 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612/full unknown Frontiers Media SA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution volume 11 ISSN 2296-701X Ecology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2023 crfrontiers https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612 2024-01-26T09:59:33Z Introduction Arctic freshwater ecosystems are undergoing rapid environmental transformation because of climate change, which is predicted to produce fundamental alterations in river community structure and function. Methods We explored how climate change affects benthic invertebrate communities of Arctic streams by examining patterns of their biological traits along latitudinal and climatic gradients in eastern North America (Canada) and northwestern Europe (Sweden, Norway). Results Despite differences in taxonomic composition between continents, we identified similarities in the functional trait niche (FTN) of predominant macroinvertebrate taxonomic groups. Trait composition differed by latitude in eastern Canada, with a predominance of cold-tolerant taxa, tubular body shape, and cased and attached habits at the highest latitudes. Differences in trait composition were evident among ecoregions in Europe, with trait dominance at the highest latitudes that was comparable to North America. There was a similar increase in the relative abundance of cold tolerance and tubular body shape and a decrease in obligate shredders and trait richness with decreasing temperatures across both continents. Discussion These patterns are indicative of FTNs that include physiological traits and habits that are advantageous for the low temperatures, short ice-free period, and low riparian vegetation cover at the highest latitudes. We predict that climate change will lead to an increase in functional diversity at high latitudes, as organisms with trait modalities that are currently only found at lower latitudes move northward. However, this change in trait composition will be mediated by the effect of spatial connectivity on dispersal ability, with slower change occurring on Arctic islands. These findings can support modelling of future change in Arctic freshwater assemblages in response to ongoing climate change. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Climate change Frontiers (Publisher) Arctic Canada Norway Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 11 |
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Ecology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
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Ecology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Lento, Jennifer Lau, Danny C. P. Brittain, John E. Culp, Joseph M. Goedkoop, Willem Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
topic_facet |
Ecology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Introduction Arctic freshwater ecosystems are undergoing rapid environmental transformation because of climate change, which is predicted to produce fundamental alterations in river community structure and function. Methods We explored how climate change affects benthic invertebrate communities of Arctic streams by examining patterns of their biological traits along latitudinal and climatic gradients in eastern North America (Canada) and northwestern Europe (Sweden, Norway). Results Despite differences in taxonomic composition between continents, we identified similarities in the functional trait niche (FTN) of predominant macroinvertebrate taxonomic groups. Trait composition differed by latitude in eastern Canada, with a predominance of cold-tolerant taxa, tubular body shape, and cased and attached habits at the highest latitudes. Differences in trait composition were evident among ecoregions in Europe, with trait dominance at the highest latitudes that was comparable to North America. There was a similar increase in the relative abundance of cold tolerance and tubular body shape and a decrease in obligate shredders and trait richness with decreasing temperatures across both continents. Discussion These patterns are indicative of FTNs that include physiological traits and habits that are advantageous for the low temperatures, short ice-free period, and low riparian vegetation cover at the highest latitudes. We predict that climate change will lead to an increase in functional diversity at high latitudes, as organisms with trait modalities that are currently only found at lower latitudes move northward. However, this change in trait composition will be mediated by the effect of spatial connectivity on dispersal ability, with slower change occurring on Arctic islands. These findings can support modelling of future change in Arctic freshwater assemblages in response to ongoing climate change. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lento, Jennifer Lau, Danny C. P. Brittain, John E. Culp, Joseph M. Goedkoop, Willem |
author_facet |
Lento, Jennifer Lau, Danny C. P. Brittain, John E. Culp, Joseph M. Goedkoop, Willem |
author_sort |
Lento, Jennifer |
title |
Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
title_short |
Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
title_full |
Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
title_fullStr |
Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
title_full_unstemmed |
Macroinvertebrate traits in Arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
title_sort |
macroinvertebrate traits in arctic streams reveal latitudinal patterns in physiology and habits that are strongly linked to climate |
publisher |
Frontiers Media SA |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612/full |
geographic |
Arctic Canada Norway |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada Norway |
genre |
Arctic Climate change |
genre_facet |
Arctic Climate change |
op_source |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution volume 11 ISSN 2296-701X |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1209612 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
11 |
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1790596206172307456 |