Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes
Abstract Understanding which factors shape and maintain biodiversity is essential to understand how ecosystems respond to crises. Biodiversity observed in ecological communities is a result of the interaction of various factors which can be classified as either neutral‐ or niche‐based. The importanc...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:59588fd105a74ebb8f6e806559135320 2024-09-15T18:19:00+00:00 Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes Bjarni K. Kristjánsson Doriane Combot Anett Reilent Joseph S. Phillips Camille A.‐L. Leblanc 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11560 https://doaj.org/article/59588fd105a74ebb8f6e806559135320 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11560 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.11560 https://doaj.org/article/59588fd105a74ebb8f6e806559135320 Ecology and Evolution, Vol 14, Iss 6, Pp n/a-n/a (2024) benthic Cladocera epibenthic isolation small populations Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11560 2024-08-05T17:48:53Z Abstract Understanding which factors shape and maintain biodiversity is essential to understand how ecosystems respond to crises. Biodiversity observed in ecological communities is a result of the interaction of various factors which can be classified as either neutral‐ or niche‐based. The importance of these processes has been debated, but many scientists believe that both processes are important. Here, we use unique ecosystems in groundwater‐filled lava caves near Lake Mývatn, to examine the importance of neutral‐ versus niche‐based factors for shaping invertebrate communities. We studied diversity in benthic and epibenthic invertebrate communities and related them to ecological variables. We hypothesized that if neutral processes are the main drivers of community structure we would not see any clear relationship between the structure of community within caves and ecological factors. If niche‐based processes are important we should see clear relationships between community structure and variation in ecological variables across caves. Both communities were species poor, with low densities of invertebrates, showing the resource limited and oligotrophic nature of these systems. Unusually for Icelandic freshwater ecosystems, the benthic communities were not dominated by Chironomidae (Diptera) larvae, but rather by crustaceans, mainly Cladocera. The epibenthic communities were not shaped by environmental variables, suggesting that they may have been structured primarily by neutral processes. The benthic communities were shaped by the availability of energy, and to some extent pH, suggesting that niche‐based processes were important drivers of community structure, although neutral processes may still be relevant. The results suggest that both processes are important for invertebrate communities in freshwater, and research should focus on understanding both of these processes. The ponds we studied are representative of a number of freshwater ecosystems that are extremely vulnerable for human disturbance, making it ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Mývatn Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Ecology and Evolution 14 6 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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language |
English |
topic |
benthic Cladocera epibenthic isolation small populations Ecology QH540-549.5 |
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benthic Cladocera epibenthic isolation small populations Ecology QH540-549.5 Bjarni K. Kristjánsson Doriane Combot Anett Reilent Joseph S. Phillips Camille A.‐L. Leblanc Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
topic_facet |
benthic Cladocera epibenthic isolation small populations Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Understanding which factors shape and maintain biodiversity is essential to understand how ecosystems respond to crises. Biodiversity observed in ecological communities is a result of the interaction of various factors which can be classified as either neutral‐ or niche‐based. The importance of these processes has been debated, but many scientists believe that both processes are important. Here, we use unique ecosystems in groundwater‐filled lava caves near Lake Mývatn, to examine the importance of neutral‐ versus niche‐based factors for shaping invertebrate communities. We studied diversity in benthic and epibenthic invertebrate communities and related them to ecological variables. We hypothesized that if neutral processes are the main drivers of community structure we would not see any clear relationship between the structure of community within caves and ecological factors. If niche‐based processes are important we should see clear relationships between community structure and variation in ecological variables across caves. Both communities were species poor, with low densities of invertebrates, showing the resource limited and oligotrophic nature of these systems. Unusually for Icelandic freshwater ecosystems, the benthic communities were not dominated by Chironomidae (Diptera) larvae, but rather by crustaceans, mainly Cladocera. The epibenthic communities were not shaped by environmental variables, suggesting that they may have been structured primarily by neutral processes. The benthic communities were shaped by the availability of energy, and to some extent pH, suggesting that niche‐based processes were important drivers of community structure, although neutral processes may still be relevant. The results suggest that both processes are important for invertebrate communities in freshwater, and research should focus on understanding both of these processes. The ponds we studied are representative of a number of freshwater ecosystems that are extremely vulnerable for human disturbance, making it ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bjarni K. Kristjánsson Doriane Combot Anett Reilent Joseph S. Phillips Camille A.‐L. Leblanc |
author_facet |
Bjarni K. Kristjánsson Doriane Combot Anett Reilent Joseph S. Phillips Camille A.‐L. Leblanc |
author_sort |
Bjarni K. Kristjánsson |
title |
Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
title_short |
Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
title_full |
Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
title_fullStr |
Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
title_sort |
invertebrate diversity in groundwater‐filled lava caves is influenced by both neutral‐ and niche‐based processes |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11560 https://doaj.org/article/59588fd105a74ebb8f6e806559135320 |
genre |
Mývatn |
genre_facet |
Mývatn |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 14, Iss 6, Pp n/a-n/a (2024) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11560 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.11560 https://doaj.org/article/59588fd105a74ebb8f6e806559135320 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11560 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
6 |
_version_ |
1810457100365594624 |