AB 25:173-181 (2016)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00666

ABSTRACT: The community structure of aquatic invertebrates producing dormant propagules has been associated with both local and regional-scale factors in temporary wetlands. We explore how patterns in the diversity of drought-resistant aquatic invertebrates are related to different spatial scales in ponds with distinct plant structural complexities. We tested 3 hypotheses: (1) the finest spatial scale (fine-scale diversity) has the strongest contribution to diversity and composition; (2) the fine-scale diversity will be higher in habitats that are more complex; and (3) the habitat-scale diversity has a higher contribution to regional diversity than broad- and fine-scale diversity. Dry sediment samples were collected from 3 ponds with 2 distinct plant habitats. The findings from individual partitions show that the importance of spatial scales was different between habitats. Fine-scale diversity represented a greater fraction of the total diversity for the habitat with the highest complexity, and broad-scale diversity showed a substantial contribution to total diversity in the habitat with the lowest complexity. Habitat-scale diversity contributed most to regional diversity, which underlines the importance of habitat type in the diversity of aquatic invertebrates that produce dormant propagules in temporary ponds.

KEY WORDS: Additive partitioning · Plant complexity · Dormancy · Egg bank · Temporary pond · Microcrustacean

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Cite this article as: Freiry RF, Esquinatti FM, Stenert C, Arenzon A, Nielsen DL, Maltchik L (2016) Effects of spatial scale and habitat on the diversity of diapausing wetland invertebrates. Aquat Biol 25:173-181. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00666 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn