Publication
Title
Diversity, composition and environmental relations of periphytic rotifer assemblages in lentic freshwater bodies (Flanders, lower Belgium)
Author
Abstract
Periphytic rotifer assemblages from lentic habitats are understudied. To improve knowledge on the principal environmental determinants of their structure and composition, we examined summer periphyton from 184 freshwater bodies from a taxonomic and multi-trait-based perspective. Only the latter allowed consideration of all bdelloids. Alpha diversity decreased with electrolyte and aluminium concentration but increased with macrophyte richness, pointing at salinization, metal toxicity and loss of structural niche heterogeneity as potential threats for rotifer diversity. Replacement was the prominent component of beta diversity, with acidified sites showing the highest local contributions. Variation partitioning indicated that local conditions explained variation in species composition best, but general setting (soil type, land cover, connectivity) and spatial context were also not insignificant. Redundancy analysis related species composition more particularly to gradients of pH and trophic status, whereas the representation of functional groups was structured mainly by phytoplankton productivity. Mirroring shifts observed in the plankton, high phytoplankton productivity associated with larger size and more detritibacterivory. Dominance of collectors constrained variation in guild ratios, underlining the need for more refined functional approaches. To aid the use of periphytic rotifers in regional water quality assessment, we identified indicators and community thresholds for pH and trophic variables and determined optima and tolerances for individual taxa.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Diversity
Publication
2023
ISSN
1424-2818
DOI
10.3390/D15121214
Volume/pages
15 :12 (2023) , p. 1-53
Article Reference
1214
ISI
001135967300001
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Ecological typology and research for an integrated evaluation of lakes on a regional scale: keystones for development, recovery and follow-up of naturel values.
Ecologische typologie en onderzoek naar een geïntegreerde evaluatiemethode voor stilstaande wateren op regionale schaal: hoekstenen voor ontwikkeling, herstel en opvolging van natuurwaarden.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.01.2024
Last edited 01.07.2024
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