Contrasting intra-annual patterns of six biotic groups with different dispersal mode and ability in Mediterranean temporary ponds

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dani Boix ◽  
Maria Carmela Caria ◽  
Stéphanie Gascón ◽  
Maria Antonietta Mariani ◽  
Jordi Sala ◽  
...  

The temporal patterns of six biotic groups (from phytoplankton to amphibians) and their responses to environmental variation were studied in a set of Mediterranean temporary ponds. These biotic groups differed widely in dispersal ability and dispersal mode (active v. passive) and, for this reason, we predicted that they would exhibit different temporal patterns and responses to environmental factors. Six temporary ponds were sampled three times: at the beginning (January), middle (March) and end (May) of the hydroperiod. For each biotic group, we evaluated temporal variation in composition, species richness, among-pond similarities and number of typifying taxa. Moreover, a β diversity partitioning procedure was used to obtain the relative contributions of the replacement and richness components to overall β diversity. Finally, the effects of water, pond and landscape variables on composition and taxa richness were analysed for each group. Different temporal patterns were observed among the biotic groups studied, and in some (but not all) cases these differences were explained by their dispersal ability. Similarly, we observed that environmental control was group specific. These results advance the notion that communities in Mediterranean temporary ponds are highly variable over time and that generalisations with regard to patterns and controls across taxonomic groups are not supported.

Wetlands ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Cuena-Lombraña ◽  
Mauro Fois ◽  
Annalena Cogoni ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta

AbstractPlants are key elements of wetlands due to their evolutionary strategies for coping with life in a water-saturated environment, providing the basis for supporting nearly all wetland biota and habitat structure for other taxonomic groups. Sardinia, the second largest island of the Mediterranean Basin, hosts a great variety of wetlands, of which 16 are included in eight Ramsar sites. The 119 hydro- and hygrophilous vascular plant taxa from Sardinia represent the 42.6% and 37.9% of the number estimated for Italy and Europe, respectively. Moreover, around 30% of Sardinia’s bryological flora, which is made up of 498 taxa, is present in temporary ponds. An overview at regional scale considering algae is not available, to our knowledge, even though several specific studies have contributed to their knowledge. In order to find the most investigated research themes and wetland types, identify knowledge gaps and suggest recommendations for further research, we present a first attempt to outline the work that has been hitherto done on plants in lentic habitats in Sardinia. Three plant groups (algae, bryophytes and vascular plants), and five research themes (conservation, ecology, inventory, palaeobotany and taxonomy) were considered. After a literature review, we retained 202 papers published from 1960 to 2019. We found that studies on vascular plants, as plant group, were disproportionately more numerous, and inventories and ecology were the most investigated research themes. Although efforts have recently been made to fill these long-lasting gaps, there is a need for updating the existing information through innovative methods and integrative approaches.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 856-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten Van den Broeck ◽  
Laila Rhazi ◽  
Aline Waterkeyn ◽  
Mohammed El Madihi ◽  
Patrick Grillas ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cunillera-Montcusí ◽  
Stéphanie Gascón ◽  
Irene Tornero ◽  
Jordi Sala ◽  
Núria Àvila ◽  
...  

Soil Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 636
Author(s):  
Madhuri Pant ◽  
G. C. S. Negi ◽  
Pramod Kumar

Soil macrofauna diversity in Himalayan mountain agroecosystems has received negligible attention despite people’s dependence on soil fertility that determines crop yield for their sustenance. This study was carried out with the objective to determine differences in soil macrofauna taxonomic groups and abundance with soil depth (0–30 cm) in irrigated and non-irrigated wheat and rice crops of two dominant Himalayan mountain agroecosystems. At both the sites, a total of 11 macrofauna groups and 23 families were recorded. Macrofauna population across both crop seasons for non-irrigated fields was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in irrigated fields. Macrofauna population significantly differed (P < 0.001) with soil depth and significantly declined with increasing soil depth (P < 0.001). The top soil (0–10 cm depth) contributed over 80% of the total macrofauna population. Macrofauna diversity in non-irrigated fields (H′ = 2.10) was greater than in irrigated fields (H′ = 1.86), but β diversity was greater in irrigated fields (1.67 vs 1.76). The two agroecosystem types significantly differed (P < 0.05) with soil depth and crop season. On the basis of presence or absence, the macrofauna groups were categorised as (i) present in soil year-round but exhibiting high density during warm and wet rainy season and (ii) present in soil only during the warm and wet rainy season. The non-irrigated fields had greater abundance of Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Hemiptera and Isoptera than the irrigated fields. This study highlights that the Himalayan mountain crop fields host a rather diverse and abundant macro-invertebrate community that should be efficiently used to promote soil fertility.


Hydrobiologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 782 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lumbreras ◽  
J. T. Marques ◽  
A. F. Belo ◽  
M. Cristo ◽  
M. Fernandes ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío Fernández-Zamudio ◽  
Pablo García-Murillo ◽  
Carmen Díaz-Paniagua

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 782 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalena Cogoni ◽  
Giorgia Filippino ◽  
Michela Marignani

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