Are cladoceran diversity and community structure linked to spatial heterogeneity in urban landscapes and pond environments?
2013
Pinel-Alloul, Bernadette | Mimouni, El-Amine
Biodiversity patterns in cladoceran communities were investigated in urban waterbodies in relation with residential land use, pond management, and waterbody environments. We evaluated species richness in the pelagic and littoral zones of eighteen waterbodies of a large Canadian city. Gamma diversity (26 species) observed at a small scale in the urban survey was important comparatively to large-scale surveys of lakes. Beta diversity ranged from 1 to 8 species among waterbodies. We tested if littoral species greatly contributed to regional diversity in urban waterbodies. Littoral species (Chydoridae, Ilyocryptidae, Macrothricidae, Polyphemidae) accounted for 58% of the total species pool. We distinguished five cladoceran assemblages associated to different waterbodies (temporary ponds, permanent lakes, and wetlands). Cladoceran communities were more diverse and variable in permanent lakes than in temporary ponds. Changes in cladoceran species assemblages among waterbodies were driven by variations in waterbody size and phosphorus enrichment, macrophyte and algal biomass, urban density, pond management practices, and the presence of potential predators as fish and macroinvertebrates. Our study indicates that both artificial ponds and lakes and natural wetlands are valuable habitats for the conservation of cladoceran biodiversity and rare endemic species in urban regions. Further research on pond management strategies promoting urban aquatic biodiversity should be undertaken.
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