Spatial and temporal patterns in size spectra of freshwater communities and the underlying effects of biological invasions

• Grant number: 24/00555-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Victor Satoru Saito
• Grantee: Barbbara da Silva Rocha
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In ecology, analyzing size spectrum (or individual size distribution) is a simple approach widely recognized as linking individual and population traits with the structure of ecological communities. Assessing spatial and temporal patterns of community size spectra is a valuable indicator of anthropic effects. Conversely, the assessment of size spectra in the context of biological invasions remains poorly investigated. Invasive fish species can cause substantial alterations in resident community abundance, with recent studies demonstrating disruptive effects on the size spectrum structure of fish communities from temperate ecosystems. The main objective of the present project is to assess the spatial and temporal variation of size spectra in communities from freshwater ecosystems and the influence of fish invasions on these patterns. Specifically, we aim to compare the spatial patterns regarding temperate and tropical regions and across various taxonomic groups representing distinct trophic levels in freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, we will explore the relationship between temporal variability patterns of size spectra and community stability, examining how biological invasions impact these aspects. The proposed study will help to fill significant gaps in the literature and provide a comprehensive understanding of how the size spectra of freshwater communities in different environmental contexts respond to fish invasion disturbance. Our findings will contribute valuable insights to the broader field of freshwater ecology. Also, the insights gained from such a project will contribute directly to conservation efforts for the entire food web of freshwater ecosystems and the sustainable management of ecosystem services, including human fish consumption.