Does environmental disturbance also influence within-stream beta diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages in tropical streams?

Author(s)

Liborio, Rogerio Aparecido ; Tanaka, Marcel Okamoto

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment; v. 51, n. 3, p. 9-pg., 2016-12-01.

Abstract

Riparian deforestation is a major threat to the ecological integrity of streams and aquatic biodiversity, influencing microhabitat availability and susceptibility to disturbances. Here we tested if riparian deforestation of tropical streams influenced beta diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages, by comparing indices that weighted differentially rare and dominant taxa, and testing if nestedness in community composition increased in deforested streams. Within-stream beta diversity was higher in deforested than forested streams, mainly due to taxon loss and higher dominance. In disturbed streams, higher sedimentation in pool mesohabitats resulted in larger differences in community composition, whereas mesohabitats in forested streams were more stable. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/08090-0 - Is the beta diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages lower in degraded streams? An experimental evaluation
• Grantee: Rogério Aparecido Libório
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master