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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Global patterns of stream detritivore distribution: Implications for biodiversity loss in changing climates
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Volume 21, No. 2, Year 2012
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Description
Aim We tested the hypothesis that shredder detritivores, a key trophic guild in stream ecosystems, are more diverse at higher latitudes, which has important ecological implications in the face of potential biodiversity losses that are expected as a result of climate change. We also explored the dependence of local shredder diversity on the regional species pool across latitudes, and examined the influence of environmental factors on shredder diversity. Location World-wide (156 sites from 17 regions located in all inhabited continents at latitudes ranging from 67°N to 41°S). Methods We used linear regression to examine the latitudinal variation in shredder diversity at different spatial scales: alpha (α), gamma (γ) and beta (β) diversity. We also explored the effect of γ-diversity on α-diversity across latitudes with regression analysis, and the possible influence of local environmental factors on shredder diversity with simple correlations. Results Alpha diversity increased with latitude, while γ- and β-diversity showed no clear latitudinal pattern. Temperate sites showed a linear relationship between γ- and α-diversity; in contrast, tropical sites showed evidence of local species saturation, which may explain why the latitudinal gradient in α-diversity is not accompanied by a gradient in γ-diversity. Alpha diversity was related to several local habitat characteristics, but γ- and β-diversity were not related to any of the environmental factors measured. Main conclusions Our results indicate that global patterns of shredder diversity are complex and depend on spatial scale. However, we can draw several conclusions that have important ecological implications. Alpha diversity is limited at tropical sites by local factors, implying a higher risk of loss of key species or the whole shredder guild (the latter implying the loss of trophic diversity). Even if regional species pools are not particularly species poor in the tropics, colonization from adjacent sites may be limited. Moreover, many shredder species belong to cool-adapted taxa that may be close to their thermal maxima in the tropics, which makes them more vulnerable to climate warming. Our results suggest that tropical streams require specific scientific attention and conservation efforts to prevent loss of shredder biodiversity and serious alteration of ecosystem processes. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Boyero, Luz
Spain, Sevilla
Csic - Estación Biologica de Doñana
Australia, Townsville
James Cook University
Pearson, Richard G.
Australia, Townsville
James Cook University
Dudgeon, David
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong
Ferreira, Verónica
Portugal, Coimbra
University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Center
Graça, Manuel Augusto Simões
Portugal, Coimbra
University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Center
Gessner, Mark O.
Switzerland, Dubendorf
Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Switzerland, Zurich
Eth Zürich
Germany, Berlin
Leibniz-institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Germany, Berlin
Technische Universität Berlin
Boulton, Andrew J.
Australia, Armidale
University of new England Australia
Chauvet, Éric E.
France, Toulouse
Université Toulouse Iii - Paul Sabatier
France, Paris
Cnrs Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Yule, Catherine Mary
Malaysia, Bandar Sunway
Monash University Malaysia
Albariño, Ricardo Javier
Argentina, Neuquen
Universidad Nacional Del Comahue
Ramírez, Alonso
Puerto Rico, San Juan
Universidad de Puerto Rico
Helson, Julie E.
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Callisto, Marcos
Brazil, Belo Horizonte
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Arunachalam, Muthukumarasamy
India, Tirunelveli
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
Chará, Julián D.
Colombia, Cali
Cipav
Colombia, Pereira
Ciebreg
Figueroa, Ricardo
Chile, Biobio
Universidad de Concepcion
Mathooko, Jude Mutuku
Kenya, Njoro
Egerton University
Gonçalves-Júnior, José F.
Brazil, Belo Horizonte
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Brazil, Brasilia
Universidade de Brasília
Moretti, Marcelo S.
Brazil, Belo Horizonte
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Brazil, Vila Velha
Universidade Vila Velha
Chará-Serna, Ana M.
Colombia, Cali
Cipav
Colombia, Cali
Universidad Del Valle, Cali
Davies, Judy N.
Australia, Armidale
University of new England Australia
Encalada, Andrea C.
Portugal, Coimbra
University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Center
Ecuador, Quito
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Lamothe, Sylvain
France, Toulouse
Université Toulouse Iii - Paul Sabatier
France, Paris
Cnrs Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Buria, Leonardo M.
Argentina, Neuquen
Universidad Nacional Del Comahue
Castela, José
Portugal, Coimbra
University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Center
Cornejo, Aydeé
Panama, Panama City
Universidad de Panamá
Panama, Panama City
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud
Li, Aggie O.Y.
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong
M'Erimba, Charles Mwithali
Kenya, Njoro
Egerton University
Díaz-Villanueva, Verónica
Argentina, Neuquen
Universidad Nacional Del Comahue
Del Carmen Zúñiga, María
Colombia, Cali
Cipav
Swan, Christopher M.
United States, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Umbc
Barmuta, Leon A.
Australia, Hobart
University of Tasmania
Statistics
Citations: 130
Authors: 32
Affiliations: 29
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1466-8238.2011.00673.x
ISSN:
1466822X
e-ISSN:
14668238
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Approach
Qualitative
Quantitative