Temporal succession of the macroinvertebrate fauna in a Corsican temporary pond (original) (raw)
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Several ecological characteristics have been attributed to faunal communities of temporary ponds. The existence of successional phases, the substitution of the main feeding functional groups along the hydroperiod, the poor role of predators, the hydroperiod length as a key factor, and the environmental constraint that represents the dry phase for the fauna are some of them. Although temporary ponds are very important in arid and semiarid areas, such as the Mediterranean ones, the source of the knowledge on its ecology -the paradigm-is biased by studies developed in cold temperate areas. We analyzed the validity of the current accepted characteristics of the ecology of temporary ponds, especially in the case of the Mediterranean ones. Some patterns observed in the Mediterranean ponds were in agreement with the paradigm (e.g., the existence of successional phases), while others did not (e.g., the sequence of the dominant feeding groups along the hydroperiod). Moreover, some characteristics are commonly explained by simple and schematic conceptual models, but should include more aspects in order to obtain a more valid ecological interpretation. Some examples of this could be: (1) the validity of the predator increase along the hydroperiod depends on the biological traits of the main predator species; and (2) the relationship between the increase of arrivals of aerial colonizers and the hydroperiod length needs to take into account the seasonality. On the other hand, differences in species richness between temporary and permanent waters are under discussion, even within the Mediterranean area, since contradictory results have been obtained, although different species compositions have been found. Finally, we compared the faunal communities of mainland and island temporary ponds, since this analysis is poorly developed in the Mediterranean area. Mainland and island temporary ponds did not differ significantly on macroinvertebrate species richness. Moreover, in both studied islands -Sardinia and Minorca-an increase of species richness along the hydroperiod was observed.
Illustrated Guide of the South-West Coast Mediterranean Temporary Ponds
2018
Os Charcos Temporários Mediterrânicos são dos habitats mais extraordinários da região Mediterrânica. Este guia pretende contribuir para a disseminação do conhecimento sobre estes habitats frágeis e as espécies neles presentes, ajudando deste modo à sua conservação a longo prazo. O guia está dividido em três capítulos principais (introdução, flora e fauna) e pretende divulgar as espécies mais características e emblemáticas deste habitat. Algumas das espécies que aqui ocorrem, nomeadamente de plantas, anfíbios e crustáceos de água doce, são espécies raras, de distribuição muito reduzida, endémicas ou com estatuto de proteção
Invertebrates of Freshwater Temporary Ponds in Mediterranean Climates
Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands, 2016
Temporary ponds have long attracted the attention of Mediterranean people. In "History of Animals," Aristotle described the seemingly spontaneous generation of life from mud or sand using observations from a temporary pond ("fi sh" probably refers to the aquatic invertebrates, such as fairy shrimp, that he was observing):
Wetlands, 2001
The faunal composition, richness, and their determinant factors were analyzed in a Mediterranean temporary pond located in NE Spain. The aquatic community was sampled weekly over 7 periods of flooding during 4 years (1996)(1997)(1998)(1999). Composition of the pond community was found to be influenced by duration of the hydroperiod and, secondarily, by seasonality. Insects and crustaceans were the most well-represented types of fauna. The small numbers of species captured over all hydroperiods spend the dry periods in situ or have an important dispersal capacity. Comparison of the faunal composition of several temporary ponds of temperate latitudes confirms the great diversity of faunal groups found in temporary aquatic environments, and this richness is comparable to that found in permanent water bodies. The richness of these temporary ponds is related to flooded surface and to hydroperiod duration. The peculiarity of the fauna of temporary waters, together the deteriorating condition of those habitats, make it necessary for more active policies of preservation to be pursued.
Limnology, 2014
Mediterranean temporary ponds in Greece have been neglected, and only recently has attention been drawn to their protection and conservation. In this study, the macroinvertebrate fauna of the Mediterranean temporary ponds of western Crete was examined for the first time. In particular, the seasonal and spatial patterns of macroinvertebrate communities were assessed along with the spatio-temporal variation of their environmental conditions and hydroperiod variation. Benthic fauna and abiotic (physicochemical, hydroperiod) data were monitored for 3 years (2006-2008). A total of 63 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 33 families were recorded, with Plea minutissima, Berosus affinis, Pericoma sp., Culex sp., Chironomidae and Cyprididae being the most abundant. Nutrient pollution was significant in the ponds situated near agricultural areas and could thus explain the poor species richness. NMDS showed a clear spatial and temporal distinction between lowland and upland sites. Heteroptera species were exclusively encountered in spring, while Coleoptera larvae and adults were present in all seasons, with adults being more abundant during winter. Ordination analysis revealed significant seasonal and inter-annual differences in macroinvertebrate assemblage structure, as confirmed by ANOSIM (R = 0.965, p = 0.001). Species richness was relatively lower compared to temporary ponds from other regions because of their isolated character, unpredictable hydroperiod and degraded water quality. This study highlights that these fragile ecosystems sustain a unique invertebrate fauna able to endure pond drying by several survival traits and therefore their conservation and protection is necessary.
Mediterranean temporary ponds in Southern Portugal: key faunal groups as management tools?
2008
Temporary ponds, in spite of being protected by the Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE), are presently disappearing at a fast rate. Urgent management measures are thus required, but which parameters should be used to establish management procedures? Since most large branchiopod species (LBS) inhabit exclusively temporary lentic ecosystems, and an important number of amphibian species (AS) also use those habitats for reproduction, they could be used as key faunal groups to assess the value of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds for conservation purposes. In particular, 11 taxa deserve special conservation concern and their habitats special management decisions (LBS: Branchipus schaefferi, Streptocephalus torvicornis, Tanymastix sp, Maghrebestheria maroccana, Cyzicus grubei and Triops mauritanicus; AS: Pelodytes sp and P. ibericus, Bufo calamita, Hyla meridionalis and Triturus marmoratus pygmaeus). Furthermore, each of them have different ecological requirements (total area, depth, hydroperiod length…). The aim of this work is to propose the use of (i) life cycles of referred LBS with no protection status, and (ii) reproduction periods (pairing, fertilization and larval development) of AS with protection status, as management tools for conservation purposes.
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology, 2009
The macroinvertebrate fauna of twenty-one ponds (thirteen temporary and eight permanent) located in four protected areas in Central Italy were studied in March, May and June 2002, with the aim to bring out relationships between environmental variables and the functional characteristics (functional feeding groups, habits and resistance to drought) of communities. Macroinvertebrates were collected in three mesohabitat types (macrophyte beds, littoral sediments, central sediments). Overall, the functional attributes of temporary and permanent pond communities did not differ greatly. However, at the mesohabitat scale, collector-gatherers, burrowers and permanent residents capable of passive dispersal were more abundant in sediments. Scrapers and shredders, sprawlers and climbers, swimmers and divers, and organisms capable of active dispersal which lack drought resistance were more abundant in macrophyte beds. Although hydroperiod is the main driving factor affecting community structure, our results suggest that it remains an unimportant factor in controlling functional traits, which appeared to be more influenced by substratum types. Moreover, the positive relationship between taxonomic and functional diversity metrics indicates that an increase in taxonomic richness induces a satisfactory partitioning of the ecological resources among taxa, thus maintaining the ecological complexity of the ponds regardless of their hydroperiod length.