Research of aquatic invertebrate communities in ephemeral wetlands on arable land
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Temporary wetlands belong to the most threatened ecosystems within Europe inhabited by a unique fauna of aquatic invertebrates. However, we still do not have much information about the main determinants of the composition and diversity of their communities. We have sampled altogether 36 ephemeral field wetlands in southern Moravia (SE part of the Czech Republic), which periodically appear on arable land after heavy rains or snow melting. To evaluate the seasonal aspect, sites were sampled after flooding in spring and summer. Non-biting midges (Chironomidae), aquatic beetles (Coleoptera), water bugs (Heteroptera), and true flies (Diptera) were the most dominant taxa. Field wetlands varied significantly between seasons in algal cover, water temperature, and some chemical characteristics of water. Both higher numbers of species and higher abundances of invertebrates were found during the summer season. Large branchiopods (Branchiopoda: Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata) were the main drivers of variability in community composition during the summer season, with increasing water turbidity, and decreasing numbers of species and abundance of other invertebrates as their numbers increased. Among the environmental variables, seasonality, turbidity, and water temperature contributed most to the variability in the community composition. Another important factor influencing the colonisation of these temporary habitats is the presence of seed banks. Based on zooplankton sampling, we found a significant positive influence of the continuity and history of sites on species diversity and the occurrence of regionally rare species. Compared to other standing water habitats, ephemeral field wetlands host unique communities of aquatic invertebrates, including several protected and endangered species, and serve as the last remnants of the landscape suitable for the occurrence of these unique communities. This is also why they deserve attention and protection, especially against targeted drainages or conversion into permanent water bodies with the subsequent appearance of fish. Our results represent one of the first insights into the diversity and functioning of aquatic invertebrate communities in the unique habitats of ephemeral field wetlands in central Europe. |
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