2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
5/24/2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | FUNCTIONAL TRAIT SORTING INCREASES OVER SUCCESSION IN METACOMMUNITY MOSAICS OF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN BEAVER PONDS | Virtual Platform
FUNCTIONAL TRAIT SORTING INCREASES OVER SUCCESSION IN METACOMMUNITY MOSAICS OF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN BEAVER PONDS
Metacommunity theory predicts that the relative importance of regional and local processes structuring communities will change over succession. To test theoretical predictions of the increasing importance of local processes over succession, we evaluated fish species and trait diversity in three pond metacommunities undergoing secondary succession from beaver (Castor canadensis) disturbance. Taxonomic and trait diversity were contrasted across pond communities of different ages and in reference streams. Counter to predictions, the local environment became less important in structuring communities over succession but did exert a stronger effect on trait sorting. Beta diversity and trait richness declined over succession while there was no influence on species richness or trait dispersion. The trait filtering in older habitats was likely driven by the larger and deeper ponds of late succession. In contrast, the environment primarily structured species and trait diversity in streams. Analyses of the relative importance of regional and local processes in structuring fish assemblages within each pond metacommunity suggests that habitat age and connectivity were more important than the environment. Together, these findings highlight that regional and local processes can differentially influence taxonomic and trait diversity in successional metacommunity mosaics.
- Connectivity
- Ecological dynamics
- Landscape
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Presenters/Authors
Jennifer Howeth
(), University of Alabama, jghoweth@ua.edu;
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Thomas Olinger
(), University of Alabama, ctolinger@crimson.ua.edu;
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Justin Hart
(), University of Alabama, hart013@ua.edu;
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