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Differences in dispersal- and colonization-related traits between taxa from the freshwater and the terrestrial realm

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Abstract

The aquatic and terrestrial realms differ in many physical properties that not only require specific physiological adaptations but also cause differences in dispersal options. We thus expect that life-history traits related to dispersal and colonization are under selection pressure because freshwater habitats are more isolated and thus more difficult to reach. We compared traits from European databases of three taxonomic groups along the passive–active dispersal gradient: plants (Plantes), snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Prosobranchia et Pulmonata) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae), all of which have both terrestrial and freshwater species (plants and snails) or early life stages (hoverflies). Aquatic taxa seem to be more successful long-distance dispersers than are terrestrial taxa. Our analysis also revealed lower numbers of seeds or eggs produced in the aquatic habitats. However, aquatic taxa often allocate resources to offspring guarding (vegetative propagules in plants, egg capsules in snails) and breeding-site selection (syrphids). Colonization of the aquatic realm is reinforced by increases in life span (plants), clonal spread (plants), shorter generation times (snails), selfing ability (marginal effect in pulmonate snails) or paedogenesis (two incidences in hoverflies, needs further studies). Probably, the variety of strategies reflects the different evolutionary backgrounds that elicit different combinations of trade-offs, but all traits also might increase invasibility of species.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by the research funding program “LOEWE—Landes-Offensive zur Entwicklung Wissenschaftlich-oekonomischer Exzellenz” of Hesse’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts. HK in part received financial support from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO–ALW 821.01.002) while writing. OT received financial support from the DFG (TA 311/3). We also would like to thank Editor in Chief Piet Spaak (Eawag Dübendorf), Łukasz Głowacki (University Łódź), and an anonymous reviewer, for their highly valued comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Heike Kappes

  2. Department of Ecology, Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany

    Heike Kappes

  3. Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany

    Oliver Tackenberg

  4. Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (LOEWE BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany

    Oliver Tackenberg & Peter Haase

  5. Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany

    Peter Haase

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  1. Heike Kappes
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Correspondence to Heike Kappes.

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Handling Editor: Piet Spaak.

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Kappes, H., Tackenberg, O. & Haase, P. Differences in dispersal- and colonization-related traits between taxa from the freshwater and the terrestrial realm. Aquat Ecol 48, 73–83 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-013-9467-7

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