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A cross-continental comparison of stream invertebrate community assembly to assess convergence in forested headwater streams

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Abstract

We studied two forested, headwater streams to compare patterns of invertebrate community structure and consequences for ecosystem functioning in two temperate locations, Galicia (NW Spain) and Vancouver (SW Canada). The two sites were selected due to the similar dominance of congeneric invertebrate species, as well as similarity in their hydromorphological and physico-chemical characteristics. Field experiments tested for similarities and dissimilarities in the invertebrate community assembly in leaf packs in streams. Our results indicated that alder leaves always decomposed faster than eucalyptus leaves, from threefold higher in Galicia to tenfold in Vancouver. At the species level, the biogeographic factor was the main source of variation on invertebrate assemblages (84.9 %), but this percentage quickly decreased at higher levels of taxonomic resolution, i.e. family. Moreover, there was a strong leaf species influence in both sites. There were more invertebrates colonizing leaves (per unit mass) in Vancouver than in Galicia (fourfold on average), though alder leaves seemed to be always the preferred resource (5.5-fold higher density on average). Regardless, a similar trophic structure was found between sites and leaf species. Brillia spp. and Corynoneura spp., a shredder and a collector-gatherer, respectively, seemed to be the most important species and showed similar colonization patterns in both sites with potential to strongly influence the leaf processing and nutrient cycling in these ecosystems. Even though our results are limited to the similarity found between only two sites, results from other studies, where the same species have been found coexisting during leaf pack processing, reinforces our results that common rules and mechanisms determine patterns of key ecological processes on a biogeographical scale.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Gregory Crutsinger and two anonymous referees for providing many important insights and comments on the ideas presented in the manuscript. This study has been supported by the research project XUGA29106A96 of Xunta de Galicia and by the Forest Sciences Program of British Columbia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo, Campus As Lagoas, Marcosende, 36310, Vigo, Spain

    Liliana García & Isabel Pardo

  2. Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3041-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    John S. Richardson

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  1. Liliana García
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  2. Isabel Pardo
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Correspondence to Liliana García.

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García, L., Pardo, I. & Richardson, J.S. A cross-continental comparison of stream invertebrate community assembly to assess convergence in forested headwater streams. Aquat Sci 76, 29–40 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-013-0308-5

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