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Relationships between vegetation cover (Schoenoplectus decipiens) and wetland macroinvertebrate assemblages in a semi-arid landscape (Eastern Cape Karoo, South Africa)

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Abstract

This study investigated macroinvertebrate assemblage composition in relation to the cover of aquatic macrophytes (Schoenoplectus decipiens) for a set of 13 temporary depressional wetlands occurring within a semi-arid environment (Eastern Cape Karoo, South Africa). We hypothesised that invertebrate abundance and taxonomic richness would be higher in wetlands containing aquatic macrophytes than in those lacking them. It was expected that a positive relationship between vegetation cover categories (sparse, moderate and extensive) and invertebrate richness and abundance would be observed. In contrast to expectations, the macroinvertebrate assemblage was not significantly different across the three investigated categories. Non-parametric permutational MANOVA results indicated that the presence/absence of vegetation and wetland surface area had a significant effect on macroinvertebrate assemblage composition. Multivariate regressions (distance-based redundancy analysis) indicated that surface area, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and pelagic chlorophyll a concentration explained significant variation in macroinvertebrate assemblage composition in these wetlands. Overall, the presence or absence of vegetation appears to play a role in structuring the macroinvertebrate assemblages, but no convincing evidence was found for an effect of the vegetation cover gradient (sparse vs moderate vs extensive) on macroinvertebrate assemblages in these temporary wetlands.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Affairs, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Cacadu Region), South African National Parks and AGRI Eastern Cape for granting permits and supporting this research project. We thank the various farmers involved for granting permission to work on their property. Special thanks go to Bradley Ah Yui, Carla Dodd, Daniel Lemley, Jacqueline Raw, Liza Rishworth, Natasha Roussouw, Michael Larsen, Mfundo Mpinga, Nasreen Peer, Nelson Miranda and Nuette Gordon for their assistance during field trips and laboratory analysis of samples. We are grateful for the assistance of the following taxonomic experts with organism identification: Helen Barber-James, Ephemeroptera; Christopher Rogers, large branchiopods; David Bilton, Coleoptera; Patrick Reavell, Hemiptera; Nancy Rayner, Copepoda. A. Mabidi was funded by a PhD grant from the South African Research Chairs Initiative, administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF), as well as a grant from the Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON) at Nelson Mandela University. M. Bird received a DST/NRF Scarce-Skills Postdoctoral Fellowship. R. Perissinotto’s Professorship was funded by the DST/NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative. Any findings and conclusion expressed in this material is that of the author(s) and the NRF does not accept any liability in this regard.

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  1. Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation (DST/NRF) Research Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems, Nelson Mandela University, C/o Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa

    Annah Mabidi, Matthew S. Bird & Renzo Perissinotto

  2. Africa Earth Observatory Network, Nelson Mandela University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa

    Annah Mabidi

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa

    Matthew S. Bird

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  1. Annah Mabidi
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  2. Matthew S. Bird
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  3. Renzo Perissinotto
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Correspondence to Annah Mabidi.

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Mabidi, A., Bird, M.S. & Perissinotto, R. Relationships between vegetation cover (Schoenoplectus decipiens) and wetland macroinvertebrate assemblages in a semi-arid landscape (Eastern Cape Karoo, South Africa). Hydrobiologia 847, 2049–2064 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04230-0

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