Macroinvertebrate, algal and diatom assemblages respond differently to both drying and wetting transitions in non-perennial streams

Busch, MH, Boersma, KS, Cook, SC, Jones, CN, Loflen, C, Mazor, RD, Stancheva, R, Price, AN, Stubbington, R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8475-5109, Zimmer, MA and Allen, DC, 2024. Macroinvertebrate, algal and diatom assemblages respond differently to both drying and wetting transitions in non-perennial streams. Freshwater Biology. ISSN 0046-5070

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Abstract

1. Biological assemblages in streams are influenced by hydrological dynamics, particularly in non-perennial systems. Although there has been increasing attention on how drying impacts stream organisms, few studies have investigated how specific characteristics of drying and subsequent wetting transitions influence biotic responses via resistance and resilience traits.

2. Here, we characterized how hydrologic metrics, including those quantifying drying and wetting transitions as well as dry and wet phases, alter diversity and composition of three aquatic assemblages in non-perennial streams in southern California: benthic macroinvertebrates, soft-bodied algae and diatoms.

3. We found that flow duration prior to sampling was correlated with variation in macroinvertebrate and soft-bodied algal assemblage composition. The composition and richness of diatom assemblages, however, were predominantly influenced by the drying start date prior to sampling. Contrary to other studies, the duration of the dry phase prior to sampling did not influence the composition or richness of any assemblage. Although our study was conducted within a region in which each assemblage experienced comparable environmental conditions, we found no single hydrologic metric that influenced all assemblages in the same way.

4. The hot-summer Mediterranean climate of southern California likely acts as a strong environmental filter, with taxa in this region relying on resistance and resilience adaptations to survive and recolonize non-perennial streams following wetting. The different responses of algal and diatom assemblages to hydrologic metrics suggest greater resilience to drying and wetting events, particularly for primary producers.

5. As drying and wetting patterns continue to change, understanding biodiversity responses to hydrologic metrics could inform management actions that enhance the ecological resilience of communities in non-perennial streams. In particular, the creation and enhancement of flow regimes in which natural timing and duration of dry and wet phases sustain refuges that support community persistence in a changing environment.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Freshwater Biology
Creators:	Busch, M.H., Boersma, K.S., Cook, S.C., Jones, C.N., Loflen, C., Mazor, R.D., Stancheva, R., Price, A.N., Stubbington, R., Zimmer, M.A. and Allen, D.C.
Publisher:	Wiley
Date:	20 September 2024
ISSN:	0046-5070
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1111/fwb.14327 DOI 2227006 Other
Rights:	This is the accepted manuscript of the following article: [Busch, M. H., Boersma, K. S., Cook, S. C., Jones, C. N., Loflen, C., Mazor, R. D., Stancheva, R., Price, A. N., Stubbington, R., Zimmer, M. A., & Allen, D. C. (2024). Macroinvertebrate, algal and diatom assemblages respond differently to both drying and wetting transitions in non-perennial streams. Freshwater Biology, 00, 1–15.], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.14327. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Melissa Cornwell
Date Added:	26 Sep 2024 08:32
Last Modified:	26 Sep 2024 08:33
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/52303

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