Abstract
The importance of analyzing the determinants of biodiversity and community composition by using multiple trophic levels is well recognized; however, relevant data are lacking. In the present study, we investigated variations in species diversity indices and community structures of the plankton taxonomic groups–zooplankton, rotifers, ciliates, and phytoplankton–under a range of local environmental factors in pond ecosystems. For each planktonic group, we estimated the species diversity index by using linear models and analyzed the community structure by using canonical correspondence analysis. We showed that the species diversity indices and community structures varied among the planktonic groups and according to local environmental factors. The observed lack of congruence among the planktonic groups may have been caused by niche competition between groups with similar trophic guilds or by weak trophic interactions. Our findings highlight the difficulty of predicting total biodiversity within a system, based upon a single taxonomic group. Thus, to conserve the biodiversity of an ecosystem, it is crucial to consider variations in species diversity indices and community structures of different taxonomic groups, under a range of local conditions.
Highlights
Elucidation of the factors that control species diversity and community composition in local habitats is essential for protecting biodiversity in small habitats
In the ordination of whole zooplankton, the correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that, with the exception of Total phosphorous (TP), all environmental factors were important in explaining the community composition (Fig. 2a)
We have demonstrated variations in genus richness and community structure among the taxonomic groups, according to local environmental factors
Summary
Elucidation of the factors that control species diversity and community composition in local habitats is essential for protecting biodiversity in small habitats. Some studies have suggested that environmental heterogeneity [4] and ecosystem size [5] are crucial factors determining diversity and community structure in local habitats. Species richness is believed first to increase, and to decrease according to the productivity of an ecosystem, thereby producing a hump-shaped relationship [3,6,7]. These findings are important when predicting community composition. The factors that determine local community structures in natural systems are complicated by the range of processes and interactions occurring across trophic guilds [8]. Previous empirical and theoretical studies have mainly focused on restricted numbers of organism groups, in order to reduce the complexity of the relationships with biotic and abiotic factors, and to simplify interpretation of the results [4]
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