Abstract
Foundation species provide habitat to other organisms and enhance ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling, carbon storage and sequestration, and erosion control. We focus on freshwater wetlands because these ecosystems are often characterized by foundation species; eutrophication and other environmental changes may cause the loss of some of these species, thus severely damaging wetland ecosystems. To better understand how wetland primary producer foundation species support other species and ecosystem functions across environmental gradients, we reviewed ~150 studies in subtropical, boreal, and temperate freshwater wetlands. We look at how the relative dominance of conspicuous and well-documented species (i.e., sawgrass, benthic diatoms and cyanobacteria, Sphagnum mosses, and bald cypress) and the foundational roles they play interact with hydrology, nutrient availability, and exposure to fire and salinity in representative wetlands. Based on the evidence analyzed, we argue that the foundation species concept should be more broadly applied to include organisms that regulate ecosystems at different spatial scales, notably the microscopic benthic algae that critically support associated communities and mediate freshwater wetlands’ ecosystem functioning. We give recommendations on how further research efforts can be prioritized to best inform the conservation of foundation species and of the freshwater wetlands they support.
Highlights
The concept of foundation species is well-recognized in marine and coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, salt marshes and mangroves [9,10,11], it has been less commonly recognized in freshwater wetlands where vascular plants and benthic algae often fulfill foundational roles [5,12]
We focus on the species identity, dominance, and appearance and roles of primary producer foundation species in freshwater wetlands, especially oligotrophic ones where organisms cope with nutrient scarcity by means of specific traits and adaptations that enable them to outnumber other species
We review the relative dominance of foundation species, from microalgae to herbaceous vascular plants and trees, and their responses to hydrology, nutrients and other environmental factors in freshwater wetlands located at different latitudes [30]
Summary
Foundation species are abundant organisms that facilitate whole communities of other species by creating complex habitat, ameliorating local biotic and abiotic stressors, and enhancing resource availability [1,2,3]. These species regulate nutrient cycling by storing nutrients, trapping debris and supporting gas exchange, facilitate the growth and survival of other plant and animal species, provide refuge from predators and competitors, alter microclimate and water availability, and stabilize substrata [4,5,6,7]. Foundation species will contribute to maintaining the resilience of wetland ecosystems facing numerous and severe threats around the world [14]
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