Beta Diversity Of Macroinvertebrates Research Articles

Ecological drivers of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in Wei River Basin of northwest China

Ecological drivers of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in Wei River Basin of northwest China

Exploring the Drivers Influencing Multidimensional Alpha and Beta Diversity of Macroinvertebrates in Mountain Streams

Understanding the driving mechanisms of diversity across multiple dimensions is a fundamental task in biodiversity conservation. Here, we examined the alpha and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions in mountain streams of northwestern Hubei Province, China. We also assessed how much local environmental, land use, climatic, and spatial variables affected these diversities. We found that (1) there were generally weak or no correlations of alpha and beta diversity between taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic dimensions; (2) compared to both functional and phylogenetic beta diversity, which was mainly determined by nestedness, taxonomic beta diversity was mostly molded by turnover and was much higher; and (3) local environmental variables predominantly influenced taxonomic and functional dimensions of alpha and beta diversity, while spatial factors primarily drove phylogenetic dimension. These results suggest that regulating local habitats is crucial for lotic biodiversity conservation efforts, though spatial processes cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, our findings verify the supplemental role of functional and phylogenetic data in enriching insights provided by taxonomic data alone. This underscores the importance of a multidimensional approach for a more nuanced understanding of community assembly mechanisms, which is crucial for efficient ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.

Eutrophication modifies the relationships between multiple facets of macroinvertebrate beta diversity and geographic distance in freshwater lakes

AbstractAimUnderstanding the distance–decay relationship (DDR) has been considered important because it reflects a combination of several ecological processes such as dispersal limitation and environmental sorting. However, effects of human disturbances on DDR are poorly known, especially in freshwater lakes. This study is aimed to examine how anthropogenic eutrophication modified the relationships between three facets (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) of macroinvertebrate beta diversity and geographic and environmental distances across 30 freshwater lakes.LocationThe Yangtze River floodplain, China.MethodsWe used Mantel tests to examine the relationships between multiple facets of assemblage dissimilarities (overall beta diversity, replacement and richness difference components) and geographic and environmental distances. Distance‐based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) and associated variation partitioning procedures were applied to explore the relative contributions of environmental and spatial factors on the three facets of beta diversity.ResultsWe found that none of the three beta diversity facets was related to geographic distance, but all were significantly related to environmental distance, mainly mirroring eutrophication‐related variables. Based on the variation partitioning approach, the macroinvertebrate assemblages examined were almost exclusively structured by environmental factors associated with eutrophication, while spatial variables had a negligible effect. Nevertheless, the different facets of beta diversity did not decrease (i.e., no homogenization trend) in lake groups showing the highest eutrophication levels, implying complex influences of anthropogenic disturbances in driving homogenization or differentiation in assemblage compositional dissimilarity.Main ConclusionsOur findings suggested that the high degrees of eutrophication acted as an environmental filter to significantly modify the spatial distance–decay relationships, possibly via decreasing the importance of dispersal limitation in shaping macroinvertebrate assemblages in the studied lakes. Given the sensitivity of beta diversity patterns to eutrophication we found in this study, we recommend that the role of anthropogenic disturbances should be incorporated into research on general ecological patterns like the DDR.

Diversidade beta de assembleias de macroinvertebrados associados a macrófitas aquáticas em lagos rasos na planície de inundação de um rio tropical represado

Abstract: Aims We assessed the beta diversity of macroinvertebrates associated with aquatic macrophytes in a dam-regulated river floodplain. We tested two hypotheses: (1) macroinvertebrates associated with aquatic macrophytes have higher beta diversity (higher turnover and nestedness components) in the downstream areas closer to the São Francisco River compared to upstream sites; (2) closer lakes share a higher similarity of aquatic macroinvertebrates, disregarding their position relative to the dam. Methods We sampled four lakes, including two upstream (L1- natural and L2- regulated by a Small Hydropower Dam - SHD) and two downstream (L3, L4, unregulated) by the SHD. Results We corroborated our first hypothesis because we found a higher turnover of macroinvertebrates associated with aquatic macrophytes close to the São Francisco River (L4 downstream), where higher non-native mollusk species richness occurs, while we found higher nestedness upstream and downstream of the SHD (L1, L2, L3). We corroborated our second hypothesis, as closer lakes are more similar than distant lakes. Finally, these differences were consistent between lakes for emergent, floating leaf, and submerged aquatic macrophytes. Conclusions Aquatic macrophytes are essential habitats for macroinvertebrates in the Pandeiros River basin, with higher beta diversity in the lake closer to the São Francisco River.

Spatiotemporal metacommunity structures and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in stream and lake systems

Spatiotemporal metacommunity structures and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in stream and lake systems

Non-random species loss under human disturbance increases the nestedness component of macroinvertebrate beta diversity in tropical streams

In the perspective for partitioning beta diversity proposed by Baselga (2010), species loss was assumed to increase the nestedness component. As species loss is generally non-random under human disturbance, we hypothesised that non-random species loss tends to increase both taxonomic and functional nestedness components, and that such increases can be explained by environmental gradients. We surveyed the macroinvertebrates in two pairs of tropical degraded stream groups (with strong human disturbance) and reference stream groups (with much less human disturbance). We measured and compared both taxonomic and functional beta diversities and their nestedness components between sampling sites in and among the reference and degraded streams. Macroinvertebrate communities indeed underwent significant non-random loss from the reference to degraded streams, which is linked to the traits of taxa responding to disturbances (e.g., body size, tolerance, and feeding habit). Under non-random loss, both taxonomic and functional beta diversities significantly increased between the reference and degraded streams, mainly due to an increase in their nestedness components. In particular, the nestedness component dominated the functional beta diversity. As expected, taxonomic and functional beta diversities and their nestedness components were explained by environmental distance, specially by the variation of environmental variables such total nitrogen and water velocity. Our study provides evidence at a regional scale for non-random species loss increasing nestedness components of not only taxonomic but also functional beta diversities, and strongly suggests paying attention to reference streams for the protection of regional biodiversity in the tropics.

Influence of local and landscape environmental factors on alpha and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in Andean rivers

Influence of local and landscape environmental factors on alpha and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in Andean rivers

Unravelling the factors affecting multiple facets of macroinvertebrate beta diversity in the World's Third Pole

AbstractAimDisentangling how stochastic and deterministic processes contribute to variation in beta diversity is a common goal for ecologists and biogeographers. However, such studies are scarce in alpine streams, especially when different diversity facets are considered. Here, we combined different approaches to examine the drivers of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional beta diversities, and discussed how our results can inform community assembly and biodiversity conservation in Tibetan streams.LocationTibet plateau.TaxonMacroinvertebrates.MethodsWe first partitioned multiple facets of beta diversity (Btotal) into species replacement (Brepl) and richness difference (Brich) as well as local (LCBD) or species (SCBD) contributions. Then, we applied ordination methods to examine the relative importance of local, climatic and spatial factors on Btotal, Brepl and Brich, respectively. We explored community assembly rules using null models based on trait and phylogeny structure.ResultsBtotal displayed high values and was primarily driven by Brepl. Local, climatic and spatial factors were poor predictors of the different facets of beta diversity. Null models showed that the diversity metrics did not differ from those of null expectations, suggesting that most individual streams might be occupied by species that were merely random draws from the functional or phylogenetic pools available in this region. Partitioning beta diversity into LCBD and SCBD implied that the upper canyon streams were more unique than those at lower elevations and can be valuable for biodiversity conservation.Main ConclusionsAnalysing multiple facets of beta diversity provide important insights into community assembly that cannot be acquired by focusing on taxonomic diversity only. Using a multi‐faceted approach involving species, phylogenetic and trait data, our study not only sheds light on the assembly mechanisms of macroinvertebrate communities in alpine streams, but also bring inspirations for biodiversity conservation in the ‘World's Third Pole’ that is highly sensitive to global change.

Different responses of incidence-weighted and abundance-weighted multiple facets of macroinvertebrate beta diversity to urbanization in a subtropical river system

• Beta diversity weighted by incidence vs abundance data varied differently along urbanization gradient. • Richness difference contributed more to beta diversity weighted by abundance than incidence data. • Stochasticity was more dominant in shaping beta diversity weighted by abundance than incidence data. • Homogenization studies should consider the roles of rare and abundant taxa. Urbanization is one of the major drivers of biotic homogenization (i.e., decrease in beta diversity) in freshwater systems. However, only a few studies have simultaneously examined how urbanization affects multiple facets (i.e., taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) of beta diversity and its underlying ecological drivers in urban river macroinvertebrates. Here, we distinguished the patterns and ecological mechanisms of multiple facets of macroinvertebrate beta diversity weighted by incidence and abundance data in a subtropical river system with a distinct urbanization gradient. We also investigated how total beta diversity patterns stem from replacement versus richness difference among sites. Our results showed that taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversities weighted by incidence data were primarily driven by replacement of taxa, whereas the richness difference contributed more to multiple facets of beta diversity based on abundance data. Furthermore, multiple facets of beta diversity decreased with urbanization for both incidence-weighted and abundance-weighted data, but the former showed more substantial decreases. Both replacement and richness difference components contributed roughly equally to the decline of incidence-weighted beta diversity. In contrast, the losses of abundance-weighted beta diversity were mainly associated with replacement of taxa. Variation partitioning results revealed that all beta diversity measures based on incidence data were governed primarily by local and land-use variables, whereas spatial variables were more relevant in driving beta diversity weighted by abundance data. Overall, by comparing different facets and components of beta diversity weighted by incidence versus abundance data, we suggest that incidence-weighted data may be more sensitive in portraying the impacts of urbanization on macroinvertebrate diversity. This likely resulted from the fact that incidence-weighted data shows the importance of rare taxa in shaping homogenization induced by urbanization.

Beta-diversity of macroinvertebrates associated to Pocillopora corals along the Mexican Pacific coast

Although invertebrates are the most diverse organisms associated with corals, they have been poorly studied in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Thus, this study analyzed macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with Pocillopora corals along the Mexican Pacific coast and assessed whether a latitudinal diversity gradient can be identified. Forty-two sites grouped in 12 localities were sampled by visual censuses from the southern Gulf of California (26° N) to the coast of Oaxaca (15° N). Ecological indices (species richness, abundance, and taxonomic distinctiveness) were compared among localities. A Bray–Curtis resemblance matrix was also created, and a non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) was performed to identify locality groups based on macroinvertebrate abundance and occurrence. Beta-diversity as a measure of the proportional species turnover was determined in each locality group. A total of 129 species grouped in six phyla were recorded. All the ecological indices differed significantly among localities. Five groups that moderately followed a geographic pattern were formed by nMDS. Nevertheless, no evidence of a beta-diversity latitudinal gradient was found. Beta-diversity calculated in each group indicated that the central region of the Mexican Pacific and the Gulf of California have the highest species proportion in the studied area. Furthermore, the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages had a “turnover and nestedness” beta-diversity pattern. These results are very useful for conserving species richness associated to coral communities along the Mexican Pacific coast. Establishment of marine protected areas in locality groups with a high macroinvertebrate beta-diversity should be considered, especially when harmful human activities can affect it negatively.

Environmental heterogeneity, dispersal mode and habitat specialisation modify within‐site beta diversity of spring macroinvertebrates

AbstractSpring helocrenes are a unique aquatic environment with high biotic diversity. Although environmental heterogeneity has traditionally been assumed to explain the high species richness of spring habitats, this assumption has never been properly tested. Here, we sampled macroinvertebrates from two calcareous helocrenes in Slovakia with visually distinguishable mesohabitat heterogeneity. We hypothesise that macroinvertebrate beta diversity significantly increases with environmental heterogeneity even at a small within‐site spatial scale. We also examined four species‐trait categories, that is, active or passive dispersers and habitat specialists or generalists. Significant spatial structuring of environmental heterogeneity was found at one site, whereas the other site did not show a clear spatial pattern. Strong associations were found between beta diversity of all species trait categories and environmental heterogeneity at the first site, while there were virtually no associations at the second site. Specialists were not spatially structured at any of the sites examined. Our results suggest that invertebrate beta diversity responds positively to environmental heterogeneity at a site by also tracking spatial structuring of abiotic conditions. However, the response may vary depending on the dispersal mode and habitat specialisation of the invertebrates.

Weak relationships among macroinvertebrates beta diversity (β), river status, and environmental correlates in a tropical biodiversity hotspot

Freshwater biodiversity is rapidly declining due to accelerated human-induced disturbances. Increased human-induced environmental disturbances are believed not to only decrease species numbers, but to also diminish beta diversity, for instance, by the local extinction of native species and wide-spread introduction of non-native species – a process widely known as biotic homogenization. Here, we investigated whether anthropogenic impacts reduce beta diversity. We also assessed the relative roles of environmental and spatial factors in driving beta diversity. We examined relationships among macroinvertebrates beta diversity, stream status classes (reference and impacted classes), and environmental predictors in streams in Northern Nigeria. We used PERMDISP and distance-based redundancy analysis followed by variation partitioning to evaluate how beta diversity of macroinvertebrates differed between the reference and impacted sites, and what mechanisms were responsible for their responses. While beta diversity between reference and impacted sites was similar for all distance matrices, there were significant differences in composition related to turnover between the reference and impacted sites using the distance matrices. Species sorting prevailed in structuring macroinvertebrates communities in our system, while spatial variables were not relevant. Our result of beta diversity of macroinvertebrates and their responses to disturbances support the hypothesis that disturbances do not necessarily lead to biotic homogenization. We recommend that tropical streams restoration ecologists need to emphasize the study of varying condition classes in their attempt to develop effective restoration strategies based on their environmental heterogeneity.

The role of environmental conditions, climatic factors and spatial processes in driving multiple facets of stream macroinvertebrate beta diversity in a climatically heterogeneous mountain region

There is a growing recognition that examining patterns of ecological communities and their underlying determinants is not only feasible based on taxonomic data, but also functional and phylogenetic approaches. This is because these additional facets can enhance the understanding of the relative contribution of multiple processes in shaping biodiversity. However, few studies have focused on multifaceted beta diversities in lotic macroinvertebrates, especially when considering driving factors operating at multiple spatial scales. Here, we examined the spatial patterns of multi-faceted (i.e., taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) beta diversity and their components (i.e., turnover and nestedness) of macroinvertebrates in 50 sites in 10 streams situated in the north and south slope of the Qinling Mountains, the geographical dividing line of Northern and Southern China. We found that the streams draining the north slope showed significantly lower values of beta diversity based on all three facets than the streams draining the south slope. Such north-to-south increases of beta diversity were caused by the distinct climatic and local environmental conditions between the sides of the mountain range. Moreover, spatial variables generally played the most important role in structuring all facets and components of beta diversity, followed by local environmental and climatic variables, whereas catchment variables were less important. Despite the similar results of relative contribution of explanatory variables on each beta diversity facet, the details of community-environment relationships (e.g., important explanatory variables and explanatory power) were distinct among different diversity facets and their components. In conclusion, measuring functional and phylogenetic beta diversity provides complementary information to traditional taxonomic approach. Therefore, an integrative approach embracing multiple facets of diversity can better reveal the mechanisms shaping biodiversity, which is essential in assessing and valuing aquatic ecosystems for biodiversity management and conservation.

Water-level fluctuations affect the alpha and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in Poyang Lake, China

Water-level fluctuations (WLFs) are a key influence on aquatic biodiversity in seasonally inundatedfreshwater ecosystems. However, how unregulated WLFs affect macroinvertebrates in lake-floodplain systemsexperiencing considerable annual fluctuations remains unclear. We explored spatial and temporal variability intaxonomic α and β diversity in the largest fluctuating lake in China, Poyang Lake, during two hydrological seasons.We hypothesized that taxa richness (α diversity) is greater in the floodplain than in the lake channel due to greateravailability of trophic resources, and that variability in assemblage composition (β diversity) in the channel isgreater during the high-water season (HWS) than the low-water season (LWS) due to increased habitat heterogeneity.Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages were sampled, water physicochemical and hydrological variables weremeasured, and geographical coordinates were determined at 34 sites during the HWS (October 2017) and LWS(January and April 2018). A total of 74 taxa were recorded. Macroinvertebrate α diversity was comparable in thefloodplain and the lake channel. Beta diversity in the channel was greater during HWS than LWS. Hydrologicalvariables influenced β diversity during LWS and geographical distance between sites increased β diversity duringHWS, whereas physicochemical variables did not influence β diversity in either hydrological season. Our resultssuggest that extensive WLFs altered macroinvertebrate biodiversity among hydrological seasons by extending waterinto floodplains during HWS and reducing substrate heterogeneity in the lake channel during LWS. We thushighlight the importance of WLFs that maintain such environmental seasonality in supporting the biodiversity ofbenthic macroinvertebrates in naturally dynamic freshwater ecosystems.

Damming affects riverine macroinvertebrate metacommunity dynamics: Insights from taxonomic and functional beta diversity

Understanding ecological processes that drive metacommunity dynamics is essential for elucidating the mechanisms of community assembly and for guiding biodiversity conservation. This is especially important in dammed rivers. Here, we examined the taxonomic and functional beta diversity of macroinvertebrates and their underlying drivers in a dammed tropical river and compared the patterns with those in an adjacent undammed river. We found that both taxonomic and functional beta diversities were higher in the dammed river than in the undammed river across wet and dry seasons. The replacement component contributed most to the overall beta diversity for both taxonomic and functional facets, and this component was higher in the dammed river than in the undammed river. In addition, the taxonomic richness difference component was significantly higher in the dammed river in the dry season, but the functional richness difference component showed no difference between the two rivers and between the two seasons. Environmental filtering was the primary driver of total beta diversity and its replacement component, whereas the richness difference component was mainly explained by spatial factors, but these drivers varied in the dammed river in different seasons. Overall, our results indicated that damming induced changes in physiochemical variables (e.g., temperature, conductivity, and nutrients), accompanied by alterations in flow regime and longitudinal connectivity, increased replacement and loss of taxa or traits. These changes have consequently led to alteration of macroinvertebrate taxonomic and functional community dissimilarity and affected the relative effects of environmental and spatial factors on beta diversity and its components. Our study helps understand the ecological processes associated with dam impacts on macroinvertebrate biodiversity and the conservation potential of undammed rivers. In addition, our results showed that taxonomic and functional beta diversities can provide complementary information about dam impacts on riverine biodiversity.

The drivers of multiple dimensions of stream macroinvertebrate beta diversity across a large montane landscape

AbstractEnvironmental filtering and spatial processes have been associated with variation in ecological communities and biodiversity; however, their relative importance on multiple dimensions of beta diversity has not been fully explored in montane streams. Here, we examined the relative contribution of local, catchment and climate environmental variables and spatial factors to variation in three dimensions of macroinvertebrate beta diversity in the upper Han River Basin. Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic beta diversities and their respective turnover and nestedness components were calculated for macroinvertebrate assemblages sampled in a total of 130 stream sites across a large mountainous landscape. We investigated the correlations between beta diversity facets using MSR‐Mantel procedure and then examined the relative influence of each set of ecological factors through redundancy analysis and variance partitioning. Our results revealed relatively low spatial congruence among beta diversity dimensions, indicating these diversity dimensions are independent measures which offer complementary information of community assembly. Beta diversity dimensions and components were best explained by spatial and local environmental factors, whereas the large‐scale catchment and climate factors appeared less influential. Moreover, spatial and environmental factors generally exerted different controls on beta diversity depending on the dimensions under consideration. Taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversities were more strongly determined by spatial factors via dispersal limitation, while functional beta diversity was mainly associated to local environments through habitat filtering. Our results challenge the perspective that using one diversity facet as a surrogate for others is enough, and highlight the need to integrate multiple diversity dimensions in metacommunity and biodiversity research.

Patterns and drivers of stream benthic macroinvertebrate beta diversity in an agricultural landscape

Knowledge of benthic macroinvertebrate β-diversity patterns and drivers in an agricultural landscape can inform and improve watershed management decisions. Our study used multi-site and pairwise measures to determine taxonomic and functional β-diversity and associated nestedness and turnover components for benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the agricultural landscape. Total taxonomic β-diversity was mostly due to turnover, whereas total functional β-diversity was composed of turnover and nestedness more equally. Variation partitioning showed that spatial and habitat variables explained the largest proportion of variation in the total and turnover component of both taxonomic and functional β-diversity. Variation in nestedness was associated with local-scale habitat. Agricultural land cover was not a driver of β-diversity; however, extensive agricultural land cover appeared to disrupt the habitat–functional β-diversity relationship. Our findings suggest that distance among benthic macroinvertebrate communities should be considered when making land management or conservation decisions. Moreover, apparent disruption of the habitat–functional β-diversity relationship with extensive agricultural cover suggests managers should strategically target restoration activities to upland or channel areas based on catchment conditions. Finally, differences between taxonomic and functional β-diversity suggest including both measures in monitoring programs may enhance regional biodiversity assessments.

Concordance in biological condition and biodiversity between diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages in Chinese arid-zone streams

Understanding the concordance between aquatic assemblages in ecological assessments and their responses to human-induced disturbances are fundamental steps toward achieving sustainable stream and catchment management. Using diatom, macroinvertebrate, and environmental data collected from northwest Chinese arid-land streams, we tested the concordance between the two assemblages in (1) the assessment results using multimetric indices (MMIs), (2) the stressors affecting the MMIs and beta-diversity, and (3) the response trajectories of MMI and beta-diversity to disturbances. Random Forest analyses revealed that diatom and macroinvertebrate metrics responded most sensitively to climatic and geomorphic variables, respectively. Diatom MMI scores had greater precision and responsiveness than macroinvertebrate MMI scores. Diatom MMI scores were negatively related to gradients in observed–expected conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, and vegetated riparian zone width. Macroinvertebrate MMI scores responded strongly to observed–expected mean substrate composition, conductivity, and phosphate. Diatom beta-diversity decreased, as nitrate, channel alternation, and phosphate increased beyond expected natural background levels. Macroinvertebrate beta-diversity was the lowest when both nitrite and % cobble neared their natural background expectations. Our results indicate that protecting aquatic systems from anthropogenic pressures depends not only on revealing causes of impairment, but also on anticipating and understanding the responses to various stressors of multiple stream biotic assemblages.

Local environment and space drive multiple facets of stream macroinvertebrate beta diversity

AbstractAimUnderstanding variation in biodiversity typically requires consideration of factors operating at different spatial scales. Recently, ecologists and biogeographers have recognized the need of analysing ecological communities in the light of multiple facets including not only species‐level information but also functional and phylogenetic approaches to improve our understanding of the relative contribution of processes shaping biodiversity. Here, our aim was to disentangle the relative importance of environmental variables measured at multiple levels (i.e., local, catchment, climate, and spatial variables) influencing variation in macroinvertebrate beta diversity facets (i.e., species, traits, and phylogeny) and their components (i.e., replacement and abundance difference) in boreal streams.TaxonAquatic macroinvertebratesLocationWestern FinlandMethodsA total of 105 streams were sampled in western Finland, encompassing a geographical extent over 500 km. We analysed variation in the different beta diversity facets and components using distance‐based redundancy analysis and associated variation partitioning procedures. We modelled spatial structures using distance‐based Moran eigenvector maps.ResultsWe found that the relative influence of explanatory variables on each diversity facet and component revealed relatively similar patterns. Our main finding was that local environmental and spatial variables generally contributed most to the total explained variability in all facets and components of beta diversity, whereas catchment and climate variables explained less variation in the beta diversity facets at the spatial scale considered in this study.Main conclusionsDifferent facets of beta diversity were mainly influenced by local environmental variables and spatial structuring, likely acting through deterministic and stochastic pathways respectively. Identifying the ecological variables and mechanisms that drive variation in beta diversity may be used to guide the conservation and restoration efforts for biodiversity under global change.

Does the protection status of wetlands safeguard diversity of macroinvertebrates and birds in southwestern Ethiopia?

Freshwater ecosystems are highly threatened due to increased population growth, thereby affecting biodiversity. The objective of designating an area as ‘protected’ is to reduce habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. However, most protected areas focus on the conservation of the terrestrial environment and its related biodiversity. Little attention is given to the protection of freshwater biodiversity and consequently far less is known on how freshwater biodiversity differs between wetlands with a different protection status. The objectives of this study was to investigate alpha and beta diversity of macroinvertebrates and wetland dependent birds in wetlands with a different protection status and thus a different level of human impact in southwestern Ethiopia. Data on macroinvertebrates, birds, physico-chemical water quality, human disturbance and vegetation cover were collected from 42 sampling sites during dry and wet season of 2015. Besides the calculation of alpha and beta diversity, multiple regression models were used to identify the main drivers of the variation in beta diversity of macroinvertebrates and birds in these wetlands. Our results revealed that the average alpha diversity of both macroinvertebrates and wetland dependent birds was significantly higher in protected wetlands (low overall human disturbance) compared to unprotected wetlands (high overall human disturbance), whereas beta diversity was higher in unprotected wetlands for wetland dependent birds. Turnover contributed more than nestedeness to total beta diversity for both macroinvertebrates and wetland birds in protected and unprotected areas. Human disturbance, water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were significantly related to beta diversity of macroinvertebrates, whereas beta diversity of wetland dependent birds was significantly related to vegetation cover, nutrients and chemical oxygen demand. Conservationists should give attention to both alpha and beta diversity of freshwater wetlands in order to conserve wetland biodiversity maximally.