Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams?
Abstract: Aim The maintenance and condition of riparian vegetation are important factors for conserving headwater streams and their species diversity. Thus, variations in the width of a riparian zone can have dramatic effects in the structure and functioning of the adjacent freshwater ecosystem. In...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Brasileira de Limnologia
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-975X2021000100720&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1818987739646787584 |
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| author | Marden S. Linares Livia B. dos Santos Marcos Callisto Jean C. Santos |
| author_facet | Marden S. Linares Livia B. dos Santos Marcos Callisto Jean C. Santos |
| author_sort | Marden S. Linares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract: Aim The maintenance and condition of riparian vegetation are important factors for conserving headwater streams and their species diversity. Thus, variations in the width of a riparian zone can have dramatic effects in the structure and functioning of the adjacent freshwater ecosystem. In this study, we aimed to determine if increased riparian zone width changed the benthic assemblages’ structure (diversity, taxonomic and functional composition) in headwater streams. Methods We tested two predictions: (1) increased riparian zone width will change the diversity and taxonomic composition of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages because narrow riparian zones do not buffer the anthropogenic impacts from the surrounding landscape; (2) wider riparian zones will change benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ functional structure, due to changes to energetic input and quality. To test the first prediction, we assessed the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ taxonomic composition, richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index. To test the second prediction, we assessed functional feeding groups (FFG) and metrics based on their proportion. Results Our results showed that our first prediction was not corroborated, because taxonomic structure and diversity did not show significant variation with increased riparian zone width. Our second prediction was partially corroborated, because there were significant alterations in the functional structure of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages between the narrowest riparian zone width (30 m) and the others two (50 and 100 m). Conclusions Our results suggest that, contrary to the Brazilian Federal Law 12651/2012, 30-m wide riparian zones are insufficient to protect headwater stream ecosystem functioning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:11:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5577357539ef4093ad338dc23e07d752 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2179-975X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T19:11:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Associação Brasileira de Limnologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia |
| spelling | doaj.art-5577357539ef4093ad338dc23e07d7522022-12-21T19:29:12ZengAssociação Brasileira de LimnologiaActa Limnologica Brasiliensia2179-975X2021-10-013310.1590/s2179-975x3821Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams?Marden S. Linareshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7218-9768Livia B. dos Santoshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1737-3060Marcos Callistohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2341-4700Jean C. Santoshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6031-9193Abstract: Aim The maintenance and condition of riparian vegetation are important factors for conserving headwater streams and their species diversity. Thus, variations in the width of a riparian zone can have dramatic effects in the structure and functioning of the adjacent freshwater ecosystem. In this study, we aimed to determine if increased riparian zone width changed the benthic assemblages’ structure (diversity, taxonomic and functional composition) in headwater streams. Methods We tested two predictions: (1) increased riparian zone width will change the diversity and taxonomic composition of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages because narrow riparian zones do not buffer the anthropogenic impacts from the surrounding landscape; (2) wider riparian zones will change benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ functional structure, due to changes to energetic input and quality. To test the first prediction, we assessed the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ taxonomic composition, richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index. To test the second prediction, we assessed functional feeding groups (FFG) and metrics based on their proportion. Results Our results showed that our first prediction was not corroborated, because taxonomic structure and diversity did not show significant variation with increased riparian zone width. Our second prediction was partially corroborated, because there were significant alterations in the functional structure of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages between the narrowest riparian zone width (30 m) and the others two (50 and 100 m). Conclusions Our results suggest that, contrary to the Brazilian Federal Law 12651/2012, 30-m wide riparian zones are insufficient to protect headwater stream ecosystem functioning.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-975X2021000100720&tlng=enbenthic macroinvertebratesfunctional feeding groupsfunctional metricsbioindicatorsecological processes |
| spellingShingle | Marden S. Linares Livia B. dos Santos Marcos Callisto Jean C. Santos Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams? Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia benthic macroinvertebrates functional feeding groups functional metrics bioindicators ecological processes |
| title | Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams? |
| title_full | Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams? |
| title_fullStr | Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams? |
| title_short | Do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages’ diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams? |
| title_sort | do wider riparian zones alter benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages diversity and taxonomic composition in neotropical headwater streams |
| topic | benthic macroinvertebrates functional feeding groups functional metrics bioindicators ecological processes |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-975X2021000100720&tlng=en |
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