Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptation, phenology and disturbance of macroinvertebrates in temporary water bodies

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The temporal transition of species dominance following disturbances is strongly influenced by taxon life histories. In temporary water bodies, seasonal progression can be rapid. The community response of aquatic littoral invertebrate communities to disturbance was measured across four temporary water bodies (turloughs) representing a hydroperiod gradient in the karst landscape of western Ireland. Three distinct turlough wet-phases were identified based on macroinvertebrate taxon richness and community composition: filling, aquatic and drying phase. Invertebrates able to recolonise the turlough environment quickly upon flooding from refugia (e.g. sink-holes or little puddles) or resting stages within the turlough basin demonstrated highest proportion in abundances during the initial filling phase. Over time, the number of actively dispersing invertebrates, generally occupying turloughs only for a part of their life-cycle, increased. Hydroperiod had a significant effect on macroinvertebrate taxon richness, with short hydroperiods supporting low faunal diversity. Influence of hydrological disturbance generally decreased with progression of the annual wet phase, indicated by a decrease in taxon richness variation and an increase of biodiversity with time. Our study highlights the importance of life-cycle strategies of species for the occurrence of fairly predictable and periodically occurring seasonal patterns, and emphasizes the importance of ecological disturbances for colonisation cycles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, M. J., R. N. Gorley & K. R. Clarke, 2008. PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods. PRIMER-E, Plymouth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashe, P., J. P. O’Connor & D. A. Murray, 1998. A Checklist of Irish Aquatic Insects. Irish Biogeographical Society, Dublin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazzanti, M., S. Baldoni & M. Seminara, 1996. Invertebrate macrofauna of a temporary pond in central Italy: composition, community parameters and temporal succession. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 137(1): 77–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedetti-Cecchi, L., 2000. Priority effects, taxonomic resolution, and the prediction of variable patterns of colonisation of algae in littoral rock pools. Oecologia 123(2): 265–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilton, D. T., J. R. Freeland & B. Okamura, 2001. Dispersal in freshwater invertebrates. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 32(1): 159–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackstock, T. H., C. A. Duigan, D. P. Stevens & M. J. M. Yeo, 1993. Vegetation zonation and invertebrate fauna in Pant-y-llyn, an unusual seasonal lake in South Wales, UK. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 3: 253–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boix, D., J. Sala & R. Moreno-Amich, 2001. The faunal composition of Espolla Pond (NE Iberian Penninsula): the neglected biodiversity of temporary waters. Wetlands 21(4): 577–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boix, D., J. Sala, X. D. Quintana & R. Moreno-Amich, 2004. Succession of the animal community in a Mediterranean temporary pond. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23(1): 29–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, S. & R. Lewington, 1997. Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Britsih Wildlife Publishing, Hook.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, R. A., 1981. Ecological Comparisons of Three Water Bodies in the Burren District of County Clare. M.Sc. Thesis. Trinity College.

  • Cayrou, J. & R. Céréghino, 2005. Life-cycle phenology of some aquatic insects: implications for pond conservation. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 15(6): 559–571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R. & R. N. Gorley, 2006. PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial. PRIMER-E, Plymouth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R. & R. M. Warwick, 2001. Change in Marine Communities: An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation, 2nd ed. PRIMER-E, Plymouth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collinson, N. H., J. Biggs, A. Corfield, M. J. Hodson, D. Walker, M. Whitfield & P. J. Williams, 1995. Temporary and permanent ponds: an assessment of the effects of drying out on the conservation value of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Biological Conservation 74(2): 125–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, J. H. & R. O. Slatyer, 1977. Mechanisms of succession in natural communities and their role in community stability and organization. The American Naturalist 111(982): 1119–1144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coté, D., J.-M. Dubois & H. Gwyn, 1990. Mysterious lakes. In Reynolds, J. D., M. Murphy & Á. O’Connor (eds), Early Season Cladocera Diversity of Atlantic Temporary Ponds (Turloughs). Archives des Sciences, Vol. 57. Societe de Physique et d’Histoire Naturelle de Geneve, Geneva: 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coxon, C. E., 1986. A Study of the Hydrology and Geomorphology of Turloughs. PhD Thesis, Trinity College Dublin.

  • Cunha Pereira, H., N. Allott & C. Coxon, 2010. Are seasonal lakes as productive as permanent lakes? A case study from Ireland. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67(8): 1291–1302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duigan, C. A., 1988. The Cladocera (Crustacea) of Lough Ree and neighbouring waterbodies in Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 11: 100–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edington, J. M. & A. G. Hildrew, 1995. Caseless Caddis Larvae of the British Isles—A Key with Ecological Notes. Freshwater Biological Association.

  • EEC, 1992. Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Official Journal No. 206, 27792.

  • Elliot, J. M. & K. H. Mann, 1979. A Key to the British Freshwater Leeches. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, J. M., U. H. Humpesch & T. T. Macam, 1988. Larvae of the British Ephemeroptera—A Key with Ecological Notes. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitter, R. & R. Manuel, 1986. Collins Field Guide to Freshwater Life. William Collins Sons Ltd, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Florencio, M., L. Serrano, C. Gomez-Rodriguez, A. Millan & C. Diaz-Paniagua, 2009. Inter- and intra-annual variations of macroinvertebrate assemblages are related to the hydroperiod in Mediterranean temporary ponds. Hydrobiologia 634(1): 167–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, G. N., B. H. Nelson, D. T. Bilton, D. A. Lott, R. Merritt, R. S. Weyl & M. D. Eyre, 1992. A classification and evaluation of Irish water beetle assemblages. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 2: 185–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friday, L. E., 1988. A Key to the Adults of British Water Beetles. AIDGAP Series. Field Studies Council, Taunton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gledhill, T., D. W. Sutcliffe & W. P. Williams, 1993. British Freshwater Crustacea Malacostraca: A Key with Ecological Notes. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwillie, R., 1992. Turloughs Over 10 ha: Vegetation Survey and Evaluation Internal Report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Office of Public Works, Dublin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwillie, R. & J. D. Reynolds, 2003. Turloughs. In Otte, M. L. (ed.), Wetlands of Ireland. University College Dublin Press, Dublin: 130–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellawell, J. M., 1986. Biological Indicators of Freshwater Pollution and Environmental Management. Elsevier, London.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, D. G., 1972. A Key to the Larvae, Pupae and Adults of the British Species of Elminthidae. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, T. & D. Jenkins, 1998. Comparison of processes regulating zooplankton assemblages in new freshwater pools. Hydrobiologia 387–388: 207–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, H. B. N., 1977. A Key to the Adults and Nymphs of British Stoneflies (Plecoptera). Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jocqué, M., B. J. Riddoch & L. Brendonck, 2007. Successional phases and species replacements in freshwater rock pools: towards a biological definition of ephemeral systems. Freshwater Biology 52(9): 1734–1744.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiflawi, M., A. Eitam & L. Blaustein, 2003. The relative impact of local and regional processes on macro-invertebrate species richness in temporary pools. The Journal of Animal Ecology 72(3): 447–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lahr, J., A. Diallo, K. Ndour, A. Badji & P. Diouf, 1999. Phenology of invertebrates living in a sahelian temporary pond. Hydrobiologia 405: 189–205.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linke, S., R. C. Bailey & J. Schwindt, 1999. Temporal variability of stream bioassessments using benthic macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Biology 42(3): 575–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macan, T. T., 1977. British Freshwater- and Brackish-Water Gastropods—A Key. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCook, L. J., 1994. Understanding ecological community succession: causal models and theories, a review. Vegetatio 110: 115–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, P. L., 1996. Keys to larvae and adults. In Miller, P. L. (ed.), Naturalists’s Handbook Series: 7 Dragonflies. Richmond Publishing, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, N. W., 1980. Lestes dryas Kirby—a declining species of dragonfly (Odonata) in need of conservation; Notes on its status and habitat in England and Ireland. Biological Conservation 17: 143–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, B. & R. Thompson, 2004. The Natural History of Ireland’s Dragonflies. The National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland, Belfast.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, A., 1997. Aquatic Insects of Northern Europe—A Taxonomic Handbook. Apollo Books Aps, Denmark.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, Á., S. Bradish, T. Reed, J. Moran, E. Regan, M. Visser, M. Gormally & M. S. Skeffington, 2004. A comparison of the efficacy of pond-net and box sampling methods in turloughs—Irish ephemeral aquatic systems. Hydrobiologia 524: 133–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porst, G., 2009. The Effects of Season, Habitat, Hydroperiod and Water Chemistry on the Distribution of Turlough Aquatic Invertebrate Communities. PhD Thesis, Trinity College Dublin.

  • Porst, G. & K. Irvine, 2009a. Distinctiveness of macroinvertebrate communities in turloughs (temporary ponds) and their response to environmental variables. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 19: 456–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porst, G. & K. Irvine, 2009b. Implications of the spatial variability of macroinvertebrate communities for monitoring of ephemeral lakes. An example from turloughs. Hydrobiologia 636: 421–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J. D., 1982. Ecology of Turloughs (Vanishing Lakes) in the Burren, Western Ireland. In O’Gorman, F. & J. Rochford (eds), Transactions XIVth International Congress of Game Biologists, Vol. 14. Irish Wildlife Publications, Dublin: 183–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J. D., 2000. Invertebrate communities of turloughs (temporary lakes) in south-east Galway, Ireland. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 27: 1679–1694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J. D., C. Duigan, F. Marnell & Á. O’Connor, 1998. Extreme and ephemeral water bodies in Ireland. In Giller, P. S. (ed.), Studies in Irish Limnology—Essays on the Occasion of the XXVII Congress of Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL). The Marine Institute, Dublin: 67–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J. D., M. Murphy & Á. O’Connor, 2004. Early season cladoceran diversity of Atlantic temporary ponds (turloughs). Archives des Sciences 57: 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynoldson, T. B. & J. O. Young, 2000. A Key to the Freshwater Triclads of Britain and Ireland with Notes on their Ecology. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richoux, P., 1982. Coléoptère Aquatiques. Associations Française de Limnologie, Thonon-les-Bains.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, D. M. & V. H. Resh, 1993. Freshwater Biomonitoring and Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage, A. A., 1989. Adults of the British Aquatic Hemiptera Heteroptera—A key with Ecological Notes. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage, A. A., 1999. Key to the Larvae of British Corixidae. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, D. W., 1999. Snowmelt ponds in Wisconsin—influence of hydroperiod on invertebrate community structure. In Batzer, D. P., R. B. Rader & S. A. Wissinger (eds), Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands of North America. Wiley, New York: 279–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, D. W. & T. M. Frost, 1996. Habitat duration and community structure in temporary ponds. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 15(1): 64–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehy Skeffington, M., J. Moran, Á. O’Connor, E. C. Regan, C. E. Coxon, N. E. Sott & M. Gormally, 2006. Turloughs—Ireland’s unique wetland habitat. Biological Conservation 133: 265–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, W. P., 2001. Natural disturbance and the dynamics of marine benthic communties. In Bertness, M. D., S. D. Gaines & M. E. Hay (eds), Marine and Communtiy Ecology. Sinuauer, Sunderland: 85–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, M., L. Blaustein, S. S. Schwartz & J. E. Cohen, 1999. Species richness and the proportion of predatory animal species in temporary freshwater pools: relationships with habitat size and permanence. Ecology Letters 2(3): 157–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobin, C. M. & T. K. McCarthy, 2004. The corixid communities of lowland turloghs in the Galway area and Lough Corrib. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27(12): 450–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trigal, C., F. García-Criado & C. Fernández-Aláez, 2006. Among-habitat and temporal variability of selected macroinvertebrate based metrics in a Mediterranean shallow lake (NW Spain). Hydrobiologia 563(1): 371–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tully, O., T. K. McCarthy & D. O. Donnell, 1991. The ecology of the Corixidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in the Corrib catchment, Ireland. Hydrobiologia 210(3): 161–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tynan, S., M. Gill & P. Johnston, 2005. Development of a methodology for the characterisation of a karstic groundwater body with particular emphasis on the linkage with associated ecosystems such as turlough ecosystems (2002-W-DS-08-M1)—final report. Environmental RTDI Programme 2000–2006. Environmental Protection Agency, Dublin.

  • Verberk, W., H. Siepel & H. Esselink, 2008. Life-history strategies in freshwater macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Biology 53(9): 1722–1738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verberk, W. C. E. P., G. Van Der Velde & H. Esselink, 2010. Explaining abundance–occupancy relationships in specialists and generalists: a case study on aquatic macroinvertebrates in standing waters. Journal of Animal Ecology 79(3): 589–601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visser, M., E. Regan, J. Moran, M. Gormally & M. Sheehy Skeffington, 2006. The rise and fall of turlough typologies: a call for a continuum concept. Wetlands 26(3): 745–764.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, I. D., B. Wallace & G. N. Philipson, 2003. Keys to the Case-Bearing Caddis Larvae of Britain and Ireland. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, D. & L. Blaustein, 1994. The overriding influence of flash floods on species–area curves in ephemeral Negev desert pools: a consideration of the value of island biogeography theory. Journal of Biogeography 21(6): 595–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waterkeyn, A., P. Grillas, B. Vanschoenwinkel & L. Brendonck, 2008. Invertebrate community patterns in Mediterranean temporary wetlands along hydroperiod and salinity gradients. Freshwater Biology 53(9): 1808–1822.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White, P. S. & S. T. A. Pickett, 1985. Natural disturbance and patch dynamics: an introduction. In Pickett, S. T. A. & P. S. White (eds), The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics. Academic Press, Inc., Orlando: 3–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, G. B., R. J. Mackay & I. M. Smith, 1980. Evolutionary and ecological strategies of animals in annual temporary pools. Archive für Hydrobiologie Supplement 58: 97–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilbur, H. M., 1987. Regulation of structure in complex systems: experimental temporary pond communities. Ecology 68(5): 1437–1452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. D., 1996. Environmental constraints in temporary fresh waters and their consequences for the insect fauna. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 15(4): 634–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. D., 1997. Temporary ponds and their invertebrate communities. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 7: 105–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. D., 2006. The Biology of Temporary Waters. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P., M. Whitfield, J. Biggs, S. Bray, G. Fox, P. Nicolet & D. Sear, 2003. Comparative biodiversity of rivers, streams, ditches and ponds in an agricultural landscape in Southern England. Biological Conservation 115(2): 329–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Helder Pereira for provision of nutrient data (TP concentrations) and practical support and to Fabien Charrier, Natacha Salles, Klaus-Peter Schwachhofer and Nova Sharkey for help in the field. We thank Sarah Kimberley, Steve Waldren, Áine O’Connor, Deirdre Lynn and Jim Ryan for general support and encouragement and Norman Allott and Mike Dobson for constructive comments on a previous draft of the manuscript. The study was funded by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Gwendolin Porst & Kenneth Irvine

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Mathematics and Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Owen Naughton, Laurence Gill & Paul Johnston

  3. Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany

    Gwendolin Porst

  4. UNESCO-IHE, Department of Water Science and Engineering, Westvest, 2611 AX, Delft, The Netherlands

    Kenneth Irvine

Authors
  1. Gwendolin Porst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Owen Naughton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laurence Gill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul Johnston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kenneth Irvine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gwendolin Porst.

Additional information

Handling editor: Sonja Stendera

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Porst, G., Naughton, O., Gill, L. et al. Adaptation, phenology and disturbance of macroinvertebrates in temporary water bodies. Hydrobiologia 696, 47–62 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1181-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1181-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation