Lack of congruence in species diversity indices and community structures of planktonic groups based on local environmental factors.
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.
LAFWEDY, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan. doih@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Hideyuki
H
Doi
Kwang-Hyeon
KH
Chang
Yuichiro
Y
Nishibe
Hiroyuki
H
Imai
Shin-ichi
S
Nakano
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D020387:Food Chain; D005618:Fresh Water; D007564:Japan; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000502:physiology*; D061005:Ponds; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012403:Rotifera / Q000502:physiology*; D015048:Zooplankton / Q000502:physiology*