title: A naturally heterogeneous landscape can effectively slow down the dispersal of aquatic microcrustaceans.
abstract: Several studies have suggested that aquatic microcrustaceans are relatively efficient dispersers in a variety of landscapes, whereas others have indicated dispersal limitation at large spatial scales or under specific circumstances. Based on a survey of a set of recently created ponds in an area of approximately 18 × 25 km, we found multiple indications of dispersal limitation affecting the community assembly of microcrustacean communities. Spatial patterns in the community composition were better explained by the geomorphological structure of the landscape than by mere geographic distances. This suggests that ridges separating the network of valleys act as dispersal barriers, and as such may channel the dispersal routes of the studied taxa and, likely, also of their animal vectors. Dispersal limitation was further supported by a strong positive relationship between species richness and the abundance of neighboring water bodies, suggesting that isolation affects colonization rates. Finally, the apparent dispersal limitation of microcrustaceans is further corroborated by the observation of low colonization rates in newly dug experimental ponds in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic. juracka@natur.cuni.cz.
authors.forename: Petr J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Juračka
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Postbus 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Steven A J
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Declerck
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic.|Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vondrák
authors.affiliation: Agency for Nature Protection and Landscape Conservation of the Czech Republic, Kokořínsko - Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area Administration, Česká 149, 276 01, Mělník, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Luboš
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beran
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Černý
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrusek
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D003445:Crustacea; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D061005:Ponds; D015048:Zooplankton
keywords: Dispersal barriers; Dispersal limitation; Metacommunity ecology; Microcrustaceans; Zooplankton dispersal