Integrating spatiotemporal hydrological connectivity into conservation planning to protect temporary rivers
Author
Fernández-Calero, José María
Cunillera-Montcusí, David
Hermoso, Virgilio
Quevedo-Ortiz, Guillermo
Fortuño, Pau
Acosta, Raúl
Gomà, Joan
Vinyoles, Dolors
Ruhí, Albert
Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel
Bonada, Núria
Publication date
2024-03-25ISSN
1052-7613
Abstract
1. Temporary rivers (TRs) have been largely overlooked in conservation assessments. Because TRs are such dynamic ecosystems, spatial and temporal aspects of their hydrology and ecology need to be taken into account when designing conservation plans.
2. The aim of this paper is to propose a set of recommendations that could be useful for managers to do this, using seasonal diatom and macroinvertebrate data from north-eastern Spain as a case study. Beta diversity was partitioned into local and species contributions to beta diversity (LCBD and SCBD). Additionally, priority conservation sites covering the spatial distribution of all species were identified using Marxan and the selection frequency (MSF) of the sites served as a measure of the relative irreplaceability of each site.
3. Using both approaches (beta diversity and Marxan), the effects of changing spatiotemporal connectivity and habitat heterogeneity on the selection and prioritization of sites to be conserved were assessed.
4. It was found that LCBD and MSF ranged widely both in space and time. However, LCBD and MSF were weakly related. Marxan adequately represented all taxa by selecting a few sites, while LCBD selected communities with higher differentiation but not necessarily those with rare species. In addition, SCBDs assigned low values to rare taxa, thus care must be taken when using this index for conservation planning.
5. Spatiotemporal connectivity and local habitat heterogeneity played a critical role at the regional and local scales, driving site prioritization.
6. Overall, we recommend: 1) monitoring multiple hydrological phases to encompass the different community types and capturing total diversity; 2) using Marxan and LCBD in combination, to benefit from their complementary insights; and 3) integrating spatiotemporal isolation and habitat heterogeneity into conservation plans, since they are the main drivers of community variation over space and time in TRs.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
574 - General ecology and biodiversity
Pages
15
Publisher
Wiley
Is part of
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Citation
Fernández‐Calero, José María, David Cunillera‐Montcusí, Virgilio Hermoso, Guillermo Quevedo Ortiz, Pau Fortuño, Raúl Acosta, Joan Gomà Martínez, et al. 2024. “Integrating Spatiotemporal Hydrological Connectivity Into Conservation Planning to Protect Temporary Rivers.” Aquatic Conservation 34 (3). https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4139.
Grant agreement number
MICINN/Programa Estatal para impulsar la investigación científico-técnica y su transferencia/PID2021-126143OB-C21/ES/Herramientas avanzadas para la evaluación del estado ecológico de ríos temporales mediterráneos durante su fase seca/DRY-Guadalmed
FEDER/ / /EU/ /
EC/HE/101062388/EU/METAcommunities and tHE ROle of habitat networks in safeguarding against biodiversity loss under fragmentation and environmental strESs/Meta-Heroes
MICINN/Programa Estatal de promoción del talento y su empleabilidad en I+D+I/RYC2020-029829-I/ES/ /
Program
Aigües Marines i Continentals
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2651]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/