Body size and dispersal mode as key traits determining metacommunity structure of aquatic organisms

TY - JOUR

T1 - Body size and dispersal mode as key traits determining metacommunity structure of aquatic organisms

AU - De Bie, T.

AU - De Meester, L.

AU - Brendonck, L.

AU - Martens, K.

AU - Goddeeris, B.

AU - Ercken, D.

AU - Hampel, H.

AU - Denys, L.

AU - Vanhecke, L.

AU - Van der Gucht, K.

AU - Van Wichelen, J.

AU - Vyverman, W.

AU - Declerck, S.A.J.

N1 - Reporting year: 2012 Metis note: 5255; WAG; AqE

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Relationships between traits of organisms and the structure of their metacommunities have so far mainly been explored with meta-analyses. We compared metacommunities of a wide variety of aquatic organism groups (12 groups, ranging from bacteria to fish) in the same set of 99 ponds to minimise biases inherent to meta-analyses. In the category of passive dispersers, large-bodied groups showed stronger spatial patterning than small-bodied groups suggesting an increasing impact of dispersal limitation with increasing body size. Metacommunities of organisms with the ability to fly (i.e. insect groups) showed a weaker imprint of dispersal limitation than passive dispersers with similar body size. In contrast, dispersal movements of vertebrate groups (fish and amphibians) seemed to be mainly confined to local connectivity patterns. Our results reveal that body size and dispersal mode are important drivers of metacommunity structure and these traits should therefore be considered when developing a predictive framework for metacommunity dynamics.

AB - Relationships between traits of organisms and the structure of their metacommunities have so far mainly been explored with meta-analyses. We compared metacommunities of a wide variety of aquatic organism groups (12 groups, ranging from bacteria to fish) in the same set of 99 ponds to minimise biases inherent to meta-analyses. In the category of passive dispersers, large-bodied groups showed stronger spatial patterning than small-bodied groups suggesting an increasing impact of dispersal limitation with increasing body size. Metacommunities of organisms with the ability to fly (i.e. insect groups) showed a weaker imprint of dispersal limitation than passive dispersers with similar body size. In contrast, dispersal movements of vertebrate groups (fish and amphibians) seemed to be mainly confined to local connectivity patterns. Our results reveal that body size and dispersal mode are important drivers of metacommunity structure and these traits should therefore be considered when developing a predictive framework for metacommunity dynamics.

KW - international

U2 - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01794.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01794.x

M3 - Article

SN - 1461-023X

VL - 15

SP - 740

EP - 747

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

IS - 7

ER -