Publication details
Nested patterns in hyporheic meta-communities: the role of body morphology and penetrability of sediment
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Naturwissenschaften |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Bed sediments; Body size; Colonization |
| Description | We analyzed the vertical distribution patterns of taxa in the upper 70 cm of the hyporheic zone. We tested the hypotheses that in the vertical profile of the hyporheic zone sediment acts as a physical barrier (filter), allowing only the morphologically pre-adapted and adapted (i.e., smaller, narrower, more flexible) taxa to penetrate to deeper layers. We demonstrated that this mechanism can promote a strongly nested and colonization-driven pattern at higher taxa levels. The sediment filter (1) constricted the body width: 0.50 mm appeared to be the upper limit for successful sediment colonization at the study site, and (2) favored elongated taxa against small sized taxa. However, we found that nestedness could be sufficiently explained by the depth itself. Our study offers a possible explanation of depth patterns in hyporeic meta-communities as a result of morphological characteristics promoting nestedness at higher taxa level. |
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