Latitudinal variation of diversity in European freshwater animals is not concordant across habitat types

Christian Hof; Martin Brändle; Roland Brandl

doi:10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00394.x

Latitudinal variation of diversity in European freshwater animals is not concordant across habitat types

Christian Hof, Martin Brändle, Roland Brandl

Ecology and Evolution

82 Citations (Scopus)

1103 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Aim

We analysed the variation of species richness in the European freshwater fauna

across latitude. In particular, we compared latitudinal patterns in species richness

and

ß

-diversity among species adapted to different habitat types.

Location

Europe.

Methods

We compiled data on occurrence for 14,020 animal species across 25

pre-defined biogeographical regions of European freshwaters from the

Limnofauna

Europaea

. Furthermore, we extracted information on the habitat preferences of

species. We assigned species to three habitat types: species adapted to groundwater,

lotic (running water) and lentic (standing water) habitats. We analysed latitudinal

patterns of species richness, the proportion of lentic species and

ß

-diversity.

Results

Only lentic species showed a significant species-area relationship. We

found a monotonic decline of species richness with latitude for groundwater and

lotic habitats, but a hump-shaped relationship for lentic habitats. The proportion of

lentic species increased from southern to northern latitudes.

ß

-Diversity declined

from groundwater to lentic habitats and from southern to northern latitudes.

Main conclusions

The differences in the latitudinal variation of species richness

among species adapted to different habitat types are in part due to differences in the

propensity for dispersal. Since lentic habitats are less persistent than lotic or groundwater

habitats, lentic species evolved more efficient strategies for dispersal. The

dispersal propensity of lentic species facilitated the recolonization of central Europe

after the last glaciation. Overall, we stress the importance of considering the history

of regions and lineages as well as the ecological traits of species for understanding

patterns of biodiversity.

Original language	English
Journal	Global Ecology and Biogeography
Volume	17
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	539-546
Number of pages	8
ISSN	1466-822X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00394.x
Publication status	Published - 2008

Keywords

Faculty of Science
ß -Diversity
dispersal
Europe
Fresh Water
glaciations
history
latitude
SPECIES RICHNESS

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Hof etal 2008 GEBFinal published version, 224 KB

Cite this

@article{fc7a4990f10711dcbee902004c4f4f50,

title = "Latitudinal variation of diversity in European freshwater animals is not concordant across habitat types",

abstract = "AimWe analysed the variation of species richness in the European freshwater faunaacross latitude. In particular, we compared latitudinal patterns in species richnessand{\ss}-diversity among species adapted to different habitat types.LocationEurope.MethodsWe compiled data on occurrence for 14,020 animal species across 25pre-defined biogeographical regions of European freshwaters from theLimnofaunaEuropaea. Furthermore, we extracted information on the habitat preferences ofspecies. We assigned species to three habitat types: species adapted to groundwater,lotic (running water) and lentic (standing water) habitats. We analysed latitudinalpatterns of species richness, the proportion of lentic species and{\ss}-diversity.ResultsOnly lentic species showed a significant species-area relationship. Wefound a monotonic decline of species richness with latitude for groundwater andlotic habitats, but a hump-shaped relationship for lentic habitats. The proportion oflentic species increased from southern to northern latitudes.{\ss}-Diversity declinedfrom groundwater to lentic habitats and from southern to northern latitudes.Main conclusionsThe differences in the latitudinal variation of species richnessamong species adapted to different habitat types are in part due to differences in thepropensity for dispersal. Since lentic habitats are less persistent than lotic or groundwaterhabitats, lentic species evolved more efficient strategies for dispersal. Thedispersal propensity of lentic species facilitated the recolonization of central Europeafter the last glaciation. Overall, we stress the importance of considering the historyof regions and lineages as well as the ecological traits of species for understandingpatterns of biodiversity.",

keywords = "Faculty of Science, {\ss} -Diversity, dispersal, Europe, Fresh Water, glaciations, history, latitude, SPECIES RICHNESS",

author = "Christian Hof and Martin Br{\"a}ndle and Roland Brandl",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00394.x",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

pages = "539--546",

journal = "Global Ecology and Biogeography",

issn = "1466-822X",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Latitudinal variation of diversity in European freshwater animals is not concordant across habitat types

AU - Hof, Christian

AU - Brändle, Martin

AU - Brandl, Roland

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - AimWe analysed the variation of species richness in the European freshwater faunaacross latitude. In particular, we compared latitudinal patterns in species richnessandß-diversity among species adapted to different habitat types.LocationEurope.MethodsWe compiled data on occurrence for 14,020 animal species across 25pre-defined biogeographical regions of European freshwaters from theLimnofaunaEuropaea. Furthermore, we extracted information on the habitat preferences ofspecies. We assigned species to three habitat types: species adapted to groundwater,lotic (running water) and lentic (standing water) habitats. We analysed latitudinalpatterns of species richness, the proportion of lentic species andß-diversity.ResultsOnly lentic species showed a significant species-area relationship. Wefound a monotonic decline of species richness with latitude for groundwater andlotic habitats, but a hump-shaped relationship for lentic habitats. The proportion oflentic species increased from southern to northern latitudes.ß-Diversity declinedfrom groundwater to lentic habitats and from southern to northern latitudes.Main conclusionsThe differences in the latitudinal variation of species richnessamong species adapted to different habitat types are in part due to differences in thepropensity for dispersal. Since lentic habitats are less persistent than lotic or groundwaterhabitats, lentic species evolved more efficient strategies for dispersal. Thedispersal propensity of lentic species facilitated the recolonization of central Europeafter the last glaciation. Overall, we stress the importance of considering the historyof regions and lineages as well as the ecological traits of species for understandingpatterns of biodiversity.

AB - AimWe analysed the variation of species richness in the European freshwater faunaacross latitude. In particular, we compared latitudinal patterns in species richnessandß-diversity among species adapted to different habitat types.LocationEurope.MethodsWe compiled data on occurrence for 14,020 animal species across 25pre-defined biogeographical regions of European freshwaters from theLimnofaunaEuropaea. Furthermore, we extracted information on the habitat preferences ofspecies. We assigned species to three habitat types: species adapted to groundwater,lotic (running water) and lentic (standing water) habitats. We analysed latitudinalpatterns of species richness, the proportion of lentic species andß-diversity.ResultsOnly lentic species showed a significant species-area relationship. Wefound a monotonic decline of species richness with latitude for groundwater andlotic habitats, but a hump-shaped relationship for lentic habitats. The proportion oflentic species increased from southern to northern latitudes.ß-Diversity declinedfrom groundwater to lentic habitats and from southern to northern latitudes.Main conclusionsThe differences in the latitudinal variation of species richnessamong species adapted to different habitat types are in part due to differences in thepropensity for dispersal. Since lentic habitats are less persistent than lotic or groundwaterhabitats, lentic species evolved more efficient strategies for dispersal. Thedispersal propensity of lentic species facilitated the recolonization of central Europeafter the last glaciation. Overall, we stress the importance of considering the historyof regions and lineages as well as the ecological traits of species for understandingpatterns of biodiversity.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - ß -Diversity

KW - dispersal

KW - Europe

KW - Fresh Water

KW - glaciations

KW - history

KW - latitude

KW - SPECIES RICHNESS

U2 - 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00394.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00394.x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1466-822X

VL - 17

SP - 539

EP - 546

JO - Global Ecology and Biogeography

JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography

IS - 4

ER -

Latitudinal variation of diversity in European freshwater animals is not concordant across habitat types

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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