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Identifier

000421553

Title

Η διαμόρφωση των συναθροίσεων Carabidae σε υγροτοπικά οικοσυστήματα της Κρήτης με έμφαση στους τεχνητούς υγρότοπους

Alternative Title

The formation of Carabidae assemblages in wetland ecosystems of Crete with a focus on artificial wetlands

Author

Αμύντας, Άγγελος Π.

Thesis advisor

Μυλωνάς, Μωυσής

Reviewer

Πουλακάκης, Νικόλαος
Λύκα, Κωνσταντία
Τριχάς, Νικόλαος

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the examination of Carabidae assemblages’ seasonal and annual variation in relation to their dependence on humidity as well as their assembly process and the influence of various environmental factors in their spatial dissimilarity. 7 artificial wetlands (ages 6-31 years) and lake Kourna were sampled from autumn to spring and three of the artificial wetlands were also sampled the preceding spring. Species were divided to wetland specific, hygrophilous and “other” groups and for every group the changes in seasonal activity and temporal β-diversity between springs were examined in relation to changes in precipitation and humidity. The influence of the age of artificial wetlands in species richness and composition was assessed as well as the existence of nestedness. Null models were used to infer deterministic or stochastic process of assembly and the importance of distance, altitude, climate and environmental dissimilarity in observed β-diversity. Functional β-diversity was compared to taxonomic β-diversity. The dependence of Carabidae species on humidity influences their seasonal activity. Reduced precipitation lead to loss of wetland specific and hygrophilous species but was accompanied by replacement. Assemblages of the three groups were not significantly nested and their richness and composition were unrelated to age. Wetland specific assemblages showed signs of deterministic assembly and their species replacement was related to distance while the assemblage dissimilarity of “other” species is influenced mainly by climate. Taxonomic β-diversity was high with replacement being more important than richness differences while functional dissimilarity was generally low but with the highest observed between wetland specific assemblages. Carabidae assemblages in wetlands respond quickly to weather variation with wetland specific and hygrophilous species being more sensitive to disturbance. Frequent disturbance prevents the formation of structured assemblages; instead they are opportunistically reassembled and their resilience is dependent on dispersal and therefore the availability of alternative sites is crucial.

Language

English

Subject

Biodiversity

Βιοποικιλότητα

Υγρότοποι

Υδρότοποι

Issue date

2019-03-29

Collection

School/Department--School of Sciences and Engineering--Department of Biology--Post-graduate theses

Type of Work--Post-graduate theses