Vertical distribution of beta diversity of macroinvertebrates in an oligotrophic high mountain neotropical lake

Abstract

The alpha (a) and beta (β) components of gamma (g) diversity, and the partitioning of β into nesting and turnover, contribute to understanding the factors that determine biological diversity. The objective of this study was to understand the factors affecting spatial changes in macroinvertebrate diversity in tropical high mountain Andean lakes, from the study of diversity components and beta diversity partitioning. For this, sampling was conducted in November 2018, in a lake located at 3740 m.a.s.l. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected in 20 sites distributed in littoral, sublittoral and deep zones. In situ, depth, temperature, pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen were measured; vertical profiles of oxygen and temperature were made. Richness components were evaluated using the g=a+b model. Regression analysis between a and g, dissimilarity analysis from the partitioning of beta diversity into turnover and nesting, Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) and Percent Similarity (Simper) were performed. The results showed that a diversity by sites and lake zones is low relative to g diversity, and β diversity is high. This indicates that high mountain tropical Andean lakes, despite their small size, are important for high macroinvertebrate diversity. Taxonomic richness depends on environmental variations in gradients vertically and horizontally. However, these lakes are vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic stressors such as global warming.