Relative effects of elevational and habitat constraints on alpine spring biodiversity

Abstract

Global climatic changes and local disturbances may alter composition and distribution of spring invertebrates in mountains. In this study, we compared the effects of elevation, landscape and local characteristics on spring biodiversity. At 16 springs (from 570 to 1650 m a.s.l.) in The Chartreuse Range (French Alps) benthic, vegetation, and interstitial habitats were sampled in summer for aquatic invertebrate assemblage structure (abundances, richness, reproduction and dispersal traits, functional feeding groups). Assemblages were related to geographic location (elevation), landscape characteristics and local variables. Elevation was the major driver of the fauna: taxonomic richness and the percentage of scrapers decreased with elevation, while the proportion of predators and species with an asexual reproduction increased with elevation. The landscape characteristics around the spring had a weak influence on the benthic taxonomic richness which increased with the percentage of forest and decreased with the proportion of grassland. Finally, the habitat characteristics had no effect on taxonomic richness, but partially control the abundances of benthic assemblages and sediment-feeder organisms that both decreased with increasing sediment grain size. Current and future changes in the temperature patterns would affect alpine spring fauna, but disturbance of the local characteristics of springs must not be neglected.