Research
| Title： | Enhancing pond connectivity: impacts on common and rare species of macrophyte in an agricultural multi-pond system |
|---|---|
| First author： | Sun, Junyao; Chen, Yuanyuan; Lv, Xin; Li, Wei; Zhang, Huan |
| Journal： | HYDROBIOLOGIA |
| Years： | 2025 |
| DOI： | 10.1007/s10750-025-05922-1 |
| Abstract： | Previous studies have demonstrated differences between common and rare species in dispersal ability and reproductive strategies, leading to distinct responses to environmental and spatial processes. In this study, we collected data from 111 ponds within a multi-pond system, including environmental variables, land use, connectivity variables, and macrophyte species abundance. We aimed to investigate the influence of hydrological connectivity (watercourse dispersal) and geographical connectivity (overland dispersal) on the macrophyte species turnover in ponds, with a specific focus on common and rare species. Our findings emphasized the common macrophytes served as better indicators of species richness than rare species, suggesting that common species played a more significant role in shaping diversity patterns. Results showed that water flow, weighted by watercourse distance, accounted for 5.12% of the variance in species distribution, whereas geographical distance explained only 2.19%, indicating watercourse connectivity is more influential in structuring macrophyte communities than dispersal by wind or animals. For common species, water flow and environmental conditions were crucial for distribution, whereas rare species were influenced by a range of spatial variables. This study enhanced our understanding of ecological dynamics and conservation needs in freshwater habitats, emphasizing the importance of connectivity in supporting diverse aquatic species communities and ecological recovery. |
