A1 Journal article (refereed)
Does catchment geodiversity foster stream biodiversity? (2019)
Kärnä, O.-M., Heino, J., Laamanen, T., Jyrkänkallio-Mikkola, J., Pajunen, V., Soininen, J., Tolonen, K. T., Tukiainen, H., & Hjort, J. (2019). Does catchment geodiversity foster stream biodiversity?. Landscape Ecology, 34(10), 2469-2485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00901-z
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Kärnä, Olli-Matti; Heino, Jani; Laamanen, Tiina; Jyrkänkallio-Mikkola, Jenny; Pajunen, Virpi; Soininen, Janne; Tolonen, Kimmo T.; Tukiainen, Helena; Hjort, Jan
Journal or series: Landscape Ecology
ISSN: 0921-2973
eISSN: 1572-9761
Publication year: 2019
Volume: 34
Issue number: 10
Pages range: 2469-2485
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication country: Netherlands
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00901-z
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65850
Abstract
One approach to maintain the resilience of biotic communities is to protect the variability of abiotic characteristics of Earth’s surface, i.e. geodiversity. In terrestrial environments, the relationship between geodiversity and biodiversity is well recognized. In streams, the abiotic properties of upstream catchments influence stream communities, but the relationships between catchment geodiversity and aquatic biodiversity have not been previously tested.
Objectives
The aim was to compare the effects of local environmental and catchment variables on stream biodiversity. We specifically explored the usefulness of catchment geodiversity in explaining the species richness on stream macroinvertebrate, diatom and bacterial communities.
Methods
We used 3 geodiversity variables, 2 land use variables and 4 local habitat variables to examine species richness variation across 88 stream sites in western Finland. We used boosted regression trees to explore the effects of geodiversity and other variables on biodiversity.
Results
We detected a clear effect of catchment geodiversity on species richness, although the traditional local habitat and land use variables were the strongest predictors. Especially soil-type richness appeared as an important factor for species richness. While variables related to stream size were the most important for macroinvertebrate richness and partly for bacterial richness, the importance of water chemistry and land use for diatom richness was notable.
Conclusions
In addition to traditional environmental variables, geodiversity may affect species richness variation in streams, for example through changes in water chemistry. Geodiversity information could be used as a proxy for predicting stream species richness and offers a supplementary tool for conservation efforts.
Keywords: flowing waters; catchment areas; natural diversity; geodiversity; biodiversity; invertebrates; diatoms; bacteria
Free keywords: freshwaters; environmental heterogeneity; catchment features; macroinvertebrates; diatoms; bacteria; species richness
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2019
JUFO rating: 2
