Extreme flood disturbance effects on multiple dimensions of river invertebrate community stability

Lawrence J.B. Eagle*, Alexander M. Milner, Megan J. Klaar, Jonathan L. Carrivick, Martin Wilkes, Lee E. Brown

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
37 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

1. Multidimensional analysis of community stability has recently emerged as an overarching approach to evaluating ecosystem response to disturbance. However, the approach has previously been applied only in experimental and modelling studies.
2. We applied this concept to an 18-year time series (2000–2017) of macroinvertebrate community dynamics from a southeast Alaskan river to further develop and test the approach in relation to the effects of two extreme flood events occurring in 2005 (event 1) and 2014 (event 2).
3. Five components of stability were calculated for pairs of pre- or post-event years. Individual components were tested for differences between pre- and post-event time periods. Stability components’ pairwise correlations were assessed and ellipsoids of stability were developed for each time period and compared to a null model derived from the permuted dataset.
4. Only one stability component demonstrated a significant difference between time periods. In contrast, 80% of moderate and significant correlations between stability components were degraded post-disturbance and significant changes to the form of stability ellipsoids were observed. Ellipsoids of stability for all periods after the initial disturbance (2005) were not different to the null model.
5. Our results illustrate that the dimensionality of stability approach can be applied to natural ecosystem time-series data. The major increase in dimensionality of stability observed following disturbance potentially indicates significant shifts in the processes which drive stability following disturbance. This evidence improves our understanding of community response beyond what is possible through analysis of individual stability components.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2135-2146
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Animal Ecology
Volume90
Issue number9
Early online date7 Aug 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank Leonie Clitherow, Mike McDermott, Jess Picken, Anne Robertson, Svein Sonderland and Amanda Veal, who have contributed to macroinvertebrate community research at WPC over the study period. We thank the Glacier Bay NPS for their logistical and field assistance, in particular Captains Justin Smith and Todd Bruno of the RV Capelin. Research has been supported by funding from various bodies including NERC (GR9/2913, NE/E003729/1, NE/E004539/1, and NE/E004148/1 NE/M0174781/1), the Royal Society, and the Universities of Birmingham and Leeds. L.J.B.E. was funded by a University of Leeds Anniversary Research Scholarship.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society

Keywords

  • colonisation
  • deterministic community assembly
  • dimensionality of stability
  • ecological stability
  • extinction
  • stochastic community assembly
  • temporal variability
  • time series

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Animal Science and Zoology

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