Daniel J. Hornbach, Bernard E. Sietman, R. William Bouchard
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Host-Habitat Continuum Concept (HHCC) predicts changes in the proportions of freshwater mussels with different life-history strategies (i.e., equilibrium, periodic, opportunistic) along stream gradients and between habitat types. We analyzed mussel assemblages from a large, diverse geographic area to test predictions of the HHCC and to assess if species richness, abundance, and host strategy patterns change predictably among different habitats (lakes, reservoirs, and streams) and stream sizes. Species richness and abundance were low in lakes, reservoirs, and small streams and increased with stream size. Mussels use various strategies to attract fish hosts and the proportion of mussels that release conglutinates (i.e., packets of glochida) increased with stream size and the proportion that use lures decreased. Our results supported predictions of the HHCC: greater proportions of opportunistic or periodic strategists in lakes, reservoirs, and small streams and a shift to equilibrium strategists in larger streams. Patterns differed slightly in lakes and reservoirs with a higher proportion of periodic strategists than expected. Not all watersheds followed predictions of the HHCC likely due to the effects of biogeography and anthropogenic impacts. These life history strategy patterns can be used to test the expected composition of mussel communities and to detect possible anthropogenic impacts.
期刊介绍:
Hydrobiologia publishes original research, reviews and opinions regarding the biology of all aquatic environments, including the impact of human activities. We welcome molecular-, organism-, community- and ecosystem-level studies in contributions dealing with limnology and oceanography, including systematics and aquatic ecology. Hypothesis-driven experimental research is preferred, but also theoretical papers or articles with large descriptive content will be considered, provided they are made relevant to a broad hydrobiological audience. Applied aspects will be considered if firmly embedded in an ecological context.