Macroinvertebrate communities in sediment and plants in coastalMediterranean water bodies (Central Iberian Peninsula).

Abstract

Sediment and plant-associated macroinvertebrates were sampled in six shallow water bodies along the central part of the coastof Mediterranean Spain. The size of ponds, salinity and hydroperiod were highly variable. Seventy-one taxa were recorded, someof them were endemic or uncommon species, evidencing the important contribution of these ponds to biodiversity. Crustaceansand gastropods of biogeographical interest were found in the most primeval site. Correspondence analysis showed that macroinvertebrateassemblages responded to environmental variables such as salinity, temporality and eutrophication. The brackishwater fauna was dominated by crustaceans, while oligochaeta and insect larvae were abundant in freshwater conditions.Oligochaetes were abundant at localities with high trophic level, whereas localities with semi-permanent waters were dominatedby chironomids. The density of macroinvertebrates was clearly related with trophic state but we did not find significant relationshipsbetween density and salinity or water permanence. For plant associated samples our results showed negative relationshipsbetween species richness and temporality or salinity, contrary to sediment samples, where the Oligochaeta/Chironomidaeratio in sediments and the percentage of sensitive taxa (Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera) were useful indices, and weredependent on pond typology. This study emphasizes the broad ecological variety of ponds found in these wetlands and theirimportance for biodiversity. Some ponds act as permanent biodiversity reservoirs in fluctuant marshes with seasonal dryness,calling for more attention on their ecological relevance for management strategies.