TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of differing protected area status and environmental factors on the macroinvertebrate fauna of temperate austral wetlands
AU - FURLONGE, Toni
AU - DYER, Fiona
AU - DAVIS, Jenny
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by Natural Resource Management (NRM) North in Launceston , Tasmania, Australia with assistance from the Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra. Macroinvertebrate sampling was undertaken by the lead author (Toni Furlonge) and Debbie Searle with assistance from Craig Searle, Matt Taylor, Janet Smith, Jason Neasey, Alan Charlton, John Gooderham, Di Thomas and Greg Stewart. The diverse range of wetlands sampled would not have been possible without assistance from Jason Neasey (Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, Liaweenee), Janet Smith (Resource Management and Conservation, DPIPWE) and Matt Taylor (Tasmanian Land Conservancy). Macroinvertebrate identification was undertaken by Toni Furlonge with quality checking by John Gooderham (The WaterBug Company), clarification of Trichoptera species by Ros St Claire (EPA, Victoria) and clarification of Leptophlebiidae species by John Dean. Interpretation of ANINHADO results was provided by Paulo R Guimaraes Jr (Departamento de Ecologia, Brasil). Univariate statistical advice was provided by Jarrod Kath and Julio Romero (University of Canberra). Overall project advice was provided by Trefor Reynoldson, of Novia Scotia, Canada. We thank two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - One means of conserving wetlands is to designate the area around them as 'protected'. Although many different types of protected areas exist, ranging from international (Ramsar-listed) to local importance, there is little information on how the type of protection influences biodiversity conservation. Studies of the effectiveness of protected area systems are a priority, if we are to understand their importance and design systems effectively. Many Tasmanian wetlands are regarded as having high to very high conservation values with more than 60% located within protected areas. This study tested macroinvertebrate richness and assemblage responses to a range of environmental attributes and differing types of protected area status at 66 protected Tasmanian (Australian) wetlands. Two hundred and eighteen taxa were identified with an average of 33 species (or morphospecies) and 18 families recorded per wetland. The wetland assemblages were idiosyncratic, four families contributed 21% of the total recorded and only two families contributed greater than 10%. Wetlands were not significantly nested on the basis of the composition of their macroinvertebrate assemblages. No single environmental attribute had a strong relationship with macroinvertebrate richness or assemblage composition and neither species richness nor assemblage composition varied significantly between different types of protected areas. Although the majority of protected area types were designed to support terrestrial conservation objectives rather than wetland values, our results suggest that the latter were also afforded protection. The state of the proximal zone (the terrestrial zone within 50m of the wetland edge) and the type of aquatic habitat present (macrophyte or sediment-dominated substrates) were the most important determinants of macroinvertebrate richness and assemblage composition across all types of protected wetlands. These results suggest that for temperate austral wetlands located within protected areas, the macroinvertebrate fauna will be best conserved by minimal disturbance of proximal lands.
AB - One means of conserving wetlands is to designate the area around them as 'protected'. Although many different types of protected areas exist, ranging from international (Ramsar-listed) to local importance, there is little information on how the type of protection influences biodiversity conservation. Studies of the effectiveness of protected area systems are a priority, if we are to understand their importance and design systems effectively. Many Tasmanian wetlands are regarded as having high to very high conservation values with more than 60% located within protected areas. This study tested macroinvertebrate richness and assemblage responses to a range of environmental attributes and differing types of protected area status at 66 protected Tasmanian (Australian) wetlands. Two hundred and eighteen taxa were identified with an average of 33 species (or morphospecies) and 18 families recorded per wetland. The wetland assemblages were idiosyncratic, four families contributed 21% of the total recorded and only two families contributed greater than 10%. Wetlands were not significantly nested on the basis of the composition of their macroinvertebrate assemblages. No single environmental attribute had a strong relationship with macroinvertebrate richness or assemblage composition and neither species richness nor assemblage composition varied significantly between different types of protected areas. Although the majority of protected area types were designed to support terrestrial conservation objectives rather than wetland values, our results suggest that the latter were also afforded protection. The state of the proximal zone (the terrestrial zone within 50m of the wetland edge) and the type of aquatic habitat present (macrophyte or sediment-dominated substrates) were the most important determinants of macroinvertebrate richness and assemblage composition across all types of protected wetlands. These results suggest that for temperate austral wetlands located within protected areas, the macroinvertebrate fauna will be best conserved by minimal disturbance of proximal lands.
KW - Ramsar wetlands
KW - Wetland conservation
KW - World heritage area
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938098964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/influence-differing-protected-area-status-environmental-factors-macroinvertebrate-fauna-temperate-au
U2 - 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.07.007
DO - 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.07.007
M3 - Article
SN - 2351-9894
VL - 4
SP - 277
EP - 290
JO - Global Ecology and Conservation
JF - Global Ecology and Conservation
ER -