| Popis: |
Most adult EPTs (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) disperse by flying upstream from their emergency site, following the water stream. Although it is generally assumed that riparian vegetation can facilitate the dispersion of many species, this relationship has not been properly characterized yet. The effects of riparian vegetation on landscape connectivity for EPTs can be assessed by analyzing differences in the EPT community structure: highly connected sites will host communities with a large proportion of weak dispersers and vice versa. Using the community structure to assess the relationship between riparian vegetation and landscape connectivity, allows for large scale analyses. In this research project, we first selected the most reliable method to assess the dispersion capacity of EPT communities. To do so, we compared the consistency and precision of several functional indices using experimental data. Then, we determined which environmental parameters, including the riparian forest, can predict the dispersion capacity of the EPT community. We confirmed a direct positive effect of riparian vegetation on EPT dispersion under certain conditions, and we also determined the most suitable spatial scale to apply our methodology. In the next step, we extended the analysis to different European biogeographical regions applying the conclusions from the previous study, aiming to find differences among distant geographical areas. Finally, we will try to predict changes in EPT phenology, as emergency periods, triggered by the increase or river water temperatures across the European continent, and how those changes could be ameliorated by riparian forest. |
