Environmental determinants of diving beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in an urban landscape

• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-020-01977-9
• Publication Date: 2020-04-09T10:03:39Z
• Authors: Wenfei Liao; Stephen Venn; Jari Niemelä
• Keywords: Dytiscidae

Abstract Blue infrastructure is an important component of urban green infrastructure, due to its capacity for water cycle regulation and soil formation, as well supporting unique biodiversity. Urban ponds, part blue, can harbour a diverse assemblage aquatic macroinvertebrates. As yet, it not clear how urbanisation affects macroinvertebrate diversity. In this study, we focus on diving beetles (Dytiscidae) in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, investigate their diversity, effects margin steepness presence or absence fish dytiscids. We sampled dytiscids using 1-L activity traps 14 fishless ponds 11 with fish, at ten sites. applied generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analyse dytiscid assemblages. found that had negative effect species richness but abundance. Steepness pond margins predatory affected both abundance: prefer gently sloping margins; they have 80% higher are 79% more abundant medium large-sized capable coexisting fish. wetlands support diversity regional level, without beneficial maintaining recommend range wetland habitats maintenance biodiversity regions.