Microbial and macroinvertebrate communities, but not leaf decomposition, change along a mining‐induced salinity gradient

• DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13253
• Publication Date: 2019-01-21T05:29:44Z
• Authors: Ross Vander Vorste; Anthony J. Timpano; Catie Cappellin; Brian D. Badgley; Carl E. Zipper; Stephen H. Schoen...
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 13. Climate action; 14. Life underwater; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water

Abstract Natural levels of salinity in aquatic ecosystems drive biodiversity patterns across broad spatial scales; however, less is known about changes biotic communities and the ecosystem functions they support along anthropogenic salinisation gradients. Resource extraction often causes freshwater which may extirpate salinity‐sensitive macroinvertebrates microbes thus reduce rates organic matter decomposition. We quantified bacterial (16S), fungal ( ITS ) macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness, composition, β‐diversity resulting gradient specific conductance (annual mean: 25–1,383 μS/cm) 24 headwater streams eastern U.S.A. variously influenced by surface coal mining but selected to minimise habitat water‐quality differences other than salinity. Furthermore, we measured decomposition submersed leaf packs Quercus alba these same sites. Bacterial reach‐wide richness was reduced mining‐induced whereas or leaf‐pack remained similar. Community composition changed gradient, with mining‐influenced sites becoming increasingly dissimilar reference as increased. Beta‐diversity driven replacement rather nestedness for microbial communities. Organic were not even at mean 10× higher attribute maintenance tolerance both fungi shredders found packs. Our study informs theory linking alteration providing evidence that stressor‐tolerance functional groups a can maintain certain functions, least within studied range. therefore advise against generalising biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships salinised systems, caution be altered above those observed our affected loss taxa.