Multitrophic biodiversity patterns and environmental descriptors of sub‐Arctic lakes in northern Europe

• DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13477
• Publication Date: 2020-01-18T15:25:11Z
• Authors: Danny C. P. Lau; Kirsten S. Christ...; Jaakko Erkinaro; Brian Hayden; Jani Heino; Seppo Hellsten; Kerstin Holmgren; Kimmo K. Kahilainen; Maria Kahlert; Satu Maaria Karja...; Jan Karlsson; Laura Forsström; Jennifer Lento; Marit Mjelde; Jukka Ruuhijärvi; Steinar Sandøy; Ann Kristin Schartau; Martin‐A. Svenning; Tobias Vrede; Willem Goedkoop
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; VDP::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480; Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources; Oceanography; 01 natural sciences; Ruotsi; Norja; freshwater; kalat; arktinen alue; Ecology; plankton; Färsaaret; selkärangattomat; monitoring baseline; ekologia; climate change; Water Resources; Pohjois-Eurooppa; fish populations; kasviplankton; zooplankton; ta1172; macroinvertebrates; eläinplankton; järvet; 333; Suomi; 14. Life underwater; Ekologi; fish; ilmastonmuutokset; 15. Life on land; luonnon monimuotoisuus; Climate Science; biodiversiteetti; macrophytes; Environmental sciences; Ecology, evolutionary biology; 13. Climate action; phytoplankton; VDP::Zoology and botany: 480; ta1181; makea vesi; subarktinen vyöhyke; Hydrology; vesikasvit; Klimatvetenskap

Abstract Arctic and sub‐Arctic lakes in northern Europe are increasingly threatened by climate change, which can affect their biodiversity directly shifting thermal hydrological regimes, indirectly altering landscape processes catchment vegetation. Most previous studies of lake responses to environmental changes have focused on only a single organismal group. Investigations at whole‐lake scales that integrate different habitats trophic levels currently rare, but highly necessary for future monitoring management. We analysed spatial patterns 74 Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faroe Islands with data least three biological focal ecosystem components (FECs)—benthic diatoms, macrophytes, phytoplankton, littoral benthic macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, fish—that covered both pelagic multiple levels. calculated richness relative (i.e. taxon FEC divided total all lakes) metrics richness, inverse Simpson index (diversity), evenness) individual FECs using presence–absence abundance data, respectively. then investigated whether were correlated abiotic geospatial variables. hypothesised (1) would be more diverse warmer wetter (e.g. lower latitudes and/or elevations), hydrobasins greater forest cover could enhance supply terrestrial organic matter nutrients stimulated productivity; (2) coupled among Results from redundancy analyses showed fish decreased, those intermediate macroinvertebrates zooplankton) increased decreasing latitude elevation. Fish diversity increasing temporal variation (temperature precipitation), ambient nutrient concentrations nitrogen) lakes, woody vegetation taiga forest) hydrobasins, whereas zooplankton decreased climate. The similar detected fish, phytoplankton caused descriptors, beneficial effects macrophytes as habitat structure. By creating habitat, may increase production, turn promote higher densities probably assemblages through cascades. Lakes tended average FECs, suggesting potential indicator overall biodiversity. Overall, observed along gradients trophic‐level specific, indicating an integrated food‐web perspective lead holistic understanding management high‐latitude lakes. In future, should also focus collecting habitats. This require concentrated sampling effort fewer smaller scales, while continuing sample distributed gradients.