Climatically promoted taxonomic homogenization of macroinvertebrates in unaffected streams varies along the river continuum.

ABSTRACT: Biotic homogenization appears to be a global consequence of anthropogenic change. However, the underlying environmental factors contributing to homogenization are difficult to identify because their effects usually interact and confound each other. This can be the reason why there is very little evidence on the role of climate warming in homogenization. By analysing macroinvertebrate assemblages in 65 streams that were as close to natural conditions as possible, we avoided the confounding effects of common anthropogenic stressors. This approach resulted in revealing a significant effect of increased temperature (both summer and winter) on changes in macroinvertebrate compositional over the past two decades. However, homogenization was significant only at opposite ends of the river continuu

SUBMITTER: Zhai M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10113374 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature