Species diversity and driving factors of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River

doi:10.17520/biods.2021431

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: The Yarlung Zangbo River basin supports rich and unique biological resources, which makes it a global biodiversity hotspot. However, surveys on benthic macroinvertebrates in this river basin are far from sufficient. To fill this gap, this study focused on the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, where macroinvertebrates were sampled from the main stream and tributaries in autumn (October 2015) and spring (March 2016).
Methods: One-way ANOVA was used to examine the differences of abundance, biomass and ecological indices between the main stream and tributaries. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) was adopted to test if community structures varied among different site groups. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was Applied to identify the key environmental factors that significantly influence the community structure of macroinvertebrates during each season.
Results: A total of 270 species were identified, belonging to 5 phyla 8 classes 20 orders and 92 families. The community included 246 aquatic insects, 14 oligochaetes, 4 mollusks and 6 others. The average density was 939.1 ind./m², and the average biomass was 5.44 g/m². 184 and 214 macroinvertebrate species were collected in spring and autumn, respectively. The dominant species were aquatic insects that preferred clean and cold water, including Baetis sp., Baetiella sp., Simulium sp., Micropsetra sp. and Brachycentrus sp. The community structure, density and diversity indices exhibited significant temporal and spatial variation, and the diversity in tributaries was significantly higher than that of the main stream. CCA analysis indicated that environmental factors including altitude, velocity, river width and substrate types were key factors structuring the benthic community in the Yarlung Zangbo River.
Conclusion: The variation in community structure and diversity pattern were mainly derived from the variable climate types and geological barriers in the Grand Canyon area. This study can provide important basis and reference for macroinvertebrate diversity assessments and environmental monitoring in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin.

Key words: Yarlung Zangbo River, benthic macroinvertebrates, species composition, species diversity, canonical correspondence analysis

Zhengfei Li, Xiaoming Jiang, Jun Wang, Xingliang Meng, Junqian Zhang, Zhicai Xie. Species diversity and driving factors of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2022, 30(6): 21431.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2021431

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2022/V30/I6/21431

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Geographical locations of the sampling sites in the Yarlung Zangbo River, China

Fig. 2 Species composition of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Yarlung Zangbo River

Fig. 3 Canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) ordination diagrams of benthic macroinvertebrates in different reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. (a) Spring; (b) Autumn.

Table 1 Comparison of density and biomass of macroinvertebrates in different reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River

	时期 Periods	干流 Main stream	大峡谷上游支流 Upstream branches	大峡谷下游支流 Downstream branches	F	P
密度 Density (ind./m²)	春季 Spring	477.5 ± 465.6^a	1,402.2 ± 1,080.6^b	1,075.7 ± 1,319.4^b	6.741	0.005
密度 Density (ind./m²)	秋季 Autumn	327.1 ± 301.7^a	1,219.2 ± 1,008.3^b	1,321.9 ± 864.6^b	5.945	0.007
生物量 Biomass (g/m²)	春季 Spring	2.12 ± 3.69^a	7.05 ± 4.36^ab	8.24 ± 7.28^b	4.114	0.028
生物量 Biomass (g/m²)	秋季 Autumn	2.89 ± 4.68	5.71 ± 7.50	3.37 ± 2.31	0.872	0.428

Fig. 4 Comparation of diversity index of benthic macroinvertebrates in different reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in spring. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).

Fig. 5 Comparation of diversity index of macroinvertebrates in different regions of the Yarlung Zangbo River in autumn. Different letters indicate significant differences (P < 0.05).

Fig. 6 Canonical correspondence analysis ordination diagram of benthic macroinvertebrate communities with significant environmental variables in spring (a) and autumn (b)

Table 2 The key environmental factors affecting macroinvertebrate communities in the Yarlung Zangbo River based on canonical correspondence analysis

	获取的关键因子 Key factors selected			与排序轴的相关系数 Correlation coefficients with the axes
	获取的关键因子 Key factors selected	F	P	Axis 1	Axis 2	Axis 3	Axis 4
春季 Spring	海拔 Altitude	1.60	0.001	0.762	-0.183	-0.408	-0.182
	河宽 Depth	1.93	0.001	0.643	0.019	0.121	0.164
	pH	1.23	0.064	0.485	-0.405	0.292	0.097
	流速 Velocity	1.25	0.080	-0.325	0.175	0.454	-0.606
秋季 Autumn	海拔 Altitude	1.78	0.001	0.070	0.266	0.612	-0.521
	沙% Sand%	1.89	0.004	0.682	0.243	-0.339	-0.015
	pH	1.61	0.004	-0.165	-0.205	-0.226	-0.478
	溶解氧 Dissolved oxygen	1.67	0.004	-0.406	0.453	-0.168	0.226
	水深 Depth	1.46	0.052	0.289	0.123	0.551	0.244
	河宽 Width	1.48	0.021	0.203	-0.268	0.194	-0.047

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