Nested patterns in hyporheic meta-communities: the role of body morphology and penetrability of sediment

摘要: Nestedness has been regarded as a common pattern of species distribution especially in terrestrial systems and vertebrate faunas. However, significantly lower degree nestedness reported for aquatic invertebrates. We analyzed the vertical patterns taxa upper 70 cm hyporheic zone. This biotope is abundantly inhabited by epigean fauna, which morphologically pre-adapted to life within limited space sediment interstices. tested hypotheses that profile zone acts physical barrier (filter), allowing only adapted (i.e., smaller, narrower, more flexible) penetrate deeper layers. demonstrated this mechanism can promote strongly nested colonization-driven at higher levels. The filter (1) constricted body width: 0.50 mm appeared be limit successful colonization study site, (2) favored elongated against small sized taxa. also assumption fine affects accessibility fauna (“filter density”) thereby influences nestedness. we found could sufficiently explained depth itself. Our offers possible explanation hyporeic meta-communities result morphological characteristics promoting level.