Unravelling the drivers of aquatic communities using disparate organismal groups and different taxonomic levels

摘要: Bioassessment and monitoring methods should be as cost-efficient possible. Limiting the number of sites is not a practical solution to face financial challenges related bioassessment. Hence, it highly important find inexpensive ways assess monitor human-impacted environments. Suggestions have been made use coarser taxonomic levels because they require less expertise time, or single surrogate groups that indicate overall state ecosystems. In this study, we examined level within-taxon cross-taxon congruence aquatic bacterial, diatom macroinvertebrate communities, while simultaneously assessing chemical, physical spatial drivers community structure in these organismal groups. Our study area was an extensively sampled large lake system with high connectivity between sites. Thus, ensured processes, if existed, were well portrayed our data. aim out sufficient for purposes bioassessment detect possible We found bacterial communities best associated pure effects water chemistry, whereas varyingly variables. Macroinvertebrates only group small-scale variables, bacteria diatoms variables illustrating relations among at intermediate scales. Overall, three mainly different chemical parameters. Also, showed weak, any, congruent patterns their structure. do recommend one biological However, higher all studied could used surrogates finer-level assignments. findings are promising future monitoring. Owing characteristics very systems, may applied similarly connected ecosystems, such marine coastal systems.