An exploration of factors influencing lotic insect species richness

摘要: An understanding of factors that influence species richness lotic insects is generally lacking. We present comparative data on aquatic insect from several North American and other streams. Factors such as large sample numbers drainage area (species relationships) are not significant predictors across the streams we examined. explore hypotheses regarding origins maintenance using Upper Three Runs Creek (UTR), South Carolina, USA, a reference stream. UTR has highest any stream in Western Hemisphere. Hypotheses examined included historical, regional local processes as: (1) Evolutionary time, (2) disturbance regime/environmental variability, (3) temperature/evolutionary-speed, (4) productivity, (5) habitat heterogeneity. Of these hypotheses, suggest productivity heterogeneity appear to contribute most high found UTR. believe multidisciplinary analysis necessary because without this crucial information our knowledge of, desire protect biodiversity will be wanting.