Riverine Invertebrates Exhibit Spatial Asymmetry in Temporal Ecological Processes Across Landscapes

Abstract

The environment and its variability exhibit spatial heterogeneity in influencing ecological processes and community dynamics across landscapes. However, the mechanisms remain unexplored. This study investigates relative significance of temporal ecological processes that shape invertebrate community dynamics across 15 rivers in the European Iberian Peninsula over 21 years. Spatial asymmetry in community dynamics was driven by a combination of temporal deterministic and stochastic processes (i.e., environmental filtering and temporal distance within the same locations, respectively). It is noteworthy that the relative importance of deterministic versus stochastic processes diminishes with increasing elevation. The analysis of community dynamics in diverse landscapes offers a foundation for anticipating and mitigating the consequences of prospective environmental transformation on biodiversity, thereby directing efficacious conservation strategies.