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Moisture and soil parameters drive plant community assembly in Mediterranean temporary pools

  • VULNERABILITY OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
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Abstract

For the Mediterranean plant diversity hotspot, temporary pools combine a highly variable, rainfall-dependent habitat with high and endangered plant diversity within small surfaces. They show alternating phases of drought and flooding, corresponding to the characteristic summer drought and winter rain of Mediterranean climate. This alternation is coupled with a moisture gradient that behaves as a selective filter on vascular plants. The main aim of our study was to show how plant functional traits respond to this moisture gradient, to build a greater understanding of the underlying functional mechanisms, and to formulate assembly rules. Our data showed that the frequency of plants with smaller seeds, later onset of flowering and hydrophytes increased with increasing water levels. These relations were uncovered by controlling for site effects using a mixed model approach. We discuss how our data can provide a basis to understand the limiting factors for plants with high conservation value, and what management strategies can be adopted in the context of environmental change.

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Acknowledgments

This study was realized with the financial support of IKEA grant to IMBE 13/8/2009 and the APO Gévoclé grant by Région Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur. This work could not have been completed without the help of Port Marseille-Fos, Ludovic Cadenel and Laurence Gaud (SOMECA). We would also like to thank people providing access to sites, notably Dominique Guicheteau (Réserve Naturelle Nationale de la Plaine des Maures), Mr Barcelo, Mr Bonifay and Mrs and Mss Estienne d’Orves. We thank Patrick Grillas, Christine Valley-Coulomb, Cécile Albert, Raphaël Gros and Laurence Affre for helpful discussions; Saïd Fritas, Lenka Brousset and Daniel Pavon for help with field work, as well as Michael Paul for proof reading the English of a previous version.

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  1. Aix Marseille Université, IMBE UMR 7263, CNRS, IRD, Université d’Avignon, 13397, Marseille, France

    P. Rocarpin, S. Gachet, K. Metzner & A. Saatkamp

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  1. P. Rocarpin
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Correspondence to S. Gachet.

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Guest editors: Celine Bertrand, Evelyne Franquet, Ivan Dekeyser & Christophe Piscart / Vulnerability and Resilience of Freshwater & Marine Ecosystems

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Rocarpin, P., Gachet, S., Metzner, K. et al. Moisture and soil parameters drive plant community assembly in Mediterranean temporary pools. Hydrobiologia 781, 55–66 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2604-7

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