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Factors influencing species diversity in saline waters of Death Valley, USA

  • Conference paper
Saline Lakes

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 44))

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Abstract

Salinity is a major factor influencing the distributions and abundances of aquatic macroinvertebrates of saline waters in Death Valley, California, USA. A general pattern of declining numbers of species with increasing salinity is seen in Death Valley waters. Some species are restricted to low salinities, others are found only in highly saline pools, and still others are widely distributed over a broad range of salinities.

Salinity alone cannot explain distributions seen in the field. Distributions and abundances of species such as the caddisfly Limnephilus assimilis Banks are broader than would be predicted on the basis of laboratory studies of salinity and temperature. I present evidence that for such species, biotic factors such as reduced predation at high salinities may compensate for increased physiological stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 01773, USA

    Elizabeth A. Colburn

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  1. Elizabeth A. Colburn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, USA

    John M. Melack

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© 1988 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht

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Colburn, E.A. (1988). Factors influencing species diversity in saline waters of Death Valley, USA. In: Melack, J.M. (eds) Saline Lakes. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 44. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3095-7_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3095-7_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7891-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3095-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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