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Physical and chemical differences in karst springs of Cantabria, northern Spain: do invertebrate communities correspond?

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Abstract

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were studied and environmental variables were measured in six rheocrene springs in Cantabria, northern Spain. Principal component analysis revealed two different spring types according to their physical and chemical characteristics. Springs from group A (GA) had higher temperature and conductivity, while springs in group B (GB) had higher values of pH, altitude, mean water velocity, percentage of boulders and coarse particulate organic matter. Total number of invertebrate taxa and individuals were not different between GA and GB springs. However, Shannon diversity index was significantly higher for GB springs. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis indicated that invertebrate assemblages from GA and GB springs were different. The snails Theodoxus fluviatilis and Bythinella sp., and the amphipod Echinogammarus spp. had higher densities in GA springs, whereas ephemeropterans, plecopterans, trichopterans and chironomids were more important in GB springs. Higher water velocities in GB springs interacting with predation by Echinogammarus tarraconensis may be responsible for the observed patterns on invertebrate community structure and composition. The taxonomic resolution limited our ability to detect crenobiontic taxa. Sampling aquatic, semi-aquatic and semi-terrestrial habitats are needed to account for the biodiversity patterns of spring habitats.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Alberto Fernández López (Area de Aguas Continentales WWF/Adena) for helping in the identification of Echinogammarus spp. specimens, and to Martín Zalama (Zalama Multiservicios S. Coop. Ltda) for helping to find suitable spring sites and providing chemical and physical data. Thanks to Fiona Death (Massey University) for assistance in the field and to CIMA (Environment Cantabria) for their technical support. We also want to thank to the comments from the three reviewers, which helped to improve substantially the manuscript. This research was supported by a scholarship from the Department of Education, Universities and Research of the Basque Government.

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  1. Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental, Dpto. CYTAMA, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Cantabria, Spain

    José Barquín

  2. Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Russell G. Death

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  1. José Barquín
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Correspondence to José Barquín.

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Barquín, J., Death, R.G. Physical and chemical differences in karst springs of Cantabria, northern Spain: do invertebrate communities correspond?. Aquat Ecol 43, 445–455 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-008-9170-2

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