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Article

Size–Abundance Relationships of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates in Two Contrasting Floodplain Channels of Rhone River

1
Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
2
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, Ecotekne, 73100 Lecce, Italy
3
Ecology and Fluvial Hydrosystems Laboratory, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2022, 14(5), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14050794
Submission received: 31 January 2022 / Revised: 25 February 2022 / Accepted: 26 February 2022 / Published: 3 March 2022

Abstract

:
Body size is perhaps the most fundamental property of an organism and its relationship with abundance is one of the most studied relationships in ecology. Although numerous studies have examined these relationships in local communities, few have investigated how they vary at different temporal and spatial scales. We investigated the relationship between body size and abundance of local macroinvertebrate communities in two floodplain channels of the French upper Rhone River. The two channels differ in their vegetation coverage (high vs. low vegetation) and hydrological regimes. The shapes of the size–abundance relationship were similar between channels on a yearly basis but differed when compared between months. The variation in local size–abundance relationships between months was related to variation in the functional diversity across time. Our findings suggest that local size–abundance relationships are able to quantitatively describe temporal changes in community structure, showing the importance of relating diversity with ecosystem function in a more realistic context.

1. Introduction

Body size is a key component of the diversity and structure of animal assemblages [1,2] as it encapsulates many ecological traits of species [3,4]. One of the most important relationships of body size is with abundance, as recognized in both terrestrial and aquatic ecology [5,6,7]. The relationship between body size and abundance, according to Damuth’s Rule, scales with a scaling exponent of −0.75 [8,9,10]. Body size (or mass) is also related to metabolic rate with a scaling exponent of 0.75 (i.e., metabolic theory in ecology (MTE) [11]). Furthermore, body size of the species is negatively related to abundance at the scale of local to global communities. Such size–abundance relationships [7] have remained at the core of our understanding of ecology for more than 20 years [12,13,14,15,16].
The power function of −0.75 implies that the total energy or resource used (as a function of abundance and metabolism) by all the different-sized species is independent of their body size, known as the “energetic equivalence hypothesis (EER)” [17]. This pattern of size–abundance relationships has been confirmed using global-scale data sets compiled from the literature, such as the global size–abundance relationship (GSDR following [7]). However, these studies are observational and are subject to the normal limitations of an observational study, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions of the mechanisms that control size–abundance relationships. Indeed, other studies suggest that using smaller scales data sets (i.e., local communities’ data [18,19]), such as local size–abundance relationships (LSDR following [7]) may better reveal the mechanisms underlying size–abundance relationships.
Relationships of this sort have also been widely studied in aquatic ecosystems [20,21,22] for diverse types of communities in various habitats, such as rocky intertidal pool [23], stream [24], pond [25] and lagoon [26] communities. The LSDRs often show deviations from the expected power–law relationships with slopes shallower than −0.75 [6,27,28,29]. Indeed, it has been observed that the size–frequency distributions generally exhibit a right-skewed pattern [30] with more small-sized species and fewer large-sized ones than predicted [31]. This has been described as a ‘polygonal’ size–abundance relationship with abundance peaking at small body sizes and species with low abundance being equally represented across all body sizes. Applying the logic of the “energetic equivalence hypothesis”, these deviations imply that the species present in such a local community use unequal amounts of energy [8,9,17].
This deviation of LSDR from the EER observed mostly in aquatic ecosystems may be related to abiotic and biotic factors in aquatic ecosystems. This is because body size is closely related to physical, morphological and hydrological constraints, and thus habitat complexity in aquatic ecosystems [32]. Specifically, previous studies have shown that habitat complexity is the main driver of macroinvertebrate species’ body size. For example, temporal and spatial body size patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrates may be influenced by: 1. physicochemical fluctuations [33], 2. physical characteristics, such as substrate types, grain size and water flow [34], and 3. biotic characteristics, such as vegetation coverage [35]. Furthermore, habitat complexity plays an important role in determining functional diversity across time and space [36,37]. If such variability among habitat complexities is related to species’ body size, then this variation may result in deviation of an LSDR slope from −0.75.
Although many LSDR studies demonstrate data which vary temporally (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly and yearly), few of them have considered the spatial variation that occurs at different scales [19,22]. Indeed, how the relationships between body size and abundance of local communities vary temporally, spatially and across functional diversity is poorly understood [33]. Documenting LSDR across a wide range of diversity functions and spatial and temporal scales is a step forward in understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at spatiotemporal scales. Here, we tested relationships between body size and abundance for local macroinvertebrate communities (i.e., LSDR) in two different floodplain channels of the Rhone River.
The two selected channels show differences in aquatic vegetation cover and hydrological regimes that, we suppose, modify the transfer of energy in these habitats. Furthermore, in floodplain habitats, benthic macroinvertebrates occur frequently and are functionally diverse, especially regarding feeding groups and are associated with hydrology. Because of their dynamic nature and temporal fluctuations, floodplain habitats allow us to understand how their LSDR vary temporally through the four months of high production and under different flow conditions. Hence, the main goal of our study is to identify the shape of LSDR communities between two distinct floodplains and to discover temporal or spatial differences across a spectrum of functional diversity of macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrate species present a high functional diversity that allows them to be categorized into functional feeding groups based on their diverse morphological and behavioral functions that characterize the ways they acquire food [38,39]. This functional diversity is strongly related to the habitat or ecosystem type where they live, making the invertebrates sensitive to environmental conditions depending on their taxonomy and traits.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Studied Sites

The two Rhone floodplain channels, which are former braided side-arms, are presently both connected downstream with the main river, but disconnected upstream, at average discharge. In this sector of the French Upper Rhone, between Geneva and Lyon, the mean summer discharge is about ~700 m3 s−1) (see Figure 1). The hydrological context of the two selected channels is very different. Molottes channel (MOLO) is located in the bypassed section of the Brégnier–Cordon hydroelectric scheme where the regulated flow delivered by the diversion dam is 150 m3 s−1 from 1 June to 31 August, 100 m3 s−1 from 1 September to 31 October, and 80 m3 s−1 during winter [40]. This floodplain channel is influenced by backflow entries generated by water level elevation (i.e., return flow from the bypassed river section) in relation to the functioning of the hydroelectric power station. Ponton channel (PONT) is located downstream of the hydroelectric scheme and hydropeaking usually causes daily discharge fluctuations from Monday to Friday (between ~200 and ~500 m3 s−1). Upstream flow connections occur during high floods for less than one day per year for both floodplain channels on average [41].
The two floodplain channels vary in length (1220 m for MOLO and 910 m for PONT) and geographic position (4 km between the two channels). A slightly deeper gully (depth minimum ~0.30 m), through which water passes continuously, allows the maintenance of a downstream connection for both channels with the main channel during low flow periods. In contrast, the upstream part of both channels was not modified by restoration works. Because of the loss of competence of the river flow when it enters into the floodplain channel from downstream, downstream alluvial plugs, composed of a mix of sand and silt were deposited in the two channels, allowing the establishment of aquatic plants, e.g., Elodea nuttallii and Ceratophyllum demersum, which, for the MOLO channel exclusively, became denser in the downstream part of the channel. Regarding PONT, the shallow upstream part of the channel is completely emerged over 15 m during reduced discharge periods. During high discharge periods, low-to-moderate water depth (<50 cm) covers the previously emerged part. Aquatic vegetation development is generally low in the PONT channel and mainly restricted to the upstream and mid-channel parts. Furthermore, aquatic vegetation cover provides egg-laying sites for, e.g., gastropods, and a substrate for periphyton, which, in turn, is highly influential for other organisms. Energy flow of these habitats is also influenced by periodic desiccation of the shallowest parts (e.g., [42]) or by stable and low flow conditions [43,44]. Despite these highly diverse habitats, there have been no modeling efforts to study how the different flow conditions affect the transfer of energy of these channels.
Finally, basic information on physicochemical data (e.g., water temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen) of the water column in MOLO and PONT channel for each month (e.g., April, May, June, July) were also collected (see Table 1). These abiotic data are not analyzed in this paper but they have a profound impact on the size–abundance relationships.

2.2. Sampling Method and Ecological Traits

A total of 24 samples was used, where 3 samples were collected from each of 2 given floodplain channel sites on the same date of each month (across 4 months). For each channel site, the 3 samples were collected from 3 random spots along a 30 m transect (in a straight line). Specifically, benthic invertebrate samples were taken in the middle part of the two floodplain channels over four dates in early 2017: April, May, June and July. The period chosen for sampling corresponds to a time of much higher diversity and productivity compared with winter or fall. After July, many aquatic insects with annual voltinism emerge [45] however, others undergo extreme conditions (e.g., dissolved oxygen and temperature conditions) where the abundance of the macroinvertebrates decreases, thus limiting productivity and functional diversity.
Benthic invertebrates living among aquatic macrophytes and in or on the sediment/litter upper layer were both sampled within a 0.5 × 0.5 m metal frame with a hand net (mesh size 500 µm). The collected samples of benthic invertebrates were weighed on a balance as wet weight (g) for each individual present in the sample. Benthic invertebrates were then sorted under a stereomicroscope, where they were counted (i.e., abundance) and identified to genus or species level, when possible. Diptera were identified up to the family level.
Feeding type was extracted for each taxon from the freshwater ecology database available online (http://www.freshwaterecology.info, accessed on 31 July 2021). It consists in assigning a positive score (from 0 to 10) that describes the affinity of a taxon for pre-defined feeding categories, i.e., filtering collectors, gathering collectors, grazers, shredders and predators (see Appendix BTable A4).

2.3. Statistical Analysis

A linear model was fitted to the raw data of average body size relative to their average abundance (both variables in log10, see Figure 2) per taxon, in order to test the size–abundance relationship of freshwater macroinvertebrate among the two channels. This approach to studying the size–abundance relationships was based on calculating local size–abundance relationship (LSDR), which plots average size and average abundance of each taxon (see [7]). Least-squares regression (LSR) was fitted on average wet weight and average abundance (number of individuals): i. among the two channels (all months included), ii. among the two channels and across months, and iii. among the two channels and across functional feeding groups.
We used least-squares regression (LSR) for analyzing body size and abundance relationships. LSR is more appropriate than reduced major axis regression when measurement error in the independent variable (body mass) is less than that of the dependent variable (abundance), as is the case in our study [46,47]. We used log10-transformation to normalize the data variation, and to permit proportional, linear relationships to be readily discerned [48,49]. Significant differences between scaling exponents (slopes) and intercepts (elevations) were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).

3. Results

Both LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT showed significant relationships between body weight and abundance of macroinvertebrate taxon (Figure 2, Table 2). The scaling slopes were shallower than the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75 (−0.39 and −0.33, for MOLO and PONT, respectively), thus the slopes and intercepts were not significantly different between the two channels (Table A1).
Furthermore, the two channels showed significant relationships over time (April, May, June and July), although the pattern was different (Figure 3, Table 3). Specifically, LSDRPONT showed a significantly steeper scaling slope (−0.53) than LSDRMOLO (−0.31) in April. By contrast, LSDRMOLO showed steeper scaling slopes (−0.42 and −0.48) than LSDRPONT (−0.28 and −0.26) for May and June. However, both channels showed similar scaling slopes (−0.34 and −0.29, respectively) in July. The scaling slopes of the two channels were significantly different for April, May and June and the intercept was significantly different for April and June (Appendix ATable A2).
Finally, the scaling slopes of LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT across functional feeding groups showed similar patterns for both channels, with the exception of the predators and shredders (Figure 4, Table 4). Specifically, gathering collectors showed steeper scaling slopes for LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT (−0.60 and −0.45, respectively), whereas filtering collectors (−0.27 and −0.35, respectively) and grazers (−0.31 and −0.28, respectively) resulted in less steep slopes for both LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT. The scaling slopes across functional feeding groups were not significantly different for the two channels, while the intercepts were different for grazers, filterers and gatherers (Appendix ATable A3). Finally, predators and shredders showed different LSDR slopes, where only predators of PONT (−0.16) and shredders of MOLO (−0.49) were significant.
However, at a monthly scale, the average body size and average abundance across functional feeding groups of MOLO and PONT were consistent with the monthly patterns of LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT. Specifically, in April, small filtering and gathering collectors in PONT showed higher abundance than MOLO (Figure 5 and Figure 6), forming a steeper slope (−0.53 vs. −0.31) than the one for MOLO. Whereas, in May and June, small-sized grazers in MOLO showed higher abundances than in PONT (Figure 5 and Figure 6) resulting in steeper slopes for MOLO than PONT (−0.42 vs. −0.28 and −0.48 vs. −0.26, respectively). Furthermore, the large-sized shredders that were present only in PONT contributed to form less steep slopes for PONT than the ones of MOLO.

4. Discussion

4.1. Patterns of LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT (All Months Included)

The patterns of the LSDR across the two floodplain channels, considering the whole dataset including all the months, were both statistically significant, with similar slopes (i.e., −0.39 and −0.33 for MOLO and PONT, respectively) that were significantly shallower than predicted by Damuth [8,9,10]. Our patterns were consistent with several studies that suggested that the relationship between body size and abundance is much shallower than the value of −0.75 for aquatic macroinvertebrate communities (e.g., [26,50,51,52]) and other animal communities (e.g., [19,53,54,55,56]). However, the shallower slopes found were not consistent with the EER. This deviation of LSDR provides evidence against the universality of EER, showing that the amount of energy used is not the same for all species [7]. Because the EER predicts that size–abundance relationships arise from the metabolic scaling, environmental factors that alter size-dependent metabolic demands may alter size–abundance relationships [17]. Therefore, the shallower slope of LSDR in both freshwater channels implies a shallower slope of the metabolic scaling with body size.
Indeed, the metabolic scaling slope of macroinvertebrate species in aquatic ecosystems was previously found to be shallower than the expected MTE value of 0.75 (reviewed by [57]). For reasons that are still not completely understood, the metabolic scaling slope of benthic macroinvertebrates often shows less steep slopes (i.e., ~0.30 to ~0.55) than the −0.75 value. Whether this variation in macroinvertebrate metabolic scaling slope is related to environmental factors, such as water temperature [58,59] and biological factors, such as predation pressure [60,61], is less known. Moreover, this variation of metabolic responses in relation to predation threats may be temperature-dependent [62,63]. These studies showed that smaller macroinvertebrates in both freshwater springs and saltwater lagoons more strongly increased their metabolism under high temperature and predation threat, when compared with the larger taxa. However, large macroinvertebrates, that do not change their metabolism in the presence of a predation threat, were present at a higher abundance. This again implies that the slope of the size–abundance relationships of benthic macroinvertebrates should scale with a less steep slope (i.e., ~−0.30 to ~−0.55), and indeed this was found for both channels considered in our study (Figure 3). The size-dependent effects of abiotic and biotic factors on metabolic rate may change the metabolic scaling slope and, as a consequence, it may influence the size–abundance relationship slope. This may explain the competitive advantage of large macroinvertebrate species over smaller ones also observed by other studies [64,65].

4.2. Patterns of LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT across Months

The size–abundance relationship varied at the monthly scale for both channels (i.e., LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT). The size–abundance relationship across the two sites showed different, site-specific patterns for April and May, while LSDRs for June and July followed comparable patterns. Our findings were consistent with other studies that showed a temporal [24,33] and spatial (reviewed by [6]) variation in size–abundance relationship of local communities. This pattern implies that time and space are both able to shape the local communities, resulting in different shapes of size–abundance relationships, for which differently sized species acquire energy differently.
PONT showed a slightly steeper size–abundance relationship for the months of May and June, while MOLO showed a slightly steeper size–abundance relationship only for April, compared with the other months. These patterns show an increase in the abundance of small taxa during May and June for PONT, and April for MOLO. Small aquatic macroinvertebrates may have reached their highest abundance during May and June for MOLO and during April for PONT. This is because reproduction and the appearance of juveniles (gastropods in particular) tend to peak during this period of time (i.e., from April to July) for most macroinvertebrate species [66]. However, this peak for each species or functional group varies because of differences in life cycles and resource availability. Thus, the LSDRs changed in a different way for MOLO and PONT across time, following the proposed hypothesis based on the specifics of reproduction and juvenile appearance, implying that juveniles of the species present in PONT peaked at a different moment across the four months than those in MOLO. Therefore, our findings suggest that although the size–abundance relationships of the two sites were broadly the same when looking at all months combined, this result does not hold when considered at the monthly scale.

4.3. Patterns of LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT across Functional Diversity

The size–abundance relationship of local communities at both sites taking functional diversity into account, showed the same shape with different intercepts, with the exception of the predators and shredders. LSDRPONT showed significantly higher abundance of filtering and gathering collectors, independent of body size, than LSDRMOLO. However, LSDRMOLO showed significantly higher abundance of grazers regardless of their body size than LSDRPONT. Our findings therefore showed different energy flow patterns for the two channels. Filtering and gathering collectors in PONT and grazers in MOLO are shown here to have higher energy flow compared with the other functional groups. This suggests a difference in the energy flow across the functional groups, depending on differences in the habitat structure of the two channels [67]. To repeat, MOLO was characterized by slow and less active backflows from the by-passed section of the river, whereas PONT was subjected to more frequent oscillations associated with hydropeaking in the full river and characterized by lower vegetation density.
The various macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups translate their diversity in terms of food acquisition strategies. Specifically, in our study the filtering feeders were mostly bivalves, gathering collectors were mostly insects and some gastropods, grazers were mostly gastropods, and shredders were mostly crustaceans. The difference of the intercept of the functional groups independent of their body size implies higher energy flow for the functional feeding groups with higher intercepts [62]. Our findings showed that the energy flow of filtering and gathering collectors was higher in PONT, while the energy flow of grazers was higher in MOLO.
Our study indicates that energy transfers through floodplain feeding groups are linked to and may change as a function of the vegetation cover and the water flow conditions in the two channels. Specifically, the functional groups of filtering collectors, gathering collectors and grazers showed different patterns in energy transfers between the two channels [68]. These variations suggest that water movement (enhanced by hydropeaking) may increase the suspended matter load as food for filtering and gathering feeders in MOLO [66]. Low and more stable flow conditions may increase temperature and promote biofilm/algal growth upon macrophytes for grazing in PONT [69]. Because the energy flow in floodplain channels probably relies on hydrology in addition to their connection (or reconnection in the case of restoration) with the main channel, it would be possible to adapt water releases from dams in the Rhone River to control energy transfers in floodplain channels [70]. Restricting hydropeaking (see [71]) might suffice to allow the proliferation of grazers that would tend to increase the energy transfers and thus support more top predators for PONT than MOLO channel.
Additionally, functional feeding groups were able to also explain the different monthly LSDR slopes of the two channels. Specifically, small-sized filtering and gathering collectors showed higher abundance for MOLO in May and June, whereas small-sized grazers showed higher abundance for PONT in April. Therefore, our findings suggest that the LSDR shape of most functional feeding groups was apparently the same, but they showed a different energy flow (i.e., higher abundance regardless of their body size). Furthermore, the body size and abundance of functional feeding groups when considered at a monthly scale were able to explain the monthly pattern of LSDRs in the two channels. Our finding confirms that the changes in habitat conditions across time and space, such as vegetation coverage and water flow, are closely related to the functional diversity and LSDR shape.

5. Conclusions

Size–abundance relationships link individual- and population-level energetics with the structure of ecological communities based on principles that are generally applicable. Broadly evaluating the variation of size–abundance relationship in local communities (i.e., LSDR) and understanding how it arises from biological and ecological processes at population- and community-levels would represent a major advance in our present understanding of ecosystems. This study offers a potential method of using size–abundance relationships for describing community structure, and the underlying processes across time, space, habitat type and functional diversity. This methodological approach links biodiversity and ecosystem functioning processes, improving our ability to make predictions of how environmental change will shape aquatic ecosystems, and is relevant for research and management policies for the conservation of biodiversity.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, V.G. and P.M.; methodology, P.M.; formal analysis, V.G.; investigation, V.G.; resources, P.M. and E.C.; data curation, P.M. and V.G.; writing—original draft preparation, V.G. and P.M.; writing—review and editing, V.G., P.M., B.W.I. and E.C.; visualization, V.G.; supervision V.G., B.W.I. and E.C., project administration, V.G. and B.W.I.; funding acquisition, V.G. and B.W.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by a Swiss National Foundation grant called “Scientific Exchange” awarded to Vojsava Gjoni in support of her research visit at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. The data of this study have been provided in the context of the OHM Vallée du Rhône, the LabEx DRIIHM and in the EUR H2O’Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018) of Université de Lyon.

Acknowledgments

We thank all the research teams involved in the monitoring of the Rhône River ecological restoration (RhônEco program) for making data available and for discussions. We thank the Syndicat du Haut-Rhône for their technical support. Furthermore, we would like to thank Pablo Timoner for his help on classifying the species into functional feeding groups. We are grateful for the helpful suggestions and comments by three anonymous reviewers.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Appendix A

In order to quantify the difference between the two channel sites we have used ANCOVA (p value) for slope and intercept comparison between LSDRMOLO and LSDRPONT: across all months, and across each month. Specifically, the differences between slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate). Least-squares regression (LSR) was fitted on average body size and average abundance (number of individuals): i. among the two channels (all months included—Table A1), ii. among the two channels and across months (Table A2), and iii. among the two channels and across functional feeding group (Table A3).
Table A1. p value for slope and intercept comparison of the LSDR analyses in Table 1. The differences among slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).
Table A1. p value for slope and intercept comparison of the LSDR analyses in Table 1. The differences among slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).
Sampling Sitep Value for Slope ap Value for Intercept b
MOLOPONTMOLOPONT
MOLO-ns-ns
PONTns-ns-
a Significance of slope differences; b Significance of intercept differences; ns–not significant; - not measurable.
Table A2. p value for slope and intercept comparison of the two streams LSDR analyses in Table 2. The differences among slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).
Table A2. p value for slope and intercept comparison of the two streams LSDR analyses in Table 2. The differences among slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).
Monthp Value for Slope ap Value for Intercept b
AprilMayJuneJulyAprilMayJuneJuly
April**---*---
May-*------
June--*---*-
July---ns---ns
a Significance of slope differences; b Significance of intercept differences; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.005; ns–not significant; - not measurable.
Table A3. p value for slope and intercept comparison of the LSDR analyses in Table 3. The differences among slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).
Table A3. p value for slope and intercept comparison of the LSDR analyses in Table 3. The differences among slopes were assessed by comparing 95% CI. When the slopes were not significantly different, the differences between elevations were estimated by ANCOVA (with body mass as a covariate).
Feeding Typesp Value for Slope ap Value for Intercept b
FCGCGRPRSHFCGCGRPRSH
Filtering Collectorsns----*----
Gathering Collectors-ns----*---
Grazers--ns----*--
Predators---ns----ns-
Shredders----ns----ns
a Significance of slope differences; b Significance of intercept differences; * p < 0.05; ns–not significant; - not measurable.

Appendix B

This table contains the estimated average wet weight, abundance and feeding traits for 54 taxa collected across 2 floodplain channels in the French upper Rhone River. Below are the column names and a brief description of them: Channel = channel name (MOLO—Molottes and PONT—Ponton; Month = month of sampling; Site = sampling site in each channel (1, 2, or 3); Taxon = species name; FFG = functional feeding groups; Abundance = total abundance per taxon.
Table A4. A unified dataset of taxon names, functional feeding groups and total abundance of macroinvertebrate species collected from the two channels on the Rhone River floodplain.
Table A4. A unified dataset of taxon names, functional feeding groups and total abundance of macroinvertebrate species collected from the two channels on the Rhone River floodplain.
ChannelMonthSiteOrderFamilyGenusSpeciesFFGAbundance
MOLOApril2EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors1
MOLOApril2DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors5
MOLOApril2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors47
MOLOApril2GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers9
MOLOApril2GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers4
MOLOApril2HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors6
MOLOApril2BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors11
MOLOApril2OdonataPlatycnemididaePlatycnemispennipesPredators1
MOLOApril2BivalviaSphaeridaeSphaerium sp. Filtering collectors1
MOLOApril2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors3
MOLOApril3DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors7
MOLOApril3DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors120
MOLOApril3GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers5
MOLOApril3GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers1
MOLOApril3ColeopteraHaliplidaeHaliplus sp. Predators1
MOLOApril3OdonataCoenagrionidaeIschnuraelegansPredators2
MOLOApril3HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors8
MOLOApril3BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors7
MOLOApril3MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators1
MOLOApril4TrichopteraLimnephilidaeAnabolianervosaShredders2
MOLOApril4CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors3
MOLOApril4EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors2
MOLOApril4DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors11
MOLOApril4DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors96
MOLOApril4OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators9
MOLOApril4GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers6
MOLOApril4GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers9
MOLOApril4ColeopteraHaliplidaeHaliplus sp. Predators4
MOLOApril4TrichopteraHydroptilidaeHydroptila sp. Grazers1
MOLOApril4GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers2
MOLOApril4OdonataLibellulidaeOrthetrumalbistylumPredators1
MOLOApril4OdonataPlatycnemididaePlatycnemispennipesPredators3
MOLOApril4GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors1
MOLOApril4GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors1
MOLOApril4OdonataZygoptera Predators8
MOLOMay1CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors1
MOLOMay1GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors3
MOLOMay1DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors76
MOLOMay1CrustaceaCrangonyctidaeCrangonyxpseudogracilisShredders1
MOLOMay1OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators12
MOLOMay1GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers17
MOLOMay1GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers53
MOLOMay1OdonataCoenagrionidaeIschnuraelegansPredators3
MOLOMay1HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors2
MOLOMay1GastropodaValvatidaeValvatacristataGrazers2
MOLOMay1GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors1
MOLOMay1OdonataZygoptera Predators11
MOLOMay2TrichopteraLimnephilidaeAnabolianervosaShredders1
MOLOMay2CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors2
MOLOMay2DipteraAthericidae Predators1
MOLOMay2GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors2
MOLOMay2EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors2
MOLOMay2DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors3
MOLOMay2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors40
MOLOMay2OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators14
MOLOMay2CrustaceaCrangonyctidaeCrangonyxpseudogracilisShredders5
MOLOMay2OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators9
MOLOMay2GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers41
MOLOMay2GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers432
MOLOMay2OdonataCoenagrionidaeIschnuraelegansPredators1
MOLOMay2OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators2
MOLOMay2TrichopteraLimnephilidaeLimnephiluslunatusShredders2
MOLOMay2GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers1
MOLOMay2Micropternalateralis/sequax Shredders1
MOLOMay2OdonataPlatycnemididaePlatycnemispennipesPredators5
MOLOMay2GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors1
MOLOMay2MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators2
MOLOMay2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors2
MOLOMay3EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors4
MOLOMay3DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors7
MOLOMay3DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors171
MOLOMay3HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors3
MOLOMay3Dreissenapolymorpha Filtering collectors1
MOLOMay3OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators12
MOLOMay3CrsutaceaGammaridae Shredders1
MOLOMay3GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers41
MOLOMay3GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers116
MOLOMay3ColeopteraHaliplidaeHaliplus sp. Predators5
MOLOMay3Hydracarina Predators18
MOLOMay3TrichopteraHydroptilidaeHydroptila sp. Grazers2
MOLOMay3GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers3
MOLOMay3HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors2
MOLOMay3BivalviaSphaeridaeMusculiumlacustreFiltering collectors6
MOLOMay3BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors45
MOLOMay3OdonataPlatycnemididaePlatycnemispennipesPredators1
MOLOMay3GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors2
MOLOMay3MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators4
MOLOMay3GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors7
MOLOJune1HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators3
MOLOJune1TrichopteraLimnephilidaeAnabolianervosaShredders1
MOLOJune1GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors1
MOLOJune1DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors1
MOLOJune1DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors22
MOLOJune1HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors2
MOLOJune1OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators12
MOLOJune1GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers272
MOLOJune1GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaShredders1114
MOLOJune1GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers18
MOLOJune1GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors1
MOLOJune1MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators2
MOLOJune1GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors23
MOLOJune2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors12
MOLOJune2CrustaceaCrangonyctidaeCrangonyxpseudogracilisShredders1
MOLOJune2GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers10
MOLOJune2GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers164
MOLOJune2ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators1
MOLOJune2OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators6
MOLOJune2BivalviaSphaeridaeMusculiumlacustreFiltering collectors1
MOLOJune2BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors1
MOLOJune2MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators1
MOLOJune2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors1
MOLOJune3DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors20
MOLOJune3OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators1
MOLOJune3OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators10
MOLOJune3HeteropteraGerridaeGerris sp. Predators1
MOLOJune3GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers113
MOLOJune3GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers431
MOLOJune3ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators2
MOLOJune3OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators3
MOLOJune3TrichopteraLimnephilidaeLimnephiluslunatusShredders1
MOLOJune3GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers4
MOLOJune3OdonataLibellulidaeOrthetrumalbistylumPredators1
MOLOJune3GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors3
MOLOJune3MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators5
MOLOJune3DipteraTabanidae Predators1
MOLOJune3GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors30
MOLOJuly1DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors12
MOLOJuly1GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers48
MOLOJuly1OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators6
MOLOJuly1BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors3
MOLOJuly1MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators2
MOLOJuly1GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors10
MOLOJuly2CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors1
MOLOJuly2GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors6
MOLOJuly2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors64
MOLOJuly2BivalviaCorbiculidaeCorbiculaflumineaFiltering collectors1
MOLOJuly2HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors1
MOLOJuly2OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators3
MOLOJuly2CrsutaceaGammaridae Shredders8
MOLOJuly2GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers15
MOLOJuly2GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers85
MOLOJuly2ColeopteraHaliplidaeHaliplus sp. Predators1
MOLOJuly2Hydracarina Predators2
MOLOJuly2ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators1
MOLOJuly2OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators3
MOLOJuly2GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers5
MOLOJuly2BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors1
MOLOJuly2GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors1
MOLOJuly2MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators2
MOLOJuly2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors5
MOLOJuly4GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors4
MOLOJuly4DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors4
MOLOJuly4GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers40
MOLOJuly4GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers135
MOLOJuly4OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators8
MOLOJuly4GastropodaPlanorbidaeMenetusdilatatusGrazers2
MOLOJuly4HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors3
MOLOJuly4HeteropteraNaucoridaeNaucorismaculatusPredators1
MOLOJuly4LepidopteraCrambidaeParapoynxstratiotataShredders4
MOLOJuly4BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors3
MOLOJuly4MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators3
MOLOJuly4GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors22
PONTApril2TrichopteraLimnephilidaeAnabolianervosaShredders1
PONTApril2CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors3
PONTApril2GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors8
PONTApril2EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors19
PONTApril2EphemropteraCaenidaeCaenisrobustaGathering collectors5
PONTApril2DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors149
PONTApril2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors674
PONTApril2OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators1
PONTApril2OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators2
PONTApril2GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers10
PONTApril2GastropodaPlanorbidaeHippeutiscomplanatusGrazers2
PONTApril2Hydracarina Predators9
PONTApril2TrichopteraHydroptilidaeHydroptila sp. Grazers1
PONTApril2HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors6
PONTApril2BivalviaSphaeridaeMusculiumlacustreFiltering collectors18
PONTApril2BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors11
PONTApril2BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors3
PONTApril2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors25
PONTApril3TrichopteraLimnephilidaeAnabolianervosaShredders1
PONTApril3CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors4
PONTApril3GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors11
PONTApril3EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors5
PONTApril3DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors132
PONTApril3OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators2
PONTApril3GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers4
PONTApril3GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers1
PONTApril3HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors1
PONTApril3OdonataLibellulidaeOrthetrumalbistylumPredators2
PONTApril3BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors3
PONTApril3BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors2
PONTApril3DipteraTabanidae Predators1
PONTApril3GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors3
PONTApril4CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors7
PONTApril4TrichopteraLeptoceridaeAthripsodes sp. Shredders1
PONTApril4GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors33
PONTApril4EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors34
PONTApril4DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors98
PONTApril4DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors214
PONTApril4OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators1
PONTApril4HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators2
PONTApril4GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers9
PONTApril4OdonataCoenagrionidaeIschnuraelegansPredators2
PONTApril4HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors18
PONTApril4TrichopteraLeptoceridaeMystacidesazureaGathering collectors1
PONTApril4BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors80
PONTApril4OdonataPlatycnemididaePlatycnemispennipesPredators6
PONTApril4GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors1
PONTApril4BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors4
PONTApril4DipteraTabanidae Predators6
PONTApril4GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors20
PONTMay1CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors1
PONTMay1GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors5
PONTMay1EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors5
PONTMay1DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors20
PONTMay1DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors61
PONTMay1OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators2
PONTMay1HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators2
PONTMay1GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers3
PONTMay1TrichopteraLimnephilidaeLimnephiluslunatusShredders1
PONTMay1HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors1
PONTMay1BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors7
PONTMay1GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors1
PONTMay1GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors9
PONTMay2CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors2
PONTMay2GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors5
PONTMay2EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors16
PONTMay2DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors33
PONTMay2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors57
PONTMay2OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators4
PONTMay2HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators4
PONTMay2Hydracarina Predators7
PONTMay2BivalviaSphaeridaeMusculiumlacustreFiltering collectors1
PONTMay2TrichopteraLeptoceridaeOecetisochraceaPredators1
PONTMay2MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators4
PONTMay2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors6
PONTMay4CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors3
PONTMay4GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors2
PONTMay4EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors21
PONTMay4DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors41
PONTMay4OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators4
PONTMay4GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers3
PONTMay4HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors2
PONTMay4BivalviaSphaeridaeMusculiumlacustreFiltering collectors1
PONTMay4TrichopteraLeptoceridaeMystacidesazureaGathering collectors1
PONTMay4BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors6
PONTMay4OdonataPlatycnemididaePlatycnemispennipesPredators4
PONTMay4MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators5
PONTMay4GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors6
PONTJune1ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators2
PONTJune2GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors1
PONTJune2EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors4
PONTJune2DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors6
PONTJune2DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors93
PONTJune2OdonataCoenagrionidaeCoenagrionpuellaPredators3
PONTJune2HirudinidaErpobdellidae Predators1
PONTJune2GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers2
PONTJune2GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers1
PONTJune2Hydracarina Predators8
PONTJune2ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators1
PONTJune2TrichopteraLeptoceridaeOecetisochraceaPredators1
PONTJune2GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors2
PONTJune2MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators9
PONTJune2DipteraTabanidae Predators3
PONTJune2GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors7
PONTJune3OdonataAeschnidaeAeschna sp. Predators1
PONTJune3CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors3
PONTJune3GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors3
PONTJune3EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors7
PONTJune3DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors10
PONTJune3DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors131
PONTJune3HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors3
PONTJune3ColeopteraDytiscidaeDytiscus sp. Predators3
PONTJune3OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators1
PONTJune3HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators2
PONTJune3GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers7
PONTJune3GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers1
PONTJune3Hydracarina Predators7
PONTJune3OdonataLibellulidaeLibelluladespressaPredators1
PONTJune3BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors26
PONTJune3MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators10
PONTJune3BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors6
PONTJune3DipteraTabanidae Predators1
PONTJune3GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors10
PONTJune4GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors1
PONTJune4EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors3
PONTJune4DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors2
PONTJune4DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors134
PONTJune4ColeopteraDytiscidaeDytiscus sp. Predators4
PONTJune4OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators1
PONTJune4HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators1
PONTJune4HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors14
PONTJune4BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors19
PONTJune4MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators6
PONTJune4BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors1
PONTJune4DipteraTabanidae Predators1
PONTJune4GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors1
PONTJuly1TrichopteraLimnephilidaeAnabolianervosaShredders1
PONTJuly1CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors17
PONTJuly1TrichopteraLeptoceridaeAthripsodes sp. Shredders6
PONTJuly1GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors143
PONTJuly1EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors130
PONTJuly1EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenisluctuosaGathering collectors1
PONTJuly1DipteraCeratopogonidae Gathering collectors10
PONTJuly1DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors354
PONTJuly1HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors24
PONTJuly1EphemeropteraEphemeridaeEphemera sp. Filtering collectors24
PONTJuly1OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators2
PONTJuly1OdonataCoenagrionidaeErythrommanajas/viridulumPredators7
PONTJuly1HirudinidaGlossiphonidaeGlossiphonia sp. Predators33
PONTJuly1GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers13
PONTJuly1GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers3
PONTJuly1ColeopteraHaliplidaeHaliplus sp. Predators4
PONTJuly1GastropodaPlanorbidaeHippeutiscomplanatusGrazers2
PONTJuly1Hydracarina Predators18
PONTJuly1TrichopteraLimnephilidaeLimnephiluslunatusShredders1
PONTJuly1HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors50
PONTJuly1TrichopteraLeptoceridaeMystacidesazureaGathering collectors1
PONTJuly1OdonataLibellulidaeOrthetrumalbistylum Predators1
PONTJuly1GastropodaTateidaePotamopyrgusantipodarumGathering collectors5
PONTJuly1MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators8
PONTJuly1BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors1
PONTJuly1DipteraTabanidae Predators1
PONTJuly1GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors3
PONTJuly3TrichopteraLeptoceridaeAthripsodes sp. Shredders1
PONTJuly3EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors22
PONTJuly3DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors54
PONTJuly3HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors6
PONTJuly3GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers2
PONTJuly3GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers1
PONTJuly3ColeopteraHaliplidaeHaliplus sp. Predators3
PONTJuly3ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators1
PONTJuly3OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators2
PONTJuly3HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors7
PONTJuly3BivalviaSphaeridaePisidium sp. Filtering collectors7
PONTJuly3MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators4
PONTJuly3BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors8
PONTJuly3GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors17
PONTJuly4CrustaceaAsellidaeAsellusaquaticusGathering collectors4
PONTJuly4GastropodaBithynidaeBithyniatentaculataFiltering collectors20
PONTJuly4EphemeropteraCaenidaeCaenishorariaGathering collectors18
PONTJuly4DipteraChironomidae Gathering collectors56
PONTJuly4HeteropteraCorixidaeCorixinae sp. Gathering collectors2
PONTJuly4GastropodaPlanorbidaeGyraulus sp. Grazers2
PONTJuly4GastropodaPlanorbidaeHaitiaacutaGrazers1
PONTJuly4ColeopteraDytiscidaeLaccophilus sp. Predators2
PONTJuly4OdonataLestidaeLestesviridisPredators2
PONTJuly4HeteropteraCorixidaeMicronecta sp. Gathering collectors1
PONTJuly4MegalopteraSialidaeSialis sp. Predators9
PONTJuly4BivalviaSphaeridae Filtering collectors3
PONTJuly4GastropodaValvatidaeValvatapiscinalisGathering collectors2

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Figure 1. The Rhône River in the valley between Geneva and Lyon and locations of the two studied floodplain channels: Molottes (MOLO) and Ponton (PONT).
Figure 1. The Rhône River in the valley between Geneva and Lyon and locations of the two studied floodplain channels: Molottes (MOLO) and Ponton (PONT).
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Figure 2. Log10−log10 relationship between average body size (wet weight) and abundance (number of individuals) per macroinvertebrate taxon between the two channels (all months included). Dashed line represents the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75.
Figure 2. Log10−log10 relationship between average body size (wet weight) and abundance (number of individuals) per macroinvertebrate taxon between the two channels (all months included). Dashed line represents the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75.
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Figure 3. Log10−log10 relationship between macroinvertebrate body size (wet weight) and abundance (number of individuals) per macroinvertebrate taxon between the two channel sites and across month. Dashed line represents the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75.
Figure 3. Log10−log10 relationship between macroinvertebrate body size (wet weight) and abundance (number of individuals) per macroinvertebrate taxon between the two channel sites and across month. Dashed line represents the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75.
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Figure 4. Log10−log10 relationship between macroinvertebrate body weight (wet weight) and abundance (number of individuals) per macroinvertebrate taxon between the two channel sites and across functional feeding groups. Dashed line represents the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75.
Figure 4. Log10−log10 relationship between macroinvertebrate body weight (wet weight) and abundance (number of individuals) per macroinvertebrate taxon between the two channel sites and across functional feeding groups. Dashed line represents the energetic equivalence hypothesis value of −0.75.
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Figure 5. Boxplot of log10 body size distribution across functional feeding groups (filtering collectors—FC, gathering collectors—GC, grazers—GR, predators—PR, shredders—SH) at monthly scale.
Figure 5. Boxplot of log10 body size distribution across functional feeding groups (filtering collectors—FC, gathering collectors—GC, grazers—GR, predators—PR, shredders—SH) at monthly scale.
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Figure 6. Boxplot of log10 abundance distribution across functional feeding groups (filtering collectors—FC, gathering collectors—GC, grazers—GR, predators—PR, shredders—SH) at monthly scale.
Figure 6. Boxplot of log10 abundance distribution across functional feeding groups (filtering collectors—FC, gathering collectors—GC, grazers—GR, predators—PR, shredders—SH) at monthly scale.
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Table 1. The physical and chemical characteristics of the water column in MOLO and PONT channels.
Table 1. The physical and chemical characteristics of the water column in MOLO and PONT channels.
MOLO ChannelPONT Channel
Physicochemical Factors MonthMeanSEMeanSE
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) April5.355.266.88 9.49
May5.974.55.958.22
June5.523.763.474.92
July4.850.737.381.12
Temperature (°C)April13.680.3813.70.66
May16.580.7614.860.55
June19.360.9518.230.31
July21.860.2821.550.46
Conductivity (μS/cm)April259.4929.62242.083.31
May293.3231.73295.08 17.28
June242.58 5.51271.000.44
July260.820.9275.026.01
Table 2. Results of the LSR analyses of log10 abundance in relation to log10 body weight in two floodplain channels of the Rhone River.
Table 2. Results of the LSR analyses of log10 abundance in relation to log10 body weight in two floodplain channels of the Rhone River.
Sampling SitenSlope95% CIInterceptr2p
MOLO162−0.39−0.53 to −0.24−0.190.19***
PONT193−0.33−0.45 to −0.21−0.070.13***
*** p < 0.001.
Table 3. Results of the LSR analyses of log10 abundance in relation to log10 body weight in two floodplain channels of the Rhone River across time.
Table 3. Results of the LSR analyses of log10 abundance in relation to log10 body weight in two floodplain channels of the Rhone River across time.
Sampling SiteMonthnSlope95% CIInterceptr2p
MOLOApril35−0.31−0.56 to −0.06−0.100.16*
May53−0.42−0.69 to −0.14−0.220.15**
June38−0.48−0.85 to −0.10−0.350.16*
July36−0.34−0.60 to −0.07−0.100.16*
PONTApril50−0.53−0.79 to −0.27−0.380.26***
May41−0.28−0.55 to −0.01−0.040.10*
June55−0.26−0.49 to −0.02−0.040.10*
July47−0.29−0.52 to −0.070.090.12*
* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.005; *** p < 0.001.
Table 4. Results of the LSR analyses of log10 abundance in relation to log10 body weight in two floodplain channels of the Rhone River across functional diversity.
Table 4. Results of the LSR analyses of log10 abundance in relation to log10 body weight in two floodplain channels of the Rhone River across functional diversity.
Sampling SiteFunctional
Feeding Group
nSlope95% CIInterceptr2p
MOLOFilterers18−0.27−0.58 to 0.03−0.160.19*
Gatherers51−0.60−0.98 to −0.22−0.820.15***
Grazers31−0.31−0.80 to 0.17−0.420.06ns
Predators48−0.02−0.22 to 0.18−0.410.00ns
Shredders14−0.49−1.11 to 0.13−0.370.22*
PONTFilterers33−0.35−0.63 to −0.070.040.18**
Gatherers75−0.45−0.79 to −0.12−0.150.10***
Grazers19−0.28−0.51 to −0.04−0.270.27*
Predators58−0.16−0.29 to −0.04−0.070.11*
Shredders8−0.04−0.32 to 0.23−0.010.02ns
* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.005; *** p < 0.001, ns—not significant
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Gjoni, V.; Marle, P.; Ibelings, B.W.; Castella, E. Size–Abundance Relationships of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates in Two Contrasting Floodplain Channels of Rhone River. Water 2022, 14, 794. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14050794

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Gjoni V, Marle P, Ibelings BW, Castella E. Size–Abundance Relationships of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates in Two Contrasting Floodplain Channels of Rhone River. Water. 2022; 14(5):794. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14050794

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Gjoni, Vojsava, Pierre Marle, Bastiaan W. Ibelings, and Emmanuel Castella. 2022. "Size–Abundance Relationships of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates in Two Contrasting Floodplain Channels of Rhone River" Water 14, no. 5: 794. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14050794

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