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Fly or Dry? River Flow and Dispersal Mode Drive Cross-Channel β Diversity in Riparian Zones.
Kieran J Gething1,2,3, Romain Sarremejane2, Chloe Hayes3
1Loughborough University Loughborough UK.
Ecology and Evolution
|May 7, 2026
Summary
River channels are weak barriers for terrestrial arthropods, even when dry. Flight ability influences movement, with water access being more critical than river barriers for ground beetle communities.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Terrestrial Arthropod Ecology
- Riparian Ecosystems
Background:
- Riparian ecosystems harbor biodiverse terrestrial arthropod communities.
- Ecosystem structure and function depend on arthropod communities and their connectivity.
- River characteristics, like flow permanence, influence cross-channel connectivity, but their impact on riparian communities is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how river flow permanence affects cross-channel connectivity of terrestrial arthropod communities.
- To quantify the influence of temporally variable natural barriers (rivers) on riparian communities.
- To distinguish the roles of flight ability and resource access in shaping community connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Sampling of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities in parallel riparian zones along rivers with varying flow permanence.
- Quantification of cross-channel connectivity using Sørensen β diversity and null-model-derived z-scores.
- Comparison of community dissimilarity between left and right banks, differentiating between flight-capable and limited-flight species.
Main Results:
- River channels showed weak barriers to cross-channel movement for ground beetles, irrespective of water levels.
- Species capable of flight were unaffected by in-channel conditions.
- Cross-channel comparability of limited-flight species increased as river flows declined.
Conclusions:
- River channels are not significant barriers to ground beetle movement, with water availability being a key structuring factor.
- Riparian community composition shifts from water-associated species to generalists as rivers dry.
- Management should focus on mitigating climate-driven drying to maintain resource access and community resilience.
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