Varying intertidal invertebrate taxonomic resolution does not influence ecological findings. (5th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gerwing, Travis G.; Cox, Kieran; Allen Gerwing, Alyssa M.; Campbell, Lily; Macdonald, Tara; Dudas, Sarah E.; Juanes, Francis
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 232(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-05
• Subjects: Biodiversity -- Taxonomic resolution -- Taxonomic sufficiency; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106516
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: Benthic invertebrate communities are reliable indicators of environmental conditions, and thus often assessed during ecological studies. However, when identifying all specimens to the same taxonomic unit is not possible, the common practice of identifying each specimen to the lowest possible taxonomic level may introduce enough taxonomic noise into datasets to obscure important trends. Using an infaunal-invertebrate community from the Cassiar Cannery mudflat (British Columbia, Canada), we tested if identifying specimens to different taxonomic levels (order, family, genus, species, and lowest possible) produced different statistical interpretations, or observed magnitude of differences in community structure and density between microhabitats. When taxonomic level was varied, statistical interpretations and magnitude of observed differences did not differ. Given the resources required to train taxonomists, and the time required to identify all specimens to species, identifying invertebrates to broader levels may represent an efficient trade-off between taxonomic resolution and resources. This study also showed no difference in conclusions between identifying specimens to species or to the lowest possible taxonomic unit, a mixture of taxonomic resolutions (phylum, class, order, species, etc.). In situations where it is not possible to identify all specimens to species, identifying specimens to the lowest possible unit may offer a similar resolution as would have been achieved with species level investigations. Highlights: Taxonomic resolution did not alter observed differences in community structure between microhabitats. Identifying invertebrates to broader levels may represent a good trade-off between taxonomic resolution and resources. No difference was observed between identifying specimens to species or to lowest possible taxonomic unit.