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<p>Understanding ecological stability is crucial for large river ecosystems exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors. Chironomids are important benthic organisms, but their complex assemblage dynamics, especially their persistence and variability, require deeper analysis and understanding. This study aimed to assess 1) the spatio-temporal variation of chironomid diversity across three Danube sectors over three Joint Danube Surveys expeditions; 2) analyse potential species associations using co-occurrence networks and 3) evaluate assemblage stability by quantifying persistence and variability of network structure over time. We identified 169 chironomid taxa in the Danube, with taxa richness decreasing downstream. Linear discriminant analysis confirmed distinct assemblages per sector. Co-occurrence networks for each sector and year were compared using differential network analysis. Temporal comparisons revealed striking lack of persistence: year-specific (gamma) links dominated network changes, while few stable, persistent (alpha) links were found between taxa across six-year intervals. Sector 1 (Upper Danube) showed lower network connectivity compared to Sectors 2 (Middle Danube) and 3 (Lower Danube), potentially reflecting different environmental pressures. The high temporal turnover in network structure suggests Danube chironomid assemblages are highly dynamic, possibly indicating resilience through compositional changes, rather than static persistence. Analysis of co-occurrence networks reveals community dynamics, thus complementing traditional diversity metrics and holding potential for environmental monitoring in large rivers.</p>

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Co-occurrence networks of chironomid species (Diptera, Chironomidae) as a measure of ecosystem stability

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月17日

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  • Nataša Popović,
  • Vladimir M. Jovanović,
  • Jelena Đuknić,
  • Melanie Sarfert,
  • Djuradj Milošević,
  • Dubravka Čerba,
  • Maja Raković,
  • Momir Paunović

摘要

Understanding ecological stability is crucial for large river ecosystems exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors. Chironomids are important benthic organisms, but their complex assemblage dynamics, especially their persistence and variability, require deeper analysis and understanding. This study aimed to assess 1) the spatio-temporal variation of chironomid diversity across three Danube sectors over three Joint Danube Surveys expeditions; 2) analyse potential species associations using co-occurrence networks and 3) evaluate assemblage stability by quantifying persistence and variability of network structure over time. We identified 169 chironomid taxa in the Danube, with taxa richness decreasing downstream. Linear discriminant analysis confirmed distinct assemblages per sector. Co-occurrence networks for each sector and year were compared using differential network analysis. Temporal comparisons revealed striking lack of persistence: year-specific (gamma) links dominated network changes, while few stable, persistent (alpha) links were found between taxa across six-year intervals. Sector 1 (Upper Danube) showed lower network connectivity compared to Sectors 2 (Middle Danube) and 3 (Lower Danube), potentially reflecting different environmental pressures. The high temporal turnover in network structure suggests Danube chironomid assemblages are highly dynamic, possibly indicating resilience through compositional changes, rather than static persistence. Analysis of co-occurrence networks reveals community dynamics, thus complementing traditional diversity metrics and holding potential for environmental monitoring in large rivers.