Sienna Hatfield, Izzy Farrar, Joshua Rihs

Title:

Variable responses of aquatic invertebrate taxa to vegetation cover in ponds

Abstract:

Freshwater habitats in Northern Arizona, including stock ponds, support diverse macroinvertebrate communities that play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and food webs. However, these ecosystems face increasing threats from climate change and anthropogenic water use, which alter habitat conditions and impact biodiversity. Vegetation cover is a key environmental factor that can influence macroinvertebrate abundance by providing habitat complexity, stabilizing water quality, and offering food resources. This study examined the relationship between vegetation cover and macroinvertebrate abundance across multiple freshwater sites. Analyzing our data in R revealed a positive correlation between vegetation cover and total macroinvertebrate abundance, suggesting that greater vegetation supports higher macroinvertebrate diversity by enhancing habitat quality and resource availability. Future research should explore how specific vegetation characteristics, such as density and species composition, influence macroinvertebrate communities and their ecological functions. Understanding these interactions is essential for informing conservation strategies aimed at maintaining biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems.