Restoration-mediated alteration induces substantial structural changes, but negligible shifts in functional and phylogenetic diversity of a non-target community: a case study from a soda pan

Stream macroinvertebrates, as non-target organisms, may face with either a single or a complex stressor during a restoration treatment. We quantified the structural, phylogenetic, and functional responses to both single (water retention) and complex (water retention and grazing) stressors and analysed how the ecological quality changes, in order to reveal the potential unwanted consequences in a soda pan restoration. Species composition has been restructured and taxonomic diversity decreased significantly as a response to the complex stressor, while they did not change under the single stress. Neither the single nor the complex stressor influenced the phylogenetic diversity. Functional diversity showed mainly no or reversible changes. Changes in diversity metrics induced changes in Ecological Quality Ratios, but the ecological state decreased only under the complex stressor. Our results suggest that different facets of alpha diversity (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic) are complementary and provide different information about community assembly against different stresses. We can support the opinion that taxon, phylogenetic and functional diversity are proper metrics in their own way to assess the impact of stress, but it is necessary to apply them together. Ecological knowledge of this paper could be considered throughout future conservation planning and enhance restoration success in aquatic environments.