Population genetic structure and connectivity in three montane freshwater invertebrate species (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Amphipoda) with differing life cycles and dispersal capabilities

Dispersal abilities and the resulting levels of connectivity between streams influence population structure in aquatic organisms. We investigated how different dispersal life-history traits affect gene flow three invertebrate species a central European mountain range. used microsatellite markers mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I barcode data to assess small-scale mayfly Baetis alpinus, stonefly Brachyptera seticornis, amphipod Gammarus fossarum seven within Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany. Significant study area was detected B. alpinus G. fossarum, whereas seticornis had signatures panmixia. In that corresponded stream topography, while it did not. The range appears be contact zone for lineages fossarum. Limited geneflow sample sites can explained by species’ short adult lifespans, which restricts sites. Since imagines are able disperse via flight is, however, decoupled from topology. Longer-lived is better maintain flightless corresponding topology limited capabilities streams. ability alone insufficient predict or explain patterns individual species, should examined together with when assessing community structure.