Ecological Types Versus Taxonomic Types in Phytobenthos Composition in Four Contrasting Basins

ABSTRACT Taxonomic classification of phytobenthos is time‐consuming and requires specialized expertise, favouring growing use of trait‐based or eco‐morphological functional classifications, which may better capture the environmental heterogeneity shaping community composition. Aquatic systems in the province of Neuquén present a marked environmental gradient and remain poorly studied, particularly regarding their phytobenthic communities. Since 2012, an extensive environmental dataset has been generated as a result of the monitoring program for the diatom Didymosphenia geminata . This study uses this database to investigate whether the environmental heterogeneity of different aquatic systems in four contrasting basins of the province is captured by phytobenthos composition and to compare the applicability of taxonomic and eco‐morphological functional classifications in characterizing the sampled sites. In 10 sampling campaigns between 2012 and 2021, 67 sites were surveyed, where physicochemical parameters were recorded and water and multihabitat biological samples were collected. Results show how chemical variables such as ions, alkalinity, pH, conductivity and nutrients differentiate aquatic systems of the province, reflecting both the geography and the productive activities of the region. Phytobenthic taxonomic composition showed differences between sites both at the basin level and at the type of aquatic system. The comparison between the taxonomic classification at the genus level and the two eco‐morphological functional classifications explored showed little disagreement, from which it is concluded that these classifications may be valid, and even efficient, alternatives in data sets from monitoring programs when time and financial resources are scarce.