Comparison of functional traits to determine land use effects on macroinvertebrates of northern Mongolian streams

Quantifying the functional diversity of communities in a functional-trait-based approach can be a powerful tool for predicting general ecological responses of those communities to habitat variation and disturbance. Furthermore, such a tool is less constrained by biogeography than current methods of community assessment. At present, the quality and quantity of water resources are being degraded by overgrazing, mining and climate change throughout Mongolia. This study aims to determine land use effects on stream macroinvertebrate communities comparing their functional traits with regard to mining and overgrazing in northern Mongolia.