Connectivity loss in experimental pond networks leads to biodiversity loss in microbial metacommunities

Habitat fragmentation is among the most important global threats to biodiversity, however, the direct effects of its components including connectivity loss are largely unknown and still mostly inferred based on indirect evidence. Our understanding of these drivers is especially limited in microbial communities. Here, by conducting a four-month outdoor experiment with artificial pond (mesocosm) metacommunities, we studied the effects of connectivity loss on planktonic microorganisms, primarily focusing on pro- and microeukaryotes. Connectivity loss was simulated by stopping the dispersal among local habitats after an initial period with dispersal. Keeping the habitat amount constant and the abiotic environment homogeneous. allowed us to track the direct effects of the process of connectivity loss. We found that connectivity loss led to higher levels of extinction and a decrease in both local and regional diversity in microeukaryotes. In contrast, diversity patterns of prokaryotes remaine..., , , # Data from: Connectivity loss in experimental pond networks leads to biodiversity loss in microbial metacommunities

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fj6q5744j](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fj6q5744j)

## Description of the data and file structure

The datasets contain the underlying data of the results of Szabó et al. (2024), obtained from a four-month outdoor experiment with artificial pond (mesocosm) metacommunities designed to study the effects of connectivity loss on planktonic microorganisms. The experiment took place between 7th July and 27th October 2020 in Tihany, Hungary.

### Files and variables

#### File: environmental\_variables.xlsx

**Description:** This dataset includes information on the experimental treatments along with the variables measured at the four sampling events.

##### Variables

* Sampling_event - ID of sampling event (Week4:4th week of the experiment, Week8: 8th week of the experiment, Week12: 12th week of the experiment, Week 16: 16th week of the experime...,