Category Property Ecosystem comparison Relevant process Hypothesized effect on process Reference
Physical Buoyancy Water > air Dispersal Intrinsic dispersal ability is greater in freshwater than on land Bonte et al. 2012; Cornell & Harrison 2013; Srivastava & Kratina 2013
Terminal velocity Air > water Dispersal Intrinsic dispersal ability is greater in freshwater than on land Denny 1990; Dawson & Hamner 2008
Spatial structure of environmental variation Terrestrial > marine > freshwater Selection (abiotic) Greater environmental structure on land could lead to stronger species sorting compared to freshwater Herfindal et al. 2022
Light attenuation Water > air Selection (abiotic) Freshwater < terrestrial (greater niche differentiation) Stomp et al. 2007
Habitat Habitat structure Rivers: dendritic Lakes: isolated Terrestrial: open (2D) Marine: open (3D) Dispersal Dispersal limitations (extrinsic) are greatest in freshwater habitats, and lowest in marine habitats Baguette et al. 2013; Kappes et al. 2014; Wubs et al. 2016; Comte & Olden 2018
Habitat stability Terrestrial > freshwater Speciation In situ speciation plays larger role in dynamics of freshwater than terrestrial communities Gillespie 2004; Miller et al. 2018
Chemical Food quality Freshwater > terrestrial Selection (biotic) May increase insect consumer populations and thus consumptive pressure in freshwater systems Elser et al. 2000; Twining et al. 2021
Community Species richness per area Freshwater > terrestrial Speciation In freshwater habitats the diversification rates-per clade or lineage per unit time is highest Miller et al. 2018; Rabosky 2020; Miller 2021
Frequency of generalists Freshwater > terrestrial Selection (biotic) Consumptive pressure expected to be stronger in aquatic compared to terrestrial habitats Pringle et al. 2016; García-Girón et al. 2020
Naïvete to predators Freshwater > terrestrial Selection (biotic) Consumptive pressure expected to be stronger in aquatic compared to terrestrial habitats Cox & Lima 2006; Anton et al. 2016, 2020
Saturation of communities Freshwater > terrestrial Selection (biotic) Competitive selection is weaker in freshwater habitats Shurin et al. 2000; Shurin & Smith 2006; Alofs & Jackson 2014