Results Estimates of pelagic crustacean species richness in Canadian ecoprovinces
varied from 3 to 10 species per lake (average local species richness) or 8 to 52 species
per ecoprovince (Jackknife diversity index). Our study fully supports the species
richness-energy hypothesis and partially the metabolic theory. Mean daily global
solar radiation was the most important regional predictor, explaining 51% of the
variation in the regional species richness among ecoprovinces. Together, regional
climate and local lake environment accounted for 31% of the total variation in
community structure. Regional-scale energy variables accounted for 24% of the
total explained variation, whereas local-scale lake conditions had less influence
(2%).