Results/Conclusions The community composition of the different functional groups, except bacteria, was significantly explained both by spatial and environmental factors, independently of each other. Overall, the relative importance of the independent spatial component was linked with the dispersal capacity and body size of the organisms. Passive dispersers, like phytoplankton, benthic diatoms, zooplankton and aquatic vegetation, were better predicted by local environmental factors than by spatial ones. Conversely, large and less motile vertebrate organisms, like amphibians and fish, revealed a strong association with spatial factors. Most macroinvertebrates (e.g. coleopteran, chironomids, molluscs and heteropterans) showed an intermediate response, which was in general better described by the spatial component. Bacterial communities did not show any association with spatial factors and were only significantly explained by environmental variables, indicating efficient species sorting along the environmental gradients. Within this studied landscape and habitat type, most organisms, except bacterial communities, were affected by dispersal limitation. The relative importance of spatial and environmental factors in explaining the community structure furthermore largely depended on dispersal ability and body size of the organisms.