Latitudinal patterns in European ant assemblages: variation in species richness and body size

AbstractElevational and latitudinal patterns of species richness for birds and mammals were compared with human population density in relation to nature reserve designation in two areas of Yunnan Province, China. Results suggest that species richness is not the same for the two areas. In Gaoligongshan Region, species richness is inversely correlated with elevation and altitude, while reserve designation is positively correlated with elevation and latitude. In Jingdong County, reserve designations are positively correlated with elevation, but species richness shows no clear trends. In general, the present situation is strongly influenced by human activities. It appears that reserve designation is mismatched with species richness in Gaoligongshan Region, while there is a better fit between the two in Jingdong County. In both areas, however, it appeared that reserves were located primarily in order to reduce conflict with humans rather than to maximize conservation of biodiversity, probably because humans were responsible for forest—especially primary forest—destruction and degradation in the low-lying areas.

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Differences in abundance, species richness, and body size of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) between beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests on Podzol and Cambisol

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2008.08.006 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 256 (12) ◽

pp. 2154-2159 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Germund Tyler

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Body Size ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Ground Beetles ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L

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Interference competition pressure predicts the number of avian predators that shifted their timing of activity

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2018.0744 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 285 (1880) ◽

pp. 20180744 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yifan Pei ◽

Mihai Valcu ◽

Bart Kempenaers

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Body Size ◽

Interference Competition ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Exploitation Competition ◽

Predator Species ◽

Avian Predator ◽

Avian Predators ◽

Time Partitioning ◽

Competition Pressure

Being active at different times facilitates the coexistence of functionally similar species. Hence, time partitioning might be induced by competition. However, the relative importance of direct interference and indirect exploitation competition on time partitioning remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative importance of these two forms of competition on the occurrence of time-shifting among avian predator species. As a measure of interference competition pressure, we used the species richness of day-active avian predator species or of night-active avian predator species (i.e. species of Accipitriformes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes) in a particular geographical area (assemblage). As an estimate of exploitation competition pressure, we used the total species richness of avian predators in each assemblage. Estimates of the intensity of interference competition robustly predicted the number of Accipitriformes species that became crepuscular and the number of Strigiformes species that became day-active or strictly crepuscular. Interference competition pressure may depend on body size and on the total duration of the typical active period (day or night length). Our results support—to some extent—that smaller species are more likely to become time-shifters. Day length did not have an effect on the number of time-shifter species in the Accipitriformes. Among the large Strigiformes, more time-shifter species occur in areas where nights are shorter (i.e. where less of the typical time resource is available). However, in the small Strigiformes, we found the opposite, counterintuitive effect: more time-shifters where nights are longer. Exploitation competition may have had an additional positive effect on the number of time-shifters, but only in Accipitriformes, and the effect was not as robust. Our results thus support the interference competition hypothesis, suggesting that animals may have shifted their time of activity, despite phylogenetic constraints on the ability to do so, to reduce the costs of direct interactions. Our findings also highlight the influence of body size as a surrogate of competitive ability during encounters on time partitioning, at least among avian predators.

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Body size, reef area and temperature predict global reef-fish species richness across spatial scales

Global Ecology and Biogeography ◽

10.1111/geb.12851 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 315-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

D. R. Barneche ◽

E. L. Rezende ◽

V. Parravicini ◽

E. Maire ◽

G. J. Edgar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Body Size ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Reef Area ◽

Reef Fish Species

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Body size and species–richness in carnivores and primates

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.1998.0271 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 265 (1391) ◽

pp. 113-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

J.L. Gittleman ◽

A. Purvis

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Body Size

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Scavenging in the Anthropocene: Human impact drives vertebrate scavenger species richness at a global scale

10.26686/wgtn.12469334.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

E Sebastián-González ◽

JM Barbosa ◽

JM Pérez-García ◽

Z Morales-Reyes ◽

F Botella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Human Impact ◽

Large Scale ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Global Scale ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽

Latitudinal Patterns

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Understanding the distribution of biodiversity across the Earth is one of the most challenging questions in biology. Much research has been directed at explaining the species latitudinal pattern showing that communities are richer in tropical areas; however, despite decades of research, a general consensus has not yet emerged. In addition, global biodiversity patterns are being rapidly altered by human activities. Here, we aim to describe large-scale patterns of species richness and diversity in terrestrial vertebrate scavenger (carrion-consuming) assemblages, which provide key ecosystem functions and services. We used a worldwide dataset comprising 43 sites, where vertebrate scavenger assemblages were identified using 2,485 carcasses monitored between 1991 and 2018. First, we evaluated how scavenger richness (number of species) and diversity (Shannon diversity index) varied among seasons (cold vs. warm, wet vs. dry). Then, we studied the potential effects of human impact and a set of macroecological variables related to climatic conditions on the scavenger assemblages. Vertebrate scavenger richness ranged from species-poor to species rich assemblages (4–30 species). Both scavenger richness and diversity also showed some seasonal variation. However, in general, climatic variables did not drive latitudinal patterns, as scavenger richness and diversity were not affected by temperature or rainfall. Rainfall seasonality slightly increased the number of species in the community, but its effect was weak. Instead, the human impact index included in our study was the main predictor of scavenger richness. Scavenger assemblages in highly human-impacted areas sustained the smallest number of scavenger species, suggesting human activity may be overriding other macroecological processes in shaping scavenger communities. Our results highlight the effect of human impact at a global scale. As species-rich assemblages tend to be more functional, we warn about possible reductions in ecosystem functions and the services provided by scavengers in human-dominated landscapes in the Anthropocene.

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