Species richness and beta diversity patterns of multiple taxa along an elevational gradient in pastured grasslands in the European Alps

AbstractWe explored the influence of climatic factors on diversity patterns of multiple taxa (lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants) along a steep elevational gradient to predict communities’ dynamics under future climate change scenarios in Mediterranean regions. We analysed (1) species richness patterns in terms of heat-adapted, intermediate, and cold-adapted species; (2) pairwise beta-diversity patterns, also accounting for its two different components, species replacement and richness difference; (3) the influence of climatic variables on species functional traits. Species richness is influenced by different factors between three taxonomic groups, while beta diversity differs mainly between plants and cryptogams. Functional traits are influenced by different factors in each taxonomic group. On the basis of our observations, poikilohydric cryptogams could be more impacted by climate change than vascular plants. However, contrasting species-climate and traits-climate relationships were also found between lichens and bryophytes suggesting that each group may be sensitive to different components of climate change. Our study supports the usefulness of a multi-taxon approach coupled with a species traits analysis to better unravel the response of terrestrial communities to climate change. This would be especially relevant for lichens and bryophytes, whose response to climate change is still poorly explored.

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A Small-Scale Analysis of Elevational Species Richness and Beta Diversity Patterns of Arthropods on an Oceanic Island (Terceira, Azores)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12100936 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 936

Author(s):

Jan Peter Reinier de Vries ◽

Emiel van Loon ◽

Paulo A. V. Borges

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Introduced Species ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Small Scale ◽

Native Forest ◽

Species Replacement ◽

Diversity Patterns ◽

Total Species Richness

We present an analysis of arthropod diversity patterns in native forest communities along the small elevation gradient (0–1021 m a.s.l.) of Terceira island, Azores (Portugal). We analysed (1) how the alpha diversity of Azorean arthropods responds to increasing elevation and (2) differs between endemic, native non-endemic and introduced (alien) species, and (3) the contributions of species replacement and richness difference to beta diversity. Arthropods were sampled using SLAM traps between 2014 and 2018. We analysed species richness indicators, the Hill series and beta diversity partitioning (species replacement and species richness differences). Selected orders (Araneae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Psocoptera) and endemic, native non-endemic and introduced species were analysed separately. Total species richness shows a monotonic decrease with elevation for all species and Coleoptera and Psocoptera, but peaks at mid-high elevation for Araneae and endemic species. Introduced species richness decreases strongly with elevation especially. These patterns are most likely driven by climatic factors but also influenced by human disturbance. Beta diversity is, for most groups, the main component of total (gamma) diversity along the gradient but shows no relation with elevation. It results from a combined effect of richness decrease with elevation and species replacement in groups with many narrow-ranged species.

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Diversity Patterns of Different Life Forms of Plants along an Elevational Gradient in Crete, Greece

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d11100200 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 200 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Lazarina ◽

Athanasios Charalampopoulos ◽

Maria Psaralexi ◽

Nikos Krigas ◽

Danai-Eleni Michailidou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Large Scale ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Life Forms ◽

Species Pool ◽

Diversity Patterns ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Α Diversity

Elevational gradients provide a unique opportunity to explore species responses to changing environmental conditions. Here, we focus on an elevational gradient in Crete, a climate-vulnerable Mediterranean plant biodiversity hotspot and explore the diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms of different plant life forms. We found that the significant differences in life forms’ elevational and environmental ranges are reflected in α- diversity (species richness at local scale), γ-diversity (species richness at regional scale) and β-diversity (variation in species composition). The α- and γ-diversity decreased with elevation, while β-diversity followed a hump-shaped relationship, with the peak varying between life forms. However, β-deviation (deviation from null expectations) varied significantly with elevation but was life formindependent. This suggests that species composition is shaped by the size of the available species pool which depends on life form, but also by other deterministic or stochastic processes that act in a similar way for different life forms. The strength of these processes varies with elevation, with hotter–drier conditions and increased human activities filtering species composition at lowlands and large-scale processes determining the species pool size overriding local ecological processes at higher elevations.

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Diversity of epiphyte ferns along an elevational gradient in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, southern Mexico

Plant Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.5091/plecevo.2020.1573 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 153 (1) ◽

pp. 12-21

Author(s):

Derio A. Jiménez-López ◽

Rubén Martínez-Camilo ◽

Nayely Martínez-Meléndez ◽

Michael Kessler

Keyword(s):

Linear Regression ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Cloud Forest ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Diversity Patterns ◽

Individual Trees

Background and aims – In the tropics, some studies have found that the richness of epiphytic ferns present a peak at mountain mid-elevations. However, it is not well understood how transitions from tropical to subtropical conditions affect this peak, and even less is known about beta diversity of epiphytic ferns. Thus, the objective is to understand the effect of climatic gradients on the variation of local richness of ferns and beta diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in a mountain system in southern Mexico.Methods – We sampled 32 trees, each in four elevational bands (100–2200 m). Alpha diversity patterns were analysed using linear regression models. We used the Morisita index to quantify species turnover between bands. An additive partitioning approach was used to analyse the degree to which individual trees, plots, and bands contributed to total species richness. We evaluated the influence of climatic variables on species composition via linear regression models.Key results – A total of 30 species in five families were recorded. Each family contributed in different magnitude to the elevational richness pattern, with Polypodiaceae dominating due to its richness and presence along the entire transect. Alpha diversity at the three scales (αtree, αplot, αband) increased with elevation and rainfall, and with decreasing temperature. Species turnover was high along the gradient, but was scale-dependent, with βtransect (65–75%) and βband (14%) with the greatest contributing to total diversity. Although the contribution of the individual trees was lower, it increased with elevation. Conclusions – We emphasize the importance of including different scale levels in analyses of diversity along elevational gradients. In the region, cloud forest on the mountain peaks harbours the highest diversity of epiphytic fern communities. Due to a limited extent of this mountain range, the epiphyte ferns are susceptible to the effects of climate change.

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Diversity Patterns of Protists are Highly Affected by Methods Disentangling Inter-specific Variants: A Case Study in Oligotrich (s.l.) Ciliates

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1059062/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiahui Xu ◽

Jianlin Han ◽

Hua Su ◽

Changyu Zhu ◽

Zijing Quan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Beta Diversity ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

River Estuary ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Pearl River Estuary ◽

Diversity Pattern ◽

Diversity Patterns ◽

Field Samples ◽

Environmental Sequences

Abstract An enormous amount of environmental sequences produced by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) is popular for inferring diversity and distribution patterns of protists, which are widely distributed and playing important roles in energy flux and nutrient cycling. However, study testing whether methods disentangling inter-specific variants affect the diversity and distribution patterns of protists using field samples is insufficient. Using oligotrich (s.l.) ciliates, one group of abundant and dominate planktonic protists, in field samples as an example, the present study indicates that DADA2 performs better than UCLUST and UPARSE for inferring diversity patterns of oligotrich (s.l.) ciliates in Pearl River Estuary and surrounding regions. UPARSE, as an OTU-construction method might underestimate species richness and produce less reliable beta diversity pattern than DADA2. UCLUST with 97% and 99% clustering thresholds overestimate species richness, and the beta diversity pattern inferred by the former one is unreasonable. Salinity is shown to be one of the key factors responsible for variations in community distribution of ciliates, but infrequent marine-freshwater transitions occurred during evolutionary terms of this group.

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Birds in the Himalayas: What drives beta diversity patterns along an elevational gradient?

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.4622 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (23) ◽

pp. 11704-11716 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yiming Hu ◽

Zhifeng Ding ◽

Zhigang Jiang ◽

Qing Quan ◽

Keji Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beta Diversity ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Diversity Patterns

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Functional evenness of bird communities varies along the elevational gradient in Europe: Conservation implications

10.32942/osf.io/sx9n8 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Federico Morelli ◽

Yanina

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Bird Species ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Negative Association ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Breeding Bird ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Large Spatial Scale ◽

Functional Evenness

ContextThe negative association between elevation and species richness is a well-recognized pattern in macro-ecology. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate changes in functional evenness of breeding bird communities along an elevation gradient in Europe. MethodsUsing the bird data from the EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds we estimated an index of functional evenness which can be assumed as a measure of the potential resilience of communities.ResultsOur findings confirm the existence of a negative association between elevation and bird species richness in all European eco regions. However, we also explored a novel aspect of this relationship, important for conservation: Our findings provide evidence at large spatial scale of a negative association between the functional evenness (potential community resilience) and elevation, independent of the eco region. We also found that the Natura2000 protected areas covers the territory most in need of protection, those characterized by bird communities with low potential resilience, in hilly and mountainous areas.ConclusionsThese results draw attention to European areas occupied by bird communities characterized by a potential lower capacity to respond to strong ecological changes, and, therefore, potentially more exposed to risks for conservation.

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Community characteristics of forest understory birds along an elevational gradient in the Horn of Africa: A multi-year baseline

The Condor ◽

10.1093/ornithapp/duab009 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kyle D Kittelberger ◽

Montague H C Neate-Clegg ◽

Evan R Buechley ◽

Çağan Hakkı Şekercioğlu

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Forest Understory ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Tropical Mountains ◽

Demographic Rates ◽

Understory Birds ◽

Over Time

Abstract Tropical mountains are global hotspots for birdlife. However, there is a dearth of baseline avifaunal data along elevational gradients, particularly in Africa, limiting our ability to observe and assess changes over time in tropical montane avian communities. In this study, we undertook a multi-year assessment of understory birds along a 1,750 m elevational gradient (1,430–3,186 m) in an Afrotropical moist evergreen montane forest within Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains. Analyzing 6 years of systematic bird-banding data from 5 sites, we describe the patterns of species richness, abundance, community composition, and demographic rates over space and time. We found bimodal patterns in observed and estimated species richness across the elevational gradient (peaking at 1,430 and 2,388 m), although no sites reached asymptotic species richness throughout the study. Species turnover was high across the gradient, though forested sites at mid-elevations resembled each other in species composition. We found significant variation across sites in bird abundance in some of the dietary and habitat guilds. However, we did not find any significant trends in species richness or guild abundances over time. For the majority of analyzed species, capture rates did not change over time and there were no changes in species’ mean elevations. Population growth rates, recruitment rates, and apparent survival rates averaged 1.02, 0.52, and 0.51 respectively, and there were no elevational patterns in demographic rates. This study establishes a multi-year baseline for Afrotropical birds along an elevational gradient in an under-studied international biodiversity hotspot. These data will be critical in assessing the long-term responses of tropical montane birdlife to climate change and habitat degradation.

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Changes of arthropod diversity across an altitudinal ecoregional zonation in Northwestern Argentina

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4117 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e4117 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Andrea X. González-Reyes ◽

Jose A. Corronca ◽

Sandra M. Rodriguez-Artigas

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Polynomial Regression ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Predictor Variable ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Pitfall Trap ◽

Northwestern Argentina ◽

Higher Taxa ◽

Total Species Richness ◽

Wide Range

This study examined arthropod community patterns over an altitudinal ecoregional zonation that extended through three ecoregions (Yungas, Monte de Sierras y Bolsones, and Puna) and two ecotones (Yungas-Monte and Prepuna) of Northwestern Argentina (altitudinal range of 2,500 m), and evaluated the abiotic and biotic factors and the geographical distance that could influence them. Pitfall trap and suction samples were taken seasonally in 15 sampling sites (1,500–4,000 m a.s.l) during one year. In addition to climatic variables, several soil and vegetation variables were measured in the field. Values obtained for species richness between ecoregions and ecotones and by sampling sites were compared statistically and by interpolation–extrapolation analysis based on individuals at the same sample coverage level. Effects of predictor variables and the similarity of arthropods were shown using non-metric multidimensional scaling, and the resulting groups were evaluated using a multi-response permutation procedure. Polynomial regression was used to evaluate the relationship between altitude with total species richness and those of hyperdiverse/abundant higher taxa and the latter taxa with each predictor variable. The species richness pattern displayed a decrease in species diversity as the elevation increased at the bottom wet part (Yungas) of our altitudinal zonation until the Monte, and a unimodal pattern of diversity in the top dry part (Monte, Puna). Each ecoregion and ecotonal zone evidenced a particular species richness and assemblage of arthropods, but the latter ones displayed a high percentage of species shared with the adjacent ecoregions. The arthropod elevational pattern and the changes of the assemblages were explained by the environmental gradient (especially the climate) in addition to a geographic gradient (the distance of decay of similarity), demonstrating that the species turnover is important to explain the beta diversity along the elevational gradient. This suggests that patterns of diversity and distribution of arthropods are regulated by the dissimilarity of ecoregional environments that establish a wide range of geographic and environmental barriers, coupled with a limitation of species dispersal. Therefore, the arthropods of higher taxa respond differently to the altitudinal ecoregional zonation.

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