scholarly journals Canopy cover and structural complexity affect the phylogenetic composition of a pond-dwelling Neotropical anuran metacommunity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo B. Provete
Keyword(s):  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Lineage Sorting ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Larval Amphibians ◽  
Principal Coordinates ◽  
Floating Vegetation ◽  
Phylogenetic Composition

AbstractPhylogenetic information has been increasingly included into (meta)community assembly studies. However, recent studies have challenged the framework commonly used to infer processes from phylogenetic structure. Amphibians are good model organisms to study processes promoting structure in metacommunities, since they are subjected to different environmental and spatial processes throughout their biphasic life cycle. Pond canopy cover is one of these environmental factors that strongly influence the distribution of species and traits of several freshwater taxa, including larval amphibians (e.g., behavior, color, fin height, and length of intestine). Here, I tested the influence of pond canopy cover, floating vegetation, and pond morphology on the phylogenetic structure of an anuran metacommunity in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. I sampled tadpoles in 13 ponds and marshes from June 2008 and July 2009 in the Serra da Bocaina National Park, São Paulo. After building a metacommunity phylogeny, I used an eigenvector-based technique to describe the metacommunity phylogenetic composition (Principal Coordinates of Phylogenetic Structure, PCPS). I then run a db-RDA to evalute whether a subset of these eigenvectors can be explained by environmental variables. I found that pond canopy cover and floating vegetation were the main variables influencing lineage sorting in this metacommunity. Canopy cover separated hylid lineages from other families that were associated with open areas. Floating vegetation separated two hylid tribes (Cophomantini and Dendropsophini). Our results mainly suggest that the effect of canopy cover and floating vegetation on the structure of anuran metacommunity may affect not only species, but also entire lineages.

scholarly journals Metacommunity phylogenteic structure along environmental gradients

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo Provete
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Trees ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Quadratic Term ◽  
Lineage Sorting ◽  
Phylogenetic Information ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure

Phylogenetic information has increasingly been included in studies of local communities and also at broad spatial scales. Despite recent criticisms in the last four years, phylogenetic relationships may still provide insights into theorganization and assembly of ecological communities. The objectives of this study were 1) to review the history of the use of phylogenetic information, as well as criticisms and perspectives of its use in community ecology; 2) understand how the size and shape of phylogenetic trees and the phylogenetic structure of metacomunidaes affect the amount of variation accounted for by a eigenvectorbasedmethod used to describe the phylogenetic composition of metacomunidaes (PCPS); 3) to test the effect of diversity of evolutionary history (MNTD and MPD) and species richness as predictors of three variables of freshwater ecosystemfunctioning (productivity, respiration, and decomposition); and finally 4) to test how environmental gradients, especially pond canopy cover, influence the phylogenetic structure of an anuran metacommunity from southeastern Brazil. Ifound that the structure of metacommunities had greater impact on eigenvalues of PCPS than tree shape metrics, such as symmetry and stemminess. In addition, decomposition and respiration were best predicted by MNTD as a linear function, while productivity was affected by the quadratic term of MNTD. Finally, pond canopy cover and floating vegetation strongly affected the phylogenetic structureof the anruan metacommunity, influencing lineage sorting. These findings 1) can help users interpret the results of PCPS; 2) provide better understand of the effectof species loss in multitrophic, freshwater ecosystems; and 3) improve our knowledge about the effect of canopy cover on the lineage composition in anuran metacomunities.

scholarly journals Taxonomic and phylogenetic composition show biotic resistance to exotic invasion in acid seep springs

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Barfknecht ◽  
David J. Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Biotic Resistance ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Freshwater Wetlands ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Exotic Invasion ◽  
Phylogenetic Composition ◽  
Exotic Grass

Abstract Background Few studies have incorporated the evolutionary insights provided by analysis of phylogenetic structure along with community composition to assess the effects of exotic invasion on freshwater wetlands. Here, we assess the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships among acid seep springs to investigate the potential homogenization or resistance of communities due to invasion of an exotic grass. Results Multivariate community analyses indicated differences in community and phylogenetic composition and dispersion among acid seep springs, associated with gradients in soil moisture, canopy cover, and phylogenetic diversity. By contrast, univariate analyses showed differences in taxonomic diversity but not phylogenetic diversity among acid seep springs. Conclusions Despite exotic invasion, individual acid seep springs remained taxonomically and phylogenetically distinct from each other. Taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity metrics revealed different aspects of composition, reinforcing the importance of including both in analyses of plant communities for understanding community assembly following exotic invasion and for management purposes. Within acid seep springs, taxonomic and phylogenetic composition appear to be driven more through environmental filtering by light and moisture than by the competitive effects following invasion of an exotic grass in support of Elton’s biotic resistance hypothesis.

scholarly journals Ecological constraints and trait conservatism drive functional and phylogenetic structure of amphibians larvae assemblages in the Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Augusto Leão-Pires ◽  
Amom Mendes Luis ◽  
Ricardo Jannini Sawaya
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Explanatory Model ◽  
Functional Structure ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Water Conductivity ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure

Abstract Investigate how ecological and/or evolutionary factors could affect the structure of ecological communities is a central demand in ecology. In order to better understand that we assessed phylogenetic and functional structure of 33 tadpole communities in the Atlantic Forest coastal plains of Southeastern Brazil. We tested the assumption that phylogenetic conservatism drive tadpole traits. We identified 32 communities with positive values of phylogenetic structure, with 18 of those being significantly clustered. Twelve of 33 communities showed aggregated functional structure. Trait diversity was skewed towards the root, indicating phylogenetic trait conservatism and evolutionary factors as important drivers of tadpoles community structure. Six out of 11 environmental variables were selected in the best explanatory model of phylogenetic structure. Water conductivity, external and internal diversity of vegetation structure, canopy cover, and dissolved oxygen were negatively related with phylogenetic clustering, whereas presence of potential fish predators was positively related. Four of those environmental variables and area were also included in the best explanatory model of functional structure. All variables represent factors related to performance, survivorship, and distribution of anuran communities. From the 12 functionally structured communities, 10 were also phylogenetically structured. Thus, environmental factors may be acting as filters, interacting with phylogenetically conserved species traits, and driving linage occurrence in tadpole communities. Our study provides evidence that phylogenetic and functional structure in vertebrates are a result of interacting ecological and evolutionary agents, resulting in structured anuran assemblages.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic overdispersion of plant species in southern Brazilian savannas

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 843-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
IA. Silva ◽  
MA. Batalha
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
History Of ◽  
Phylogenetic Overdispersion

Ecological communities are the result of not only present ecological processes, such as competition among species and environmental filtering, but also past and continuing evolutionary processes. Based on these assumptions, we may infer mechanisms of contemporary coexistence from the phylogenetic relationships of the species in a community. We studied the phylogenetic structure of plant communities in four cerrado sites, in southeastern Brazil. We calculated two raw phylogenetic distances among the species sampled. We estimated the phylogenetic structure by comparing the observed phylogenetic distances to the distribution of phylogenetic distances in null communities. We obtained null communities by randomizing the phylogenetic relationships of the regional pool of species. We found a phylogenetic overdispersion of the cerrado species. Phylogenetic overdispersion has several explanations, depending on the phylogenetic history of traits and contemporary ecological interactions. However, based on coexistence models between grasses and trees, density-dependent ecological forces, and the evolutionary history of the cerrado flora, we argue that the phylogenetic overdispersion of cerrado species is predominantly due to competitive interactions, herbivores and pathogen attacks, and ecological speciation. Future studies will need to include information on the phylogenetic history of plant traits.

scholarly journals Landscape effects on the occurrence of ichthyofauna in first-order streams of southeastern Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Santos Tibúrcio ◽  
Carolina da Silva Carvalho ◽  
Fabio Cop Ferreira ◽  
Roberto Goitein ◽  
Milton Cezar Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Temperature Conductivity ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
First Order

Abstract Objective In this study we aimed to understand how extrinsic environmental factors measured in the watercourses and the surrounding landscape influence the ichthyofauna of first-order streams. Methods Data were collected within the Corumbataí River Basin, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, during the dry season of 2012. We sampled the ichthyofauna in 13 stretches of streams distributed across four river sub-basins. The stretches differed in relation to the presence/absence of riparian forest, the predominant type of matrix and the percentage of forest. Response variables were species richness and the occurrence of functional groups and explanatory variables include both local and landscape structures from the surrounding environment. Local variables comprised the following water quality and structural attributes: pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, flow rate, depth, width, type of substrate. Landscape variables included presence/absence of riparian vegetation, type of vegetation, type of matrix, percentage of forest and canopy cover. Results A total of 268 individuals were recorded, which were distributed among 12 species. The landscape structure influenced the occurrence of functional groups in first-order streams, especially allochthonous-feeders, nektonic and hypoxia-intolerant species. The presence of riparian forest was the most important predictor. Species richness was negatively related to the presence of riparian vegetation, supporting the hypothesis that degraded landscapes lead to a reduction in diversity. Conclusion The protection of riparian vegetation is critical to the maintenance of ichthyofauna diversity in first-order streams. The presence or absence of riparian vegetation differently affected the occurrence of species depending on their functional characteristics, particularly those related to the tolerance to hypoxia, source of alimentary items and the position in the water column.

scholarly journals Edge effect on carabid assemblages along forest-grass transects

Web Ecology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Magura ◽  
B. Tóthmérész ◽  
T. Molnár
Keyword(s):  
Edge Effect ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Principal Coordinates Analysis ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Principal Coordinates ◽  
Significant Edge ◽  
Characteristic Species

Abstract. During 1997 and 1998, we have tested the edge-effect for carabids along oak-hornbeam forest-grass transects using pitfall traps in Hungary. Our hypothesis was that the diversity of carabids will be higher in the forest edge than in the forest interior. We also focused on the characteristic species of the habitats along the transects and the relationships between their distribution and the biotic and abiotic factors. Our results proved that there was a significant edge effect on the studied carabid communities: the Shannon diversity increased significantly along the transects from the forest towards the grass. The diversity of the carabids were significantly higher in the forest edge and in the grass than in the forest interior. The carabids of the forest, the forest edge and the grass are separated from each other by principal coordinates analysis and by indicator species analysis (IndVal), suggesting that each of the three habitats has a distinct species assemblages. There were 5 distinctive groups of carabids: 1) habitat generalists, 2) forest generalists, 3) species of the open area, 4) forest edge species, and 5) forest specialists. It was demonstrated by multiple regression analyses, that the relative air moisture, temperature of the ground, the cover of leaf litter, herbs, shrubs and canopy cover, abundance of the carabids’ preys are the most important factors determining the diversity and spatial pattern of carabids along the studied transects.

scholarly journals Diversity, Function and Regulation of Cell Surface and Intracellular Immune Receptors in Solanaceae

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Jong Hum Kim ◽  
Christian Danve M. Castroverde
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Pathogen Invasion ◽  
Immune Receptors ◽  
Current State ◽  
Tremendous Importance ◽  
Solanaceae Family ◽  
Leucine Rich Repeat Protein ◽  
Made In

The first layer of the plant immune system comprises plasma membrane-localized receptor proteins and intracellular receptors of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein superfamily. Together, these immune receptors act as a network of surveillance machines in recognizing extracellular and intracellular pathogen invasion-derived molecules, ranging from conserved structural epitopes to virulence-promoting effectors. Successful pathogen recognition leads to physiological and molecular changes in the host plants, which are critical for counteracting and defending against biotic attack. A breadth of significant insights and conceptual advances have been derived from decades of research in various model plant species regarding the structural complexity, functional diversity, and regulatory mechanisms of these plant immune receptors. In this article, we review the current state-of-the-art of how these host surveillance proteins function and how they are regulated. We will focus on the latest progress made in plant species belonging to the Solanaceae family, because of their tremendous importance as model organisms and agriculturally valuable crops.

scholarly journals Soil macrofauna density and diversity across a chronosequence of tropical forest restoration in Southeastern Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. T. Amazonas ◽  
R. A. G. Viani ◽  
M. G. A. Rego ◽  
F. F. Camargo ◽  
R. T. Fujihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Succession ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
High Dominance ◽  
Young Forests ◽  
Tropical Forest Restoration

Abstract Edaphic macrofauna must be better studied if we want to take advantage of their full potential for the restoration of tropical ecosystems. We investigated changes in edaphic macrofauna density and diversity along a secondary succession chronosequence in the Atlantic Forest. Our results show some clear patterns of change in soil macrofauna along the chronosequence. Density did not increase along secondary succession, but was correlated with canopy cover. Diversity was characterized by high dominance of social insects and evenness among other groups. We conclude soil macrofauna has a high capacity to recolonize young forests and that its recovery is considerably fast compared to other ecosystem transformations.

scholarly journals Environmental and spatial drivers of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic characteristics of bat communities in human-modified landscapes

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M. Cisneros ◽  
Matthew E. Fagan ◽  
Michael R. Willig
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Variation Partitioning ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Taxonomic Structure ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Niche Space ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Phylogenetic Composition ◽  
Phylogenetic Dispersion

BackgroundAssembly of species into communities following human disturbance (e.g., deforestation, fragmentation) may be governed by spatial (e.g., dispersal) or environmental (e.g., niche partitioning) mechanisms. Variation partitioning has been used to broadly disentangle spatial and environmental mechanisms, and approaches utilizing functional and phylogenetic characteristics of communities have been implemented to determine the relative importance of particular environmental (or niche-based) mechanisms. Nonetheless, few studies have integrated these quantitative approaches to comprehensively assess the relative importance of particular structuring processes.MethodsWe employed a novel variation partitioning approach to evaluate the relative importance of particular spatial and environmental drivers of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic aspects of bat communities in a human-modified landscape in Costa Rica. Specifically, we estimated the amount of variation in species composition (taxonomic structure) and in two aspects of functional and phylogenetic structure (i.e., composition and dispersion) along a forest loss and fragmentation gradient that are uniquely explained by landscape characteristics (i.e., environment) or space to assess the importance of competing mechanisms.ResultsThe unique effects of space on taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic structure were consistently small. In contrast, landscape characteristics (i.e., environment) played an appreciable role in structuring bat communities. Spatially-structured landscape characteristics explained 84% of the variation in functional or phylogenetic dispersion, and the unique effects of landscape characteristics significantly explained 14% of the variation in species composition. Furthermore, variation in bat community structure was primarily due to differences in dispersion of species within functional or phylogenetic space along the gradient, rather than due to differences in functional or phylogenetic composition.DiscussionVariation among bat communities was related to environmental mechanisms, especially niche-based (i.e., environmental) processes, rather than spatial mechanisms. High variation in functional or phylogenetic dispersion, as opposed to functional or phylogenetic composition, suggests that loss or gain of niche space is driving the progressive loss or gain of species with particular traits from communities along the human-modified gradient. Thus, environmental characteristics associated with landscape structure influence functional or phylogenetic aspects of bat communities by effectively altering the ways in which species partition niche space.

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