Spatial and land‐use determinants of bat species richness, functional diversity, and site uniqueness throughout the largest Tropical country, Brazil

The ongoing biodiversity crisis reinforces the urgent need to unravel diversity patterns and the underlying processes shaping them. Although taxonomic diversity has been extensively studied and is considered the common currency, simultaneously conserving other facets of diversity (e.g., functional diversity) is critical to ensure ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Here, we explored the effect of key climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, temperature seasonality, and precipitation seasonality) and factors reflecting human pressures (agricultural land, urban land, land-cover diversity, and human population density) on the functional diversity (functional richness and Rao’s quadratic entropy) and species richness of amphibians (68 species), reptiles (107 species), and mammals (176 species) in Europe. We explored the relationship between different predictors and diversity metrics using generalized additive mixed model analysis, to capture non-linear relationships and to account for spatial autocorrelation. We found that at this broad continental spatial scale, climatic variables exerted a significant effect on the functional diversity and species richness of all taxa. On the other hand, variables reflecting human pressures contributed significantly in the models even though their explanatory power was lower compared to climatic variables. In most cases, functional richness and Rao’s quadratic entropy responded similarly to climate and human pressures. In conclusion, climate is the most influential factor in shaping both the functional diversity and species richness patterns of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals in Europe. However, incorporating factors reflecting human pressures complementary to climate could be conducive to us understanding the drivers of functional diversity and richness patterns.

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Nutrient concentrations and fibre contents of plant community biomass reflect species richness patterns along a broad range of land-use intensities among agricultural grasslands

Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics ◽

10.1016/j.ppees.2011.07.001 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 287-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Valentin H. Klaus ◽

Till Kleinebecker ◽

Norbert Hölzel ◽

Nico Blüthgen ◽

Steffen Boch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Plant Community ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Community Biomass ◽

Richness Patterns

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Field Margin Weed-Species Diversity in Relation to Landscape Attributes and Adjacent Land Use

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-06-125 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 129-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lynn M. Sosnoskie ◽

Edward C. Luschei ◽

Mark A. Fanning

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Shape Index ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Weed Species ◽

Field Margin ◽

Local Climate ◽

Modeling Strategy

The importance of managing weeds in seminatural habitats that are adjacent to farm fields is unclear. Weedy-margin vegetation may harbor pests or pathogens and may ALSo serve as source populations for ongoing immigration of weeds into the field. It is ALSo possible, however, that margin vegetation provides habitat for organisms that consume weed seeds or suppress the likelihood of pest or pathogen outbreak. We examined the nature of margin habitat using spatial-scaling of Weed-Species richness as an ecological assay. In 2003, we recorded the occurrence of weedy species along the perimeters of 63 fields in Wisconsin. The fields were distributed within six counties that differed in topography, geological history, local climate, and soil type and which spanned the range of variability in the agricultural landscape. We identified seven habitats that differed in geology and land use. The relationship between species richness and margin class was estimated using an analog of the power law. Additionally, we investigated broadscale correlates of habitat heterogeneity at the field level, using a modeling strategy that included additional explanatory factors logically connected to plant diversity. Using a model-confrontation approach, the survey supported the inclusion of two topographical diversity indices, elevation gradient and a field-shape index, into our model. Our broadscale survey provides information on one of a suite of important considerations needed to make decisions about the importance of managing weeds in field margins.

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Spatial and temporal effects of land use change as potential drivers of odonate community composition but not species richness

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-018-1671-2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 451-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Maya Rocha-Ortega ◽

Pilar Rodríguez ◽

Alex Córdoba-Aguilar

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Community Composition ◽

Temporal Effects ◽

Effects Of Land Use

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Adjacent land-use affects amphibian community composition and species richness in managed forests in New Brunswick, Canada

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x11-066 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 41 (8) ◽

pp. 1687-1697 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lee Jacobs ◽

Jeff E. Houlahan

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

New Brunswick ◽

Community Composition ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Road Density ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Precommercial Thinning ◽

Amphibian Community ◽

Land Use Effects

Here, we examine the effects of adjacent land use in a managed forest on pond-breeding amphibian species richness and community composition at 34 New Brunswick, Canada, ponds. Amphibian species richness was negatively correlated with the proportion of roads, precommercial thinning, and hardwood forest and positively correlated with the proportion of wetlands in adjacent lands. These land-use effects peak at 180 m from the ponds. Road density was negatively correlated with Lithobates catesbeiana and Lithobates septentrionalis presence. Precommercial thinning was negatively correlated with Ambystoma spp. presence and positively correlated with Anaxyrus americanus presence. Wetlands were positively correlated with L. septentrionalis and Notopthalamus viridescens presence. Correlations were also found between water table height and A. americanus, Lithobates palustris , and Ambystoma spp. presence. In addition, L. catesbeiana and N. viridescens presence–absence was positively correlated with the proportion of mature and overmature forest on the landscape (at scales of 500 and 1000 m, respectively). Lastly, the proportion of regenerating and sapling forest on the landscape was negatively correlated with L. palustris presence–absence but, by contrast, was positively correlated with A. americanus. These results suggest that the effects of adjacent land use may significantly impact amphibian populations in managed eastern Canadian forests.

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Frequência, diversidade e composição da fauna de cupins (Blattodea: Isoptera) em diferentes sistemas de uso do solo no sudoeste do Amazonas, Brasil

EntomoBrasilis ◽

10.12741/ebrasilis.v11i2.729 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 78-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agno Nonato Serrão Acioli

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Species Richness ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Elaeis Guineensis ◽

Taxonomic Composition ◽

Primary Forest ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

Termite Species ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Elaeis Guineensis Jacq

Resumo. Os cupins são importantes decompositores da matéria de origem vegetal. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar e comparar a diversidade e composição das espécies de cupins em três diferentes sistemas de uso do solo na região do Alto Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil. Os cupins foram coletados na floresta primária, em cultivos de dendê (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) e mandioca (Manihot sculenta Crantz). Em cada área selecionada as coletas foram realizadas dentro de um transecto retangular medindo 100 m x 2 m, subdivididos em 20 parcelas de 5 m x 2 m. Foram encontradas 24 espécies de cupins, pertencentes a 14 gêneros e duas famílias, nos três sistemas de uso do solo. As espécies mais frequentes foram Nasutitermes cf. dendrophilus (Desneux) (28,43%), seguida de Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen) (14,37%) e Anoplotermes sp. 2 (9,58%). A riqueza de espécies foi maior na floresta primária (16 espécies), seguida dos cultivos de dendê (14 espécies) e mandioca (seis espécies). A composição taxonômica e os grupos funcionais também sofreram modificações, sendo mais diversificados e equilibrados na floresta primária quando comparados com os dois tipos de cultivos. A comunidade de cupins é fortemente afetada quando ocorre a substituição da floresta primária pelos cultivos agrícolas. Neste estudo, as espécies N. cf. dendrophilus e H. tenuis merecem atenção, pois se constata o aumento de sua frequência nos cultivos de dendê e mandioca.Frequency, Diversity and Composition of Termite Fauna (Blattodea: Isoptera) in Land Use Systems in the Southwest of Amazonas, Brazil Abstract. Termites are important decomposers of matter of vegetable origin. This study aims to analyze and compare the diversity and composition of termite species in three different land use systems in Alto Solimões, Amazonas, Brazil. Termites were collected in the primary forest, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and cassava (Manihot sculenta Crantz) crops. In each area the collections were made within a rectangular transect measuring 100 m x 2 m, subdivided into 20 plots of 5 m x 2 m. Twenty four species of termites were found, belonging to 14 genera and two families. The most frequent species were Nasutitermes cf. dendrophilus (Desneux) (28.43%), Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen) (14.37%) and Anoplotermes sp. 2 (9.58%). The species richness was higher in the primary forest (16 species), followed by oil palm (14 species) and cassava (six species) crops. The taxonomic composition and the functional groups were also modified, being more diversified and balanced in the primary forest than in the crops. The termite community was strongly affected when the primary forest was replaced by agricultural crops. The species N. cf. dendrophilus and H. tenuis deserve attention, it was verified the increase of their frequency in the crops.

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Congruence between breeding and wintering biodiversity hotspots: A case study in farmlands of Western Poland

European Journal of Ecology ◽

10.2478/eje-2018-0014 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 75-83

Author(s):

Federico Morelli ◽

Zbigniew Kwieciński ◽

Piotr Indykiewicz ◽

Łukasz Jankowiak ◽

Paweł Szymański ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Human Beings ◽

Complete Representation ◽

Evolutionary Distinctiveness

Abstract Farmland landscapes are recognized as important ecosystems, not only for their rich biodiversity but equally so for the human beings who live and work in these places. However, biodiversity varies among sites (spatial change) and among seasons (temporal change). In this work, we tested the hypothesis that bird diversity hotspots distribution for breeding is congruent with bird diversity hotspots for wintering season, focusing also the representation of protected areas for the conservation of local hotspots. We proposed a framework based on the use of species richness, functional diversity, and evolutionary distinctiveness to characterize avian communities. Although our findings show that the spatial distribution of local bird hotspots differed slightly between seasons, the protected areas’ representation was similar in both seasons. Protected areas covered 65% of the most important zones for breeding and 71% for the wintering season in the farmland studied. Functional diversity showed similar patterns as did bird species richness, but this measure can be most effective for highlighting differences on bird community composition. Evolutionary distinctiveness was less congruent with species richness and functional diversity, among seasons. Our findings suggest that inter-seasonal spatial congruence of local hotspots can be considered as suitable areas upon which to concentrate greater conservation efforts. However, even considering the relative congruence of avian diversity metrics at a local spatial scale, simultaneous analysis of protected areas while inter-seasonally considering hotspots, can provide a more complete representation of ecosystems for assessing the conservation status and designating priority areas.

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Context-dependency in biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships is driven by nitrogen availability and plant functional composition

10.1101/2020.08.17.254086 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Noémie A. Pichon ◽

Seraina L. Cappelli ◽

Santiago Soliveres ◽

Tosca Mannall ◽

Thu Zar Nwe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Species ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Context Dependency ◽

Composition Gradient ◽

Nitrogen Enrichment ◽

Functional Composition

SummaryThe ability of an ecosystem to deliver multiple functions at high levels (multifunctionality) typically increases with biodiversity but there is substantial variation in the strength and direction of biodiversity effects, suggesting context-dependency. However, the drivers of this context dependency have not been identified and understood in comparative meta-analyses or experimental studies. To determine how different factors modulate the effect of diversity on multifunctionality, we conducted a large grassland experiment with 216 communities, crossing a manipulation of plant species richness (1-20 species) with manipulations of resource availability (nitrogen enrichment), plant functional composition (gradient in mean specific leaf area [SLA] to manipulate abundances of fast vs. slow species), plant functional diversity (variance in SLA) and enemy abundance (fungal pathogen removal). We measured ten functions, above and belowground, related to productivity, nutrient cycling and energy transfer between trophic levels, and calculated multifunctionality. Plant species richness and functional diversity both increased multifunctionality, but their effects were context dependent. Species richness increased multifunctionality, but only when communities were assembled with fast growing (high SLA) species. This was because slow species were more redundant in their functional effects, whereas fast species tended to promote different functions. Functional diversity also increased multifunctionality but this effect was dampened by nitrogen enrichment, however, unfertilised, functionally diverse communities still delivered more functions than low diversity, fertilised communities. Our study suggests that a shift towards exploitative communities will not only alter ecosystem functioning but also the strength of biodiversity-functioning relationships, which highlights the potentially complex effects of global change on multifunctionality.

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