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opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

Drivers and mechanisms that contribute to microbial β-diversity patterns and range sizes in mountains across a climatic variability gradient

Microbial communities are highly diverse, yet the mechanisms underlying microbial community assembly are not well understood. Janzen's mountain passes hypothesis proposed that climatic barriers and dispersal limitation shape communities to a greater extent in mountains with lower climatic variability and overlap, permitting higher levels of species coexistence. Here, we investigate changes in microbial community dissimilarities, distributional range sizes and ecological processes along elevational gradients in three montane ecosystems representing a climatic variability gradient. We found that climate, climatic variability and spatial distance play dominating roles in affecting microbial β-diversity patterns and range sizes along elevational gradients. Janzen's mountain passes hypothesis can be applied for microbial community assembly: mountains with lower climatic variability and higher climatic difference between elevations exhibited higher β-diversity, higher endemism, lower range sizes, and steeper distance-decay trends. However, microbial communities experience clear climate-driven limited range sizes and dispersal processes and show typical endemic patterns in all mountain ecosystems. Our results emphasize the importance of dispersal and climatic niche processes in shaping montane biodiversity. As a result, changes in climate may significantly impact soil biodiversity in montane ecosystems by altering the effects of dispersal limitation and climatic variability on bacterial and fungal community composition along elevational gradients.

opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

Local and regional diversity of frog communities along an extensive rainforest elevation gradient in Papua New Guinea

Rainforests on high tropical mountains are globally important species diversity hotspots. We studied amphibians along an extensive rainforest elevation gradient on Mt. Wilhelm (4,509 m) in Papua New Guinea. We established eight sites at 500 m elevation increments between 200 and 3,700 m a.s.l. and related their community composition to the known species pool of New Guinea island. We recorded 3,390 frogs from 55 species, which is three times more species than at any local community along the elevation gradient. Species diversity peaked at 1,700 m a.s.l. for Mt. Wilhelm communities, and at 500–1,100 m a.s.l. in the broader New Guinea fauna, probably reflecting increasing speciation and decreasing dispersal rates with increasing elevation. The beta diversity between frog communities was high and increased with increasing elevation. The change in frog community composition across 500 m elevation corresponded to the change over 200 km distance within lowland forests. A majority of frog species were distributed over narrow <500 m elevational ranges, at Mt Wilhelm and the New Guinea fauna more broadly. We did not detect Rapoport's pattern of wider elevation range for species at higher elevations than for lowland species, for Mt. Wilhelm communities or the New Guinea fauna. The high beta diversity patterns along elevation gradients generated by rapid species turnover with narrow elevation ranges make frog communities vulnerable to change in the environment, including climate change.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Micro- and macroclimate interactively shape diversity, niches, and traits of Orthoptera communities along elevational gradients

Temperature is one of the main drivers shaping species diversity and assembly processes. Yet, site-specific effects of the local microclimate on species and trait compositions of insect communities have rarely been assessed along macroclimatic temperature clines. Bavarian Alps, Germany Bayesian joint species distribution models were applied to investigate how ecological and morphological traits drive variation in the climatic niches of 32 Orthoptera species on 93 grassland sites with contrasting microclimatic conditions along a steep elevational macroclimatic gradient in an Alpine region in Central Europe. Species richness and abundance decreased along the elevational macroclimatic gradient, and both benefitted from warm microclimate. Interactive effects of elevation and microclimate on the abundance were, however, species-specific, and partly mediated by traits: Warm microclimatic conditions facilitated the occurrence of demanding xerophilic and late-hatching species, resulting in marked community dissimilarities at mid-elevations where colder sites harboured only a subset of the species. The latter mainly occurred at low elevations together with long-winged species. Abundance peaks of non-xerophilic species were further upslope when microclimate was warm. Intraspecifically, the body sizes and wing lengths of the larger females, but not the males, decreased with elevation akin the community mean, and brown colour morphs were more frequent at sites with warm microclimate. Our nuanced results reveal that trait-dependent responses of species to microclimate play a key role in the assembly and structuring of insect communities along macroclimatic gradients. Since microclimate preferences changed with elevation, we conclude that species temperature niches are narrower than the elevational range suggests and both macro- and microclimatic conditions must be considered when predicting species responses to climate change. Microclimatic contrasts among sites at similar elevations enhanced species turnover mediated by moisture preferences and phenology, highlighting the importance of mountains for conservation as climatic refugia where species with diverging niches can persist in proximity.

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

Data from: Tree diversity enhances predation by birds but not by arthropods across climate gradients

Tree diversity can promote both predator abundance and diversity. However, whether this translates into increased predation and top-down control of herbivores across predator taxonomic groups and contrasting environmental conditions remains unresolved. We used a global network of tree diversity experiments (<a href="https://www.treedivnet.ugent.be">www.treedivnet.ugent.be</a>; TreeDivNet) spread across three continents and three biomes to test the effects of tree species richness on predation across varying climatic conditions of temperature and precipitation. We recorded bird and arthropod predation attempts on plasticine caterpillars in monocultures and tree species mixtures. Both tree species richness and temperature increased predation by birds, but not by arthropods. Furthermore, the effects of tree species richness on predation were consistent across the studied climatic gradient. Our findings provide evidence that tree diversity strengthens top-down control of insect herbivores by birds, underscoring the need of implementing conservation strategies that safeguard tree diversity to sustain ecosystem services provided by natural enemies in forests.

opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Patterns and determinants of lichen abundance and diversity across a subarctic to arctic latitudinal gradient

Macrolichen abundance at the species level in 42 sites across a subarctic (56°N) to arctic (62°N) latitudinal gradient in Nunavik (Québec, Canada). Data was collected in the dominant vegetation types of six regions sampled along this gradient.

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2021View details →

Phylogenetic α- and β-diversities jointly reveal leaf-litter ant community assembly mechanisms along a tropical elevational gradient

This study was conducted along the eastern slope of the Cofre de Perote mountain, in Veracruz, Mexico. This region is located at the junction of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt and the Sierra Madre Oriental. We selected eight study sites spanning an elevational gradient of 3500 meters of altitude. Regardless of the geographical distance, all sites were systematically separated with an elevational difference of 500 meters on average between each other. We placed our study sites at the following elevations above sea level: 30-50 m, 610-670 m, 900-1010 m, 1470-1650 m, 2020-2230 m, 2470-2600 m, 3070-3160 m and 3480-3540 m, however, for simplicity, we will refer to each site as discrete units (i.e. 0, 600, 1000, 1500, 2100, 2500, 3100, 3500 m). Sampling sites were old-growth forests characterized by no obvious forest use and highly dominance of mature forests, except in the case of the lowest site (i.e., La Mancha), where most of its original vegetation has been transformed. To overcome the effect of perturbation in the studied patterns, we sampled La Mancha in a secondary forest with up to 30 years of regeneration. All sampling sites were closed-canopy forests in which a leaf-litter layer could be guaranteed. During the rainy season (July-September) of 2018 one 300-m transversal transect was located at each one of the eight study locations where we established 10 equidistantly sampling points (i.e., 30 meters between each other). Two independent 1-m2 samples were taken perpendicularly to each sampling point: one 10 meters on the right side and the other 10 meters from the left side. This procedure was repeated in a second transect placed during the dry season (March-May) of 2019 to increase community characterization as well as reduce any seasonality effect on our diversity patterns. Transects within an elevational site were separated at least 1 km away from each other. Thus, we obtained 320 m2 leaf-litter samples characterized the whole mountain (8 study sites x 20 m2 per transect x 2 transects = 320 m2). In each 1-m2 quadrat, we collected the leaf litter inside and sifted it through a coarse mesh screen of 1-cm grid size to remove the largest fragments and concentrate the fine litter. The concentrated fine litter from each sample was suspended in independent mini-Winkler sacks for 3 days in the laboratory. Falling arthropods were collected into a container with 95% ethanol. Ant workers were removed from each container for identification. When possible, specimens were identified at the species level. If not, we assigned a morphospecies number.   Phylogenetic tree constructions Ideally, one would use a complete, species-level phylogeny of all ant species present in your study area to calculate phylogenetic diversity, yet our current understanding of ant relationships is still limited. As an alternative, we built a genus-level phylogeny based on the tree by Moreau & Bell, (2013), but using the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times within Myrmicinae from Ward et al. (2015). This phylogeny was then pruned to keep only a single species per genus to generate a genus-level phylogeny. To maximize taxonomic coverage, we replaced genera that were missing from those studies by closely-related lineages that were not present in our dataset using other phylogenetic studies (Borowiec, 2016; Lapolla et al., 2010; Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014). We then used the list of species (Supporting Information Table S1) in our dataset to simulate a species-level phylogeny in which the relationships within genera were obtained from a Yule (pure-birth) process using the genus.to.species.tree function in the “phytools” package (Revell, 2012). A total of 1000 simulated trees were obtained to account for phylogenetic uncertainty [see Arnan et al. (2018) and Divieso et al. (2020) for similar approach]. Additionally, we constructed a maximum clade credibility tree (hereafter MCC tree) which was used to summarize the uncertainty of the 1000 simulated trees. The MCC tree was constructed from the sample of the 1000 trees with the maxCladeCred function incorporated in the “ape” package (Paradis et al., 2019). Both the 1000 hypothetical trees and the MCC tree were used in downstream analyses (Supporting Information Fig. 1).

opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

Anthropogenic land‐use change shapes bird diversity along the eastern Himalayan altitudinal gradient

Globally, the conversion of natural forest into agricultural land and human settlement has altered avian diversity and structure often leading to functional and/or phylogenetic homogenisation. While the effects of land-use change on avian functional and phylogenetic diversity is well studied in the tropics, it is poorly understood and scarcely studied in the Himalayas, let alone in the eastern Himalayan bird communities. This dataset comprises observations of 336 bird species from a replicated point-count transect survey conducted between 2019 and 2020 in Bhutan. We used a multispecies occupancy model to estimate occupancy probability while accounting for detection probability. The detection-corrected z-matrix was used to calculate functional and phylogenetic diversity. Our study shows that bird community occupancy along the elevational gradient is negatively associated with human land use (agriculture and settlement). Bird assemblages were functionally and phylogenetically clustered at higher elevations. Agriculture and settlement harboured higher functional and phylogenetic diversity whereas forests had phylogenetically diverse communities within functionally convergent traits. The higher functional and phylogenetic diversity in agriculture and settlement suggests that bird diversity offers an opportunity for a broad range of ecosystem services. Protection of forests abutting human settlements and agriculture will help preserve higher phylogenetic diversity. We recommend that agricultural practices that safeguard and improve bird-friendly habitats should be promulgated. Educational programmes on the importance of the roles of birds should be implemented and integrating bird conservation with farm production will help conserve bird diversity in human-dominated landscapes. To enhance the conservation value of working landscapes in the Himalayas, avitourism can be explored further.

opencc-zeroDec 2021View details →

Changes in community-weighted trait mean, functional diversity, soil chemical properties and temperature along an elevational gradient in Tenerife, Canary Islands

This dataset comprises community-weighted trait means and functional diversity of leaf traits, chemical soil properties and temperature recorded in roadside (disturbed) and interior (less disturbed) plots, along an elevational gradient of 2,300 m in Tenerife, Canary Islands. The leaf traits measured were specific leaf area (SLA), nitrogen, nitrogen to phosphorus ratio, leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and carbon to phosphorus ratio. The soil chemical properties measured were pH, nitrogen, nitrogen to phosphorus ratio, carbon to phosphorus ratio, calcium, potassium, magnesium and cation exchange capacity. Also the scores of the three first axes derived from a PCA analysis including the soil chemical properties are included. The temperature variables consist of bioclimatic variables Bio10 (mean temperature of the warmest quarter) and Bio11 (mean temperature of the coldest quarter). This dataset has been used for the analysis presented in Ratier Backes et al. (2021).

opencc-by-4.0Jan 2021View details →

Fig. 1 in Avian Diversity Along A Precipitation Gradient In Southern Africa

Fig. 1. Location of the transect (broken red line in the map above, yellow line in the map below).

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2022View details →

Salt flat microbial diversity and population structure along a salinity gradient

In this study, we examined the abundance of microbial communities in coastal sabkha and sabkha-shore regions in Abu Dhabi, UAE using 16s rDNA, and performed whole-genome metagenome analysis to elucidate the genetic heterogeneity of microbial species. Based on the 16s rDNA based prokaryotic microbial profile, we identified unusual coastal sabkha-specific microbial communities, consistent with the whole genome metagenome analysis. Out of 225 assembled microbial metagenomes, we analyzed 82 of the most abundant assembled genomes at the order and class taxonomic levels. We observed diversity was higher for some microbial populations on the inner regions of the sabkha as well as outside it, although the overall population diversity was higher within the sabkha. Our results show genetic structure over local spatial scales, different level of homologous recombination for different species as well as gene-specific selective sweeps. These results pave the way to understanding the ecological roles, salt stress tolerance mechanisms, and potential applications of sabkha microbial genes.

opencc-zeroNov 2022View details →

Data for functional diversity and habitat preferences of native grassland plants and ground-dwelling invertebrates in private gardens along an urbanisation gradient

Urbanisation influences biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, private domestic gardens provide habitats for many species. Challenging conditions in urban gardens may support species possessing certain traits, but exclude other species. Functional diversity is therefore often altered in urban gardens. We surveyed native grassland plants and ground-dwelling invertebrates (snails, slugs, spiders, millipedes, woodlice, ants, rove beetles), and compiled data on urbanisation (distance to city centre, percentage of sealed area) and garden characteristics. We furthermore derived data on traits and habitat preferences for the species recorded in the gardens from the literature and own measurements. The survey comprised 35 domestic gardens along a rural-urban gradient in the city of Basel, Switzerland and its surroundings.

opencc-zeroJul 2022View details →

Assessment of the stream invertebrate β-diversity along an elevation gradient using a bidimensional null model analysis

Aim: β-Diversity, commonly defined as the compositional variation among localities that links local diversity (α‐diversity) and regional diversity (γ‐diversity), can arise from two different ecological phenomena, namely the spatial species turnover (i.e. species replacement) and the nestedness of assemblages (i.e. species loss). However, any assessment that does not account for stochasticity in community assembly could be biased and misinform conservation management. In this study, we aimed to provide a better understanding of the overall ecological phenomena underlying stream β-diversity along elevation gradients, and at contributing to the rich debate on null model approaches to identify non-random patterns in the distribution of taxa. Location: Swiss Alpine region. Methods: Based on presence-absence data of 78 stream invertebrate families from 309 sites, we analyzed the effect size of non-random spatial distribution of stream invertebrates on the β-diversity and its two components (i.e. turnover and nestedness). We used a modelling framework that allows exploring the complete range of existing algorithm sused in null model analysis, and to assess how distribution patterns vary according to an array of possible ecological assumptions. Results: Overall, the turnover of stream invertebrates and the nestedness of assemblages were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than the ones expected by chance. This pattern increased with elevation, and the consistent trend observed along the altitudinal gradient, even in the most conservative analysis, strengthened our findings. Main conclusions: Our study suggests that deterministic distribution of stream invertebrates in the Swiss Alpine region is significantly driven by differential dispersal capacity and environmental stress gradients. As long as the ecological assumptions for constructing the null models and their implications are acknowledged, we believe that they still represent useful tools to measure the effect size of non-random spatial distribution of taxa on β-diversity.

opencc-zeroJul 2022View details →

Genetic diversity and differentiation of populations of Anthyllis vulneraria along elevational and latitudinal gradients

The abundant centre model (ACM) predicts that the suitability of environmental conditions for a species decreases from the centre of its distribution towards its range periphery and consequently its populations will become scarcer, smaller and more isolated, resulting in lower genetic diversity and increased differentiation. However, little is known about whether genetic diversity shows similar patterns along elevational and latitudinal gradients with similar changes in important environmental conditions. Using microsatellite markers we studied the genetic diversity and structure of 20 populations each of Anthyllis vulneraria along elevational gradients in the Alps from the valleys to the elevational limit (2500 m), and along a latitudinal gradient (2500 km) from Central Europe to the range margin in northern Scandinavia. Both types of gradients corresponded to a 11.5 °C difference in mean annual temperature. Genetic diversity strongly declined and differentiation increased with latitude in line with the predictions of the ACM. However, as population size did not decline with latitude and genetic diversity was not related to population size in A. vulneraria, this pattern is not likely to be due to less favourable conditions in the North, but due to serial founder effects during the post-glacial recolonization process. Genetic diversity was not related to elevation, but we found significant isolation by distance along both gradients, although the elevational gradient was shorter by orders of magnitude. Subarctic populations differed genetically from alpine populations indicating that the northern populations did not originate from high elevational Alpine ones. Our results support the notion that postglacial latitudinal colonization over large distances resulted in a larger loss of genetic diversity than elevational range shifts. The lack of genetic diversity in subarctic populations may threaten their long-term persistence in the face of climate change, whereas alpine populations could benefit from gene flow from low-elevation populations.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2022View details →

Data_Changes in Tree Diversity, Structure and Functional Trait Identity Drive Biomass Increase along Elevational Gradients in Subtropical Forests of Southern China

In this article "Changes in Tree Diversity, Structure and Functional Trait Identity Drive Biomass Increase along Elevational Gradients in Subtropical Forests of Southern China", these files contain community inventory data collected at our three study sites.

opencc-by-4.0Oct 2022View details →

Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity peaks do not coincide along a compositional gradient in forest-grassland mosaics

This is a standard phytocoenological table with trait data for each species. Species are in rows and relevés (plots) are in columns. Habitat codes are according to the caption of Fig. 3 in our paper. Numbers in the relevés are percentage cover values.

Figure 4 in Diversity of Lepidoptera along Altitudinal Gradient in Shola Forest of Kerala, India

Figure 4. Elevation ranges of the Lepidoptera (Pearson Correlation).

Figure 1 in Diversity of Lepidoptera along Altitudinal Gradient in Shola Forest of Kerala, India

Figure 1. Species diversity of Lepidoptera along elevation gradient; H. -Shannon Wiener

Figure 2 in Diversity of Lepidoptera along Altitudinal Gradient in Shola Forest of Kerala, India

Figure 2. Species richness of Lepidoptera along elevation gradient; Marglef index.

Figure 3 in Diversity of Lepidoptera along Altitudinal Gradient in Shola Forest of Kerala, India

Figure 3. Eveness of Lepidoptera along elevation gradient; J. - Pielou's evenness index.